Nate set his jaw. “But?”
“That’s all this is. All you want.”
“What’s wrong with that?” He pointed to the desk. “Lay down. I’ll prove how much fun I can be.”
“I need more than fun.”
“Why?” Nate held me before I tumbled onto my wobbly, satisfied legs. “Fun is what you need. You’re wound tight, and you’re upset. Let me show you that there’s another side to life—one that doesn’t require love, marriage, and fairy tales.”
I wanted to believe him. I wanted to see what he could offer. But all the fun and games and messing around in the world wouldn’t make my life any easier.
“I have to believe in fairy tales now,” I said.
It was hard to say, hard to feel, hard to admit, especially as Nate stared so intently at me, wanting more than just my excuses. My voice weakened.
Why did it hurt so much to say?
“And I’m afraid you aren’t the right prince.”
6
Mandy
I parked my butt in the hospital cafeteria and waited for Rick. He was never too busy for a double bacon cheeseburger and onion rings.
I didn’t send him a page. I texted him a picture of the meal waiting for him. Eighteen hours at the hospital would have made McDonalds look like gold, but I got him the good stuff. I ordered his favorite from the diner near Dad’s advertising office.
Rick found me in the cafeteria, but he didn’t say hello. He didn’t smile. He dropped his pager, stethoscope, and ID on the table. I half expected the scrubs to come off too.
“For the next fifteen minutes, I’m not a doctor,” he said.
“…What are you?”
“A man about to make love to this burger.”
I giggled. “Want some privacy?”
Rick answered with a grunt as he took a giant bite. Ketchup and grease stained his lips. He didn’t care. He woofed down another mouthful.
“And you’re a cardiologist?”
“Do as I say…not as I do.” He mumbled over the mouthful. “Where’s yours?”
My single bite of a chicken sandwich rested somewhere in the bushes outside the hospital.
“Already ate.”
A handful of young nurses walked by, sighing as the most attractive doctor in the hospital gorged himself on fast food. Rick didn’t take a second look at the blonde, but she scoffed at me. Meow.
He inhaled half of the burger before pausing to wipe his mouth and hands. I arched an eyebrow as he rubbed the mustard off his wedding ring.
“Ever going to take that off?” I asked.
Rick was the most practical one in our circle of friends, but he shook his head. “I’m not ready yet.”
“It’s been six months.”
He nodded and went back to his burger. “Not ready.”
Poor guy. Jada really broke his heart when she left. I hoped no one told him about her pictures on Facebook. Apparently she was getting re-married—to the man who lured her away from Rick. I had a lot of choice words reserved for the happy couple, but Rick didn’t tolerate anyone speaking negatively about her.
“You know I’m fine.” He winked at me. “You don’t have to bring food and check on me.”
“You’re practically living here.” I gestured around the hospital. “It can’t be good for you.”
“As opposed to what? Want me helping Bryce with the wedding?”
“You’ve already been through a divorce. I wouldn’t torture you any more this year.”
“That bad?”
I was tempted to steal an onion ring. The baby wasn’t so keen on the idea. “I don’t know if we’ll survive to the wedding.”
He nodded. “Bryce told me about your parents’ fight.”
“It was awful.”
“It happens.”
“Not like this.” I sucked in a breath. “I’m worried.”
“About what?”
“I…” It spilled out of me. “They’re getting a divorce. I never thought it’d happen to them. And you were married, and I swore you and Jada would be together forever. And then Bryce and Lindsey have been a couple since high school, and now they’re constantly at each other’s throats.”
Rick’s eyebrow rose. Point taken.
“You’re right,” I said. “Lindsey is always at his throat.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“Is there anyone out there that’s actually happy with the person they love?”
“Heavy talk for a burger.”
“I know.” I apologized. “There’s just…a lot of things happening lately.”
“You okay?”
I hadn’t been okay since reading the positive line on the test. “I’m fine. I was talking to Nate and…”