My Rules (Kingston Lane Book 2)
My Rules: Chapter 12

“Good morning, Beryl.” I turn the corner into the nurses’ station just to see Ruby disappear into a room.

I duck behind the wall.

Fuck.

“What’s wrong, Doctor?” Beryl the nurse says as she continues filing. “You look like you just saw a ghost.”

“What is Dr. Mansfield doing here?” I frown as I peer around the corner.

“She has a patient in room six.”

“Since when?”

“Since last night.”

I peer around the corner again to see where she is. I do not want to run into her today. She called me on Saturday night to see if I wanted to come over after I sorted out Nana, and I never replied.

Fuck.

“How long has she been here?” I ask as I continue my spying.

“Not long.” Beryl looks over the top of her glasses at me. “Why would you be hiding from Dr. Mansfield?”

“Long story.” I keep peering.

“Sounds like the story was too short for her,” she mutters.

I fake a smile and drop it immediately. “Less judging, more filing, Beryl.” I glance at my watch. Damn it. I can’t delay; I need to do my rounds. “I’m starting at the other end today.”

Beryl smirks as she types.

I keep peering around the corner.

“Dr. Grayson.” Ruby’s sarcastic voice sounds from behind me. “Who are you looking for?” I turn toward her.

“Oh, hello, Ruby.” I smile. “I had no idea you were here.”

Beryl spins her chair toward me and looks over her glasses with a raised eyebrow.

Not now, Beryl.

Ruby folds her arms, unimpressed, and also raises an eyebrow. Beryl smirks as she looks between us.

Christ on a cracker.

“Can I have a word?” I ask her.

Beryl keeps watching attentively.

“In private.”

“If we must,” Ruby snaps. She walks around the corner, and I follow her like a dog with my tail between my legs.

“So.” I smile as I widen my eyes. Fucking hell . . . How do I get myself into these situations? “I must apologize for Saturday night.”

Her eyes hold mine, but she shows no emotion.

“Nana fell down the stairs, and it’s been very hectic.” I’m talking fast to try and brush past the lying. “And then I had to look after my neighbor’s dog, and he chewed up all the socks, and I haven’t been able to replace any pairs. So . . . therefore, I couldn’t possibly leave the house.”

“Let me get this straight.” Her eyebrow rises. “You didn’t call me because you couldn’t replace a pair of socks?”

“Precisely. What I’m trying to say is that . . .”

She raises an eyebrow as she waits. Don’t make this any easier, bitch.

“I perhaps shouldn’t have asked you on a date because . . .” I troll my mind for an intelligent reply. Because why? . . . Fuck it!

“I’m waiting,” she snaps impatiently.

“I know you’re not the kind of woman who just . . .” I widen my eyes as I search for a word . . . any fucking word will do. “And I thought I was ready for something more, but it turns out that I’m not, and I’m sorry.”

Her eyes hold mine as she processes what I’ve just said.

“Does she know?” she eventually asks.

“Huh?” I frown.

“Rebecca.”

“What about Rebecca?”

“Oh please,” she scoffs. “You spent all night staring at her with love hearts in your eyes.”

My mouth drops open in fake horror. “Are you insinuating that I’m lusting after my sister? Dr. Mansfield, I take offense.”

“I’m not insinuating anything; I know you’re lying.”

“Why would you even suggest such a thing?”

“Because I googled your sister, and she isn’t her.” She pokes me hard in the chest. “You. Blake Grayson. Are a loser.”

I wince. “The evidence does support that.”

“Don’t ever call me again.” She disappears around the corner, and I drag my hand down my face.

Don’t worry. I wasn’t planning on it.

“Let’s get into the spa.” Sara smiles. She gets off the chaise longue and leans over me, putting her two hands on my knees. “You’re quiet tonight, baby.” She kisses me softly.

“I’ll be in in a minute.”

“He is quiet today, isn’t he?” Michelle replies. She runs her hand through my hair. “A spa with your two favorite girls will help.” She leans over and kisses me, her lips lingering over mine. “Come on.” She gets up and grabs my hand.

“I’ve just got to make a call. Be there in a sec,” I tell her.

She takes off into the bedroom, and I sit alone on the couch. I hear the tap turn on as they fill the bath, and I can hear them talking with excitement in their voices.

This is nothing new. I’ve been fucking around with these two naughty girls for years.

Roommates, friends, hot, sexy, and willing to share my cock. Not a common combination at all.

So why the fuck am I just not into it tonight?

“Grayson,” Michelle calls. “Hope you’re warming yourself up out there.”

I puff air into my cheeks. What the hell is wrong with me lately?

I thought that if anyone could pull me out of my funk, it would be these two.

Snap out of it.

I haven’t had sex in four weeks, and sure, a piercing has had some hand in that, but deep down I know who’s had a bigger one.

And I can’t even like her.

Because she doesn’t feel the same.

The tap turns off, and I hear the girls giggling and chatting as they slip into the water. We’ve had hundreds of baths together, the three of us.

Some nights we spend hours in there. Talking, fucking, taking turns—you name it, and it happens.

Lately, though . . . something’s missing.

And I would love to blame the girls, or the situation, or anything really, but the truth is . . .

It’s me.

Something’s changing in my DNA, and like a train barreling toward a broken track, I can feel myself unraveling with no idea how to put the brakes on.

I need to sort my shit out.

Fast.

I drag myself up off the couch and walk into the bathroom. The girls are naked and in the water. Big, beautiful breasts and bare skin. Normally I’d be rock hard and in there.

Tonight . . . nothing.

Michelle gets up on her knees and curls her finger in a come-here signal. “Grayson,” she whispers darkly. “Get over here. I’ve missed you.”

I can’t do this.

“Bad news.” I walk over and lean down and kiss Michelle first and then Sara. “I’ve got to go.”

“What?” They both flinch.

“I’ve got an emergency at work,” I lie.

“We’ll be quick.” Sara stands, and water sloshes over the sides. “Get in here.”

“Ten minutes.” Michelle grabs for me. “Seriously, I’ll make you come in three pumps.”

I step back, out of her reach. “Sorry, guys, rain check.” I turn, and to the sound of their protests, I hotfoot it out of there. I march to my car, get in, and take off at top speed, as if I’m being chased by a wild animal.

In essence, I am; a horny woman is not to be messed with. Two of them is a disaster.

I grip the steering wheel with white-knuckle force. I cannot believe I just did that.

What the actual fuck is wrong with me?

I drive and drive, and I don’t even know where to go because that has never happened to me before, and what now?

Where’s the fun guy who loves to punish naughty girls?

Partying is my entire identity.

It’s who I am. It’s what I love to do.

So why does it feel wrong all of a sudden?

Perspiration dusts my skin as a new fear unlocks, and I pull my car over to the side of the road.

What’s happening?

An hour later, I pull into my driveway and wait as the garage door slowly goes up.

I drive in, grab the tub of ice cream from the passenger seat, and walk back out front and hit the remote. The door slowly goes down. Before I can stop myself, I walk over to Rebecca’s.

What are you doing?

I don’t even try to stop myself.

I walk up her front steps. “Barry, no,” I hear Rebecca’s voice call from inside.

Knock, knock.

The door opens, and there she stands, pajamas, green face mask, and her hair in crooked pigtails. “Hi.” She smiles.

I hold out the tub of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. “I brought you a present.”

“Oh, chocolate crunch. I love you.” She goes up onto her tippy-toes and hugs me, and I snap my arm around her waist to hold her closer.

If only she really did.

“That shit on your face smells toxic,” I whisper into her hair.

She giggles. “Don’t I know it. You should smell it from the inside; I’m about to pass out.” She grabs my hand and pulls me into her house. It’s then that I see Barry the dog pacing in the kitchen.

“What’s he doing?” I frown.

“Walking around like a lunatic.” She flops onto the couch. “He won’t listen to me at all.”

“Barry.” I point to his bed. “In your bed.”

He ignores me and keeps walking around.

“He’s stressed because Hen and Juliet are away.”

“Maybe we should take him back to his house?” I reply.

“He can’t stay there by himself. He’ll calm down.” She gets two bowls out of the cupboard. “I thought you had a date tonight?”

“I rushed out of there to bring you ice cream.” I wink.

“Very funny.” She smiles.

It wasn’t a joke . . . actual facts, and yes, it’s confirmed. I’m a loser.

She dishes out two bowls of ice cream and passes me one.

“I’ll pull the fold-up out; my back is hurting,” I tell her.

My back isn’t sore. That’s a deplorable lie.

I just like lying next to her, and sometimes, if I’m lucky, we even fall asleep this way.

I pull out the couch, and she dives onto it and sits cross-legged as she eats her ice cream. As I watch her for a moment, bright-green face, uneven pigtails in her hair, and flannelette pajamas, I have an out-of-body experience.

Did that really just happen?

Let me get this straight—I pulled out of sex with two of the hottest women on earth to eat ice cream with someone who doesn’t give a shit about how she looks in front of me.

The thought is utterly ridiculous, and I smile over at her.

“What?” She smiles back.

“What is that green stuff supposed to do, anyway?”

“Make me irresistible.”

“To who . . . aliens?”

“Let’s hope.” She puts a huge spoonful of ice cream into her mouth. “So good,” she mumbles with her mouth full.

I take a taste. “Hmmm . . .”

“Don’t forget about the school visit this week,” she reminds me.

“How could I forget? You’ve told me ten million times.”

“Yeah, well. It’s important.”

“Since when is a five-year-old interested in what a doctor has to say?” I reply.

“Since now.” She watches me for a minute and then smiles. “So . . . tell me about your date.”

“Well, the whole time I was there, I was dreaming of ice cream and you, so . . .” I shrug.

“You idiot,” she laughs. “Are you ever serious for one minute?”

More than you know.

“What happened?” she repeats.

“I don’t know.” I sigh. “I’m over dating. I’m over women in general, actually.”

“Since when?”

I shrug, unsure how to answer.

“You know what I think? I think you’re just over playing the field, and you’re getting ready to settle down.”

I twist my lips; the thought is depressing.

“It’s fine. This is a transition period, and you know what transition periods signify?”

“Boredom.”

She gives me a broad, beautiful smile. “New beginnings.”

“Yeah, well.” I keep shoveling in my ice cream. “I kind of liked my life how it was.”

We eat in silence for a while, both lost in our own thoughts.

“You want to watch a movie?” she asks.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“What do you want to watch?” She looks over at Barry. “Barry, in your bed.”

I point to the bed, and somehow, he listens and goes and lies in it.

“See how authoritarian I am?” I reply. “When I speak, he listens. He knows who’s boss around here.”

“Right.” She widens her eyes.

“About time you realize I’m the boss too.” I nudge her with my foot.

“Really?” She nudges me back with her foot. “We both know who’s boss around here.”

I roll my eyes at the irony. The only place I want to be the boss is the one place I’m not.

What a joke.

Two hours later, I lie on my side propped up on my elbow as I watch Rebecca sleep. The movie is on in the background, but I won’t turn it off because then she may wake up and go upstairs to her bed instead of sleeping beside me.

Her dark hair is out and splayed across the pillow. Her olive skin is flawless against the cream linen. My eyes roam over her shoulders, then down to linger on her cleavage.

What is it about this woman?

She’s not a supermodel or a rocket scientist, and hell, she doesn’t even like me that way.

But for the life of me . . . I cannot stop thinking about her.

It’s like I’ve had a spell cast on me, a magical one of infatuation and wonder. If I’m out, all I want to do is rush home to see what she’s doing.

But I don’t know why.

We aren’t like that. We have never been like that. We’re just friends, and she’s right. I know she’s right.

Having her in my life forever means a lot more than a flash-in-the-pan, hot-and-heavy romance.

Hot and heavy.

My eyes drop lower to her bare thigh as it hangs out of the blanket. The definition in her quad muscle calls to me like never before.

I swallow the lump in my throat. What I wouldn’t give for one night.

How would she taste . . .

A wave of arousal washes over me, and I close my eyes to try and will it away . . . just like I’ve done a million times before.

No matter what, I can’t let it win.

Nothing good will ever come from me acting on this stupid, childish crush.

All it would achieve would be to push her away.

I roll onto my back and stare at the ceiling. Her regulated breathing sounds through the room as I fight every primal urge to slide under the covers, spread her legs, and taste her.

Bury myself so deep inside her body that . . . my cock throbs at the thought.

Fuck . . . stop it.

I point the remote toward the television. I hope she wakes up. It’s actually a good thing if she goes upstairs to bed.

She’s not safe here with me, and maybe she’s right—maybe I’m just craving a connection with one woman. Maybe it’s not her at all; maybe I’m just . . . I don’t know, maybe I am ready to have a relationship of my own.

With one woman.

She rolls over in her sleep and snuggles into my chest. Her head rests on my arm, her top leg leaning over mine. The warmth from her body begins to liquefy mine.

Fuck . . .

I put my lips to her forehead as I hold her. She’s warm and sensual and feels perfect in my arms. Like a luxury that I could never afford.

With my lips resting against her skin, I close my eyes and pretend that she’s mine.

Rebecca

Bzzz, bzzz, bzzz . . .

A quiet vibration breaks the silence.

Bzzz, bzzz, bzzz.

I feel movement as Blake reaches over and turns off his alarm.

Hmm. I smile with my eyes closed. What a great night’s sleep. I’m warm and toasty and . . . I relax and doze some more.

“Mind removing your knee from my balls?” a husky voice asks. “They’re sitting in my neck.”

Huh?

My eyes spring open as I realize I’m sprawled all over Blake. My head is on his chest, and my top leg is over the top of his. I scramble back from him. “Sorry,” I stammer, embarrassed. “I was asleep.” I look around as I try and get my bearings. “We must have fallen asleep last night.”

“Hmm,” Blake grumbles with his eyes still closed. He raises his arm to wipe his face, and it’s then that I see he’s no longer wearing his T-shirt. His biceps are bulging with muscle, and his broad chest is on display.

My eyes linger over his muscles . . . damn.

Suddenly this feels too intimate, too . . . in my space. “Well, aren’t you going?” I snap impatiently. “Why set your alarm if you’re not getting out of bed?”

“I have to walk the fucking dog.” He sits up on his elbow and looks around. “Where is the mutt, anyway?”

“What?”

“Where’s Barry?”

I sit up and look around. There’s no sign of him. “Um . . . that’s weird.”

Blake gets out of bed, and I’m hit in the face with his huge erection tenting his boxer shorts. “Blake?” I snap.

“It’s morning,” he growls. “I can’t help it. If you don’t like it, then stop looking.”

I flop down onto my back and put my hands over my eyes. “Of course I don’t like it.” I fake disgust.

That’s some big tentage action.

Jeez . . .

Unable to help it, I glance back. That’s not a two-man, no sirree—that’s a family tent . . . maybe even a gazebo.

He could really do some damage . . . yeesh.

The mind boggles.

Blake stands at the end of the bed as he looks around. “Barry,” he calls.

Silence . . .

I sit up too. “Barry,” I call. He barks from upstairs. “Come down here for walkies.”

He barks again in excitement, and I can hear his tail hitting the wall as he wags it.

I drag myself out of bed and walk into the bathroom as I hear Barry clomping down the stairs.

“Oh shit . . . ,” I hear Blake say. “What did you do?”

Huh?

I try to hurry up.

“What happened?” I call.

“We’ve got a problem out here.” I hear Blake walking up the stairs. “What the fuck?” he yells. “No, Barry. No. Oh my fuck . . .” I hear Barry happily bouncing around, as if this is the best game of all time.

“What happened?” I call.

Silence . . .

“What happened?” I call louder.

For fuck’s sake, can someone answer me already? I quickly finish and wash my hands; I open the door to see Barry standing there, looking up at me all innocent-like.

Only he isn’t innocent at all. His snout is covered in all different kinds of bright colors . . . What? I frown as I lean down to look closer at him. “Lipstick!” I cry. I take the stairs two at a time and notice red smears on the carpet on every step. “Oh my god.”

“I wouldn’t come up here if I were you,” Blake calls. “It’s a crime scene.”

I come flying around the corner to see Blake down on his hands and knees, and my eyes widen in horror at the carnage. My ripped makeup bag is on the floor, and every single piece of makeup that I own is chewed up, destroyed, and smeared all over the floor. The lipstick canisters are squished with teeth marks all through them, and the eyeshadows are shattered into a million pieces. I pick up my brand-new mascara that I haven’t even used yet; it’s so chewed up that you can’t even open it.

“Barry!” I cry.

Barry looks up at me and wags his tail and smiles, and it’s then that I see his teeth are all covered in lipstick. A dog with lipstick on his teeth isn’t something I see every day, and I burst out laughing.

“I fail to see the humor,” Blake mumbles as he tries to pick up the mess.

Barry barks and leans back onto his hind legs in excitement for his walk.

“No walking today,” Blake huffs. “You’re grounded, mutt.”

“Everybody sit on the mat, please,” I call to my class. “Our very special visitor will be here any moment.” I look around at all the excited little faces. “Let’s see how straight we can sit up.” I straighten my back as I sit cross-legged on the mat with them. “I win.” I smile. “Am I sitting up the straightest?”

Everybody sits so straight that they are nearly doing a backbend. “Look at me, Miss Dalton,” Wendy calls.

“Oh yes, very impressive.”

“I’m winning now,” Brandon tells us.

“Wow,” I agree. “You are so straight.”

“Hello, everyone,” comes a calm voice from the doorway. “My oh my, look how fabulous you are all sitting.”

The children all smile proudly.

“Good morning, K2.” The principal smiles.

“Good morning, Mrs. Murphy,” my class sings. It’s then that I notice all the girls from the front office are standing in a pack behind her.

“We have a wonderful visitor today,” she tells the class. “Dr. Grayson has come to talk to us.” She calls him over, and Blake appears. He’s carrying a black bag and wearing a navy suit and a crisp white shirt. He’s tall and handsome. His sandy-brown hair has a wave to it, and he looks like McDreamy . . . only better.

“Hello, Dr. Grayson.” I smile enthusiastically. “Welcome to K2.”

His eyes replace mine across the room, and he gives me a slow, sexy smile and a subtle nod. “Hello, everyone.” He walks in and up to the front of the class.

I glance back to the office girls, and they are now all standing at the back of my classroom, smiling goofily as they watch him.

This isn’t a strip show, girls.

“Oh my god,” Veronica mouths as she fans her face with her hands.

I drop my head to hide my smile. Could they be any more obvious? This is the last day in career week, and so far, nobody from the office has bothered to come and see any of the parents talk about their jobs.

Only today . . . coincidence? I think not.

I can guarantee not one of them gives a damn about what a doctor does at work . . . they are only interested in this particular doctor’s activities.

Blake stands at the front of the class and looks around. “Wow.” He smiles. “I’ve never seen a class sitting up so straight.”

“Really?” I play along. “How wonderful. Did you hear that, K2?”

They all nod as they smile broadly.

“Dr. Grayson, thank you so much for coming to talk to us today.”

“You’re most welcome, Miss Dalton.” His eyes have a mischievous glow to them. “I like to be helpful.”

I get up off the mat and stand to the side. “Why don’t you tell us a little about what you do in a day?”

“All right, then. I’ll just bring my assistant out to help us.”

Huh?

He puts his black duffel bag on my desk and digs around in it as we all watch in wonder.

What is he doing?

He pulls out a white coat and flicks it in the air for a dramatic effect. He puts it on over his suit, then pulls out his stethoscope and puts it around his neck. “This is my uniform.” He looks down at himself and then holds his hands up at the girls in the back. “How do I look, ladies?” he teases.

“Great.” They all smile and give him a thumbs-up.

I giggle. He’s such a performer. He really should have been an actor.

“Now, K2, may I have the privilege of introducing my best friend and assistant doctor, Dr. Cecil.” He reaches into his black bag and pulls out a huge soft penguin toy. It’s wearing a white coat and has a stethoscope around its neck.

Everyone squeals and laughs in excitement, me and the office girls included.

“Dr. Cecil and I work at the children’s hospital,” he tells us as he looks around.

“Every day, we look after children who are unwell until they get better.”

We sit in silence as we hang on his every word.

“Now, may I have a volunteer to help me and Dr. Cecil?”

Everyone’s hands fly up as they desperately try to be his volunteer.

He looks around the class, and I can see him doing an internal assessment. “You look like an excellent assistant.” He points at the little boy sitting alone on the end. “Come up here, please.”

The boy bounces up and stands beside him. Blake bends and shakes his hand. “My name is Blake, and this is Cecil. What is your name?”

“Aaron.”

“Hello, Aaron.” Blake shakes Aaron’s hand and then holds out the penguin’s little wing to shake hands too.

Everyone laughs as Aaron shakes hands with the penguin.

“Now, you are going to be our student doctor and look over Cecil as I show you what to do. How does that sound, Aaron?”

Aaron gives an overexaggerated smile and nods. Blake hands him the play stethoscope. “Now, do as I do and look over Dr. Cecil.”

He puts the earpiece in his ear and holds his stethoscope to Aaron’s chest. “Just like this.”

Aaron holds the stethoscope to Cecil’s chest and listens.

“Very good.” Blake smiles. “You’re a natural at this.”

Aaron beams with pride as he looks around the classroom.

Oh, my heart.

This is his spiel that he does with the children every day at the hospital.

“Now we are going to take Cecil’s temperature.” Blake hands Aaron a digital thermometer. “Hold it to his forehead and be very still.”

Aaron concentrates on doing his job as Blake takes Aaron’s temperature.

“You are an excellent doctor,” Blake tells him.

I get a lump in my throat as I watch him. He’s so tender and sweet. Instructing Aaron on how to be the doctor while sneakily checking Aaron for the same things.

I mean, I always knew he was special, and I know he’s a doctor, and I know he’s a pediatrician. None of this is new information, but this is the first time I’ve actually seen him in action.

I’m in awe . . .

I watch on as Aaron is instructed on how to give Cecil a full check-up: ears, eyes, and bones. Reflexes and ligaments. They check Cecil’s blood pressure.

Blake pulls out a fake syringe and helps Aaron draw blood from Cecil as I blink away tears.

Over the next half hour, I stand to the side of the classroom, transfixed by Dr. Blake Grayson. I don’t hear much of what he’s saying; it’s what he’s not saying that means so much.

His empathy and giant heart are shining through.

“Thank you, Aaron,” he says. “Everybody, give Aaron a big clap for a job well done.”

Aaron dances back to his spot as the class cheers.

Blakes smiles. “Now, who would like me to listen to their heartbeat?”

The hands shoot up. “Me!” “Me!” “Me!”

“Line up,” he tells them.

One by one, they step to the front, and he listens to their heartbeats. “Wow,” he gushes. “Sounds like magic in there.” He listens again. “I think you can actually make magic.”

“Maybe.”

Veronica smiles proudly. Every single child has a new comment about their heartbeat, and honestly, I don’t ever think I’ve heard something so beautiful.

I blink back tears for the tenth time today.

“Miss Dalton.” Blake turns to me.

“Yes.”

“I would like to listen to your heartbeat.”

Don’t—I guarantee it’s fluttering right now. “Okay.” I step forward. He puts the stethoscope to my chest and gives me a sexy wink.

I smirk as I try to act casual.

“Ahh.” He smiles as he listens. “This heart is very special.” He listens intently again. “It’s big and . . . loving.” He listens again. “K2,” he calls. “I think this is the sweetest heart that I’ve ever listened to.”

Oh . . .

The class cheers, and I unexpectedly tear up again. His eyes hold mine for a moment before he turns away and holds up Cecil. “Everybody thank Dr. Cecil.”

The class goes wild, and I stare at the stranger in front of me.

The best friend and neighbor that I know has suddenly turned into something much more appealing.

I swallow the lump in my throat as I watch him continue to work the room.

This is a disaster.

Hands slide down my thighs and hold my legs open. His thick tongue swipes through my flesh as I quiver on the brink of orgasm.

Two fingers slowly slide inside my body . . .

My back arches off the bed, and I moan in ecstasy. My hand roams over his shoulder muscles, and I smile into his neck as he climbs over me.

“Rebecca,” a voice whispers in my ear.

My eyes spring open, and I sit up in a start. My heart is racing. Perspiration wets my skin. I glance at the clock: 4:00 a.m. It’s okay, it’s not real. It never happened.

I pant as I go over the dream—or was it a nightmare?

I know that voice. I’d know it anywhere.

Blake.

I sit on the back steps as the sun comes up. Barry is out doing his morning potty, but I haven’t slept a wink.

Spending the entire night having sexually explicit dreams of your platonic friend will do that to you. I was living in a nightmare . . . a very hot one, at that.

This is . . . bad. Bad, bad, bad.

“Hey.” I hear Blake coming down the side through the gate. “You ready for a walk?”

“Oh,” he says in surprise as he sees me sitting on the steps. “You’re up early.”

“Yep.” I force a smile. Not going to tell you why, though.

“Actually, this is good timing,” he says.

“It is?” I frown. Oh no . . . he knows.

He sits down beside me on the steps. “I’ve been thinking about what you said.”

“You have?”

Oh no . . . what did I say?

“You’re right. I can’t keep going on as I am. It’s time for a change. I’m tired of playing the field, and I think I am ready to settle down.”

Where’s he going with this?

“You are?” I frown. That’s not what I was expecting to come out of his mouth.

“Yes. So I’ve been thinking. Don’t get me a date for Saturday night.”

“Why not?”

“I know who I’m going to ask out.”

“You do?”

“I’ve liked her for a long time, and I could never ask her out, but it’s time to just . . . do it.”

“Oh . . .” I think for a moment. “Do I know her?”

“No. Her name is Kayla. She’s a nurse I used to work with. I’ve had a crush on her for years.”