by London Casey
I gritted my teeth for a few seconds. “Thanks, Em. Like I don’t have enough to think about right now.”
She clapped her hands and laughed. “Sorry. I had to. You’re fine, Liam. You’re not going to need surgery or anything.”
“I know that,” I said. “Just don’t put it out there.”
“You’re getting touchy now,” she said.
“This was not how the night was supposed to go for us,” I said.
“No? I’m having a great time.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Of course I am, Liam. It’s almost like old times.”
“Meaning?”
“You acting crazy and doing something crazier. Hurt. In a hospital.”
“So you’re taking all of this in, huh?” I asked. “Are you going to write a book about it too?”
“I might,” Emily teased. “Are you going to be able to top tonight?”
“I’m not sure,” I said. I shook my head. “What the hell was I thinking?”
“You won’t like what I have to say to that.”
“Try me,” I said.
Emily stood up. “You were thinking you wanted to grab a piece of your youth and prove that nothing has changed. But everything has changed. That’s the reality we live in, Liam. And your left wrist is going to be a reminder of that for a while.”
We stared at each other.
I wondered if she was trying to hint at something else.
Dr. Amati clicked his pen and smiled at both Emily and I.
His eyes looked tired. I wondered what hour of his shift he was on.
“Liam,” he said. “The skateboarding genius, huh?”
“How did…”
Emily snorted again.
I glared at her.
“Your wife stopped me in the hall,” Dr. Amati said. “I told her I’d tell her what was wrong with you if she told me what really happened.”
“You sold me out?” I asked Emily.
“Sorry,” she said.
Wife…
That word hit me again.
I looked at Dr. Amati and opened my mouth to correct him.
But why did it matter?
It wasn’t like…
Shit. Miranda.
Miranda had no idea I was in the hospital.
“Maybe you should get a new hobby,” Dr. Amati said. “This time you got lucky.”
“Lucky?” I asked. I slowly lifted my left wrist. “This is lucky?”
“It’s a sprain,” Dr. Amati said. “You messed it up but not as bad as it could have been. You’re cut, bruised, and sprained. That’s it. You’re going to need to keep it rested the best you can. But there’s no break.”
“This hurts like a…”
“Yeah, it does,” Dr. Amati said. “It’s a little of everything. Plus a sprinkle of embarrassment. Trying to impress the wife, right?”
I looked at Emily.
Her cheeks were red.
“I told him not to do it,” she said. “I think he was trying to impress someone else.”
“You’re on a roll tonight, Em,” I said in a growling whisper.
Dr. Amati laughed. “Let me get you two out of here. You can still salvage your date night. Just be careful with that wrist.” He looked at Emily. “Take good care of him.”
“Oh, I will,” Emily said.
“I can give you something for the pain,” Dr. Amati offered. “Just to take home for tonight. Not the really powerful stuff. Just something extra strength to help with the inflammation.”
“I’m fine,” I said. “As long as it’s not broken. Or fractured. Or that I need emergency surgery.”
“Trust me, Liam, you’d know if that were the case,” Dr. Amati said.
I thanked him and he winked at Emily and just like that, he was gone.
I jumped off the hospital bed and moved my arm a little more.
It hurt, but at least it wasn’t broken.
My wrist looked swollen and bruised. I had a cut on my forearm and my elbow was roughed up too.
“Ready to head home?” Emily asked.
I blocked her path. “You talked to the doctor without me knowing?”
“I was worried,” she said. “I knew you were worried too. I could see your eyes spinning. Wondering what would happen if you had to get surgery. With your job. Walking around with a cast as a lawyer. Explaining what happened. You don’t like failing, Liam. But this isn’t failing. This is having fun. And then I knew you were thinking about how to explain this to Miranda. So I found out the diagnosis.”
“But you didn’t tell me,” I said. “You messed with me.”
“Big time,” she said. “Hey. I burned cookies in front of you tonight. I fell off a stepladder in front of you tonight. Can I just have this one?”
I nodded.
I studied her eyes.
Her face.
Her messy hairline and the way nothing ever seemed to match on her… but her smile and heart and kindness…
I slowly flexed my hand so the jolts of pain would chase away the thoughts.
“You know, all in all, not a bad night,” I said.
“I told you it wasn’t a bad night,” she said.
“Sounds like we both need better nights out then,” I said.
“You’re the one who goes out and gets into bar fights.”
“Right,” I said.
That wasn’t exactly my dream night out.
I much preferred… tonight.
As I waited to get my checkout paperwork, the nurse walked by again and touched my right arm.
“You and your wife enjoy the rest of your night,” she said.
I opened my mouth to tell her Emily wasn’t my wife.
But… again… did it really matter?
So I responded with one word.
“Thanks.”
“Are we calling it a night?” I asked.
“I think we should,” Emily said. “We can work on it again tomorrow. Deal?”
“That’s good. You sure you don’t want me to get you home safe? Make sure you didn’t burn the building down?”
“Only one of us ended up in the hospital tonight, Liam.”
“Ouch. And that was only because I caught you,” I said.
“So you are blaming me for your wrist?”
“I think I am,” I said. “You could have done something.”
“You were cruising away.”
“You ran over pretty quick once I fell,” I said. “I was waiting for you to take your phone out and get some pictures.”
Emily snapped her fingers. “Damn, I should have done that.”
“Ouch again,” I said.
“Goodnight, Liam,” she said.
We stood outside the hospital, ready to get into two separate cars and go home to two separate places.
“You know, I never got those cookies for your neighbor,” I said.
“No, you didn’t.”
“You’re just going to keep cutting into me, aren’t you?”
“Yeah,” she said. “It’s kind of fun. And really easy right now.” She patted my chest. “Toughen up, Liam, so you can handle me.”
She turned and my right hand started to reach for her but I stopped myself.
I, again, flexed my left hand, needing the pain to chase away what my mind was about to think.
Emily got into a car and that car drove off.
I then reached for my phone and sent Miranda a text about my wrist.
I kept it simple. So she wouldn’t panic.
She didn’t respond until I got home twenty minutes later.
Sorry. Busy day. Are you okay? Do you need a cast? How long will you need to wear it? How in the world did you fall?
I studied the text as I walked with a beer tucked under my arm since I could only use my right hand and arm.
I sat down on the couch and put my phone down and used my pointer finger to peck away.
Long story. I’m fine. No cast. Just sore. I’m going to get some
sleep now. What a night.
Miranda replied with a thumb’s up emoji.
I swallowed hard, thinking about all the things we should have been saying to each other but didn’t. Thinking about things I wanted to say but wasn’t sure how to string the words together without causing chaos.
Or maybe it was just the emotions of the day and night catching up to me.
I looked at the bedroom and had no desire to sleep in that bed alone again.
Everything in the bedroom - right down to the pillowcases - was picked out by Miranda.
So I stayed on the couch.
I put on some old punk music through the sound system on the TV and smiled.
It was such bad music… but it always meant something to me.
My phone vibrated with another text.
It was Emily this time.
How’s the wrist? Mess up any more basic skateboarding tricks on the way home? ;)
I literally laughed out loud.
I’m home. I’m fine. I just did a one-handed handstand with my left hand. I’m good as new. Hey - how about the doctor and nurse calling you my wife? What a crazy night, Em.
I sent the text and waited for a reply like I was waiting for an email about a job offer.
When a message came though, it was like a jolt of relief.
Must mean we look good together. We’re going to need that to plan your wedding, right? I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Stay safe. ;)
I wished her goodnight and thanked her for sticking around after I hurt myself.
Then I sat back on the couch.
I drank the beer.
My left wrist had a dull ache in it.
Nothing compared to what was floating through my head and heart.
Chapter Eighteen
Emily
“Did you have sex last night?”
“What?” I yelled so loud that half the people in line looked at me.
Lucy smiled big and pointed at me. “Something is different.”
“Nothing is different,” I said. “And don’t talk like that when we have customers here. I’ll fire you next time.”
“No, you won’t,” she said. “And I want an answer to that question.”
She went back to the register and I went to the back of the bakery.
Ember had the kitchen in full swing. She moved so fast and efficiently, it was like watching an artist paint. I had often thought about letting her hire someone to help but I figured if that time came, she would talk to me about it.
I went into the office to pretend to have something to do.
In reality, I checked my phone every five minutes, waiting to hear from Liam.
It had been one crazy night.
Never in my wildest dreams could I have predicted me almost burning down my apartment, then him almost breaking his wrist all in the same night.
That’s why we weren’t good together…
I thought that and laughed.
Ember poked her head into the office. “Lucy needs you out front.”
“Of course she does,” I said.
If she asks me about my sex life again, I’m going to fire her. For real. Yes, I am.
I knew I would never fire her.
I needed her.
Plus, I didn’t have sex last night.
Not even close.
And if Lucy wanted to play the game where she implied something between Liam and I, she was insane.
We were friends. We could laugh and joke together, which could be perceived as maybe flirting, but it wasn’t that at all. Just like at the hospital. The nurse and doctor calling me his wife. That was funny. That wasn’t an ooohhh and aaahhh moment at all.
It was funny.
Lucy didn’t know how far back Liam and I went.
By the time I returned to the register I felt ready to fight Lucy. Like we were in a full-blown argument and I was ready to throw the knockout comment to end it.
She looked at me. “Can you run some orders?”
“Sure,” I said.
Lucy worked the register and I took care of the orders.
I put a paper bag on the counter with three chocolate chip muffins inside.
“These are the best,” the woman said to me. “I drive so far out of my way for these… you should have a truck or delivery…”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said. “Thank you for coming here.”
I went to the next order and felt Lucy staring at me.
I was crouched and I looked up at her.
“I didn’t have sex,” I whispered. “I swear on my life. And if you think something like that is going to happen between me and Liam, you’re insane. He’s engaged to Miranda.”
“You were pretty wet yesterday,” Lucy teased.
“From the sink,” I said. I stood up. “You’re really trying to get to me.”
“A little,” Lucy said. “You’re only easy to fluster when it comes to Miranda and Liam. I wonder why.”
I squinted my eyes.
I heard someone call out my name.
When I turned my head, I had a secret fantasy it was Liam coming to whisk me away from this business.
Instead, it was freaking Jeff.
“Hey, Jeff,” I said.
He stood at the side of the bakery case.
“What’s up?”
“Working.”
“I see that. Busy here.”
“Always busy.”
“Yet, you’re struggling, huh?”
“Who told you that?” I asked.
“Who do you think?”
I looked at him.
My sister and brother-in-law needed to stay away from my love life.
“I can help,” he said.
“If I need the help, I’ll ask,” I said. “Can we agree to that?”
“Look, I made up some plans,” he said. “In my free time. I usually charge a fortune for this kind of analysis, but for you… it’s on the house.”
“Plans?” I asked.
“Let’s go out to dinner together,” he said. “You and me. Just us. We can talk about everything. I know there’s some truth behind those pretty eyes of yours, Emily.”
I forced a laugh. “Thanks for that.” I took my phone out of my pocket and looked at Liam’s name. “Give me one second… I have to email a vendor…”
I sent Liam a text.
Want to help me? Get to the bakery ASAP. You might have to pretend to be close to me to chase someone away… there’s a free coffee waiting for you if you do it.
I looked back at Jeff.
He was closer to me. “What do you think?”
“I think I’m okay here,” I said.
“I think you’re more than okay,” Jeff said.
He touched my arm.
I stepped away. “Jeff…”
“Emily, I get it,” he said. “Your sister and Dan are involved. I hate it too. That’s why I came here myself. I know you need me.”
“Need you?” I asked.
I pondered the scenario where I would take Jeff’s face and smash it against the glass case.
As satisfying as that would have been, it pained me to imagine all of Ember’s delicious baked goods going to waste.
“I have to work,” I said.
“I’ll sit and wait,” he said.
“What?”
“I’m here, Emily,” he said. “I’ll wait until you can talk.”
I didn’t respond to Jeff.
I went in the back and took a deep breath.
My phone vibrated.
Liam texted me back.
Be there in two minutes.
Liam came through the front door like a man on a mission.
His eyes searched for me and he moved even faster when he found me.
He walked up to the glass case and passed Jeff right by as he sat at a table with a leather folder and a cup of coffee.
Lucy had already offered to get a baseball bat and rearrange Jeff’s face.
Again… it was tempting…
but I declined.
“What’s going on?” Liam asked.
“The guy right behind you. His name is Jeff. Pain in my ass. I’ll explain it later. I just need him gone.”
“What do you want me to do?” Liam asked. “Beat him up?”
“I’ve thought about it myself,” I said. “I don’t know…” I sighed. “I shouldn’t have texted you. This isn’t your business.”
“Yes, it is,” Liam said. He moved around the glass case. “Just go with me for a second.”
He touched my face and leaned in and kissed my cheek.
I sucked in a breath and felt my face surge with heat.
My knees rocked for a quick second.
Liam then turned and took my hand and pulled me toward the wall.
Jeff stared.
Liam gave a quick wave. “Jeff, right?”
Jeff stood up. “Yeah. Who are you?”
“This building… kind of, sort of mine. In a sense. Everything in it too.”
Jeff frowned. “Oh?”
“I hate to be a prick here, but I don’t like when people linger.”
“I’m a paying customer,” Jeff said.
“That you are,” Liam said.
“Emily, did you call this guy?” Jeff asked.
“No,” Liam said. “I always drop in to see my favorite person in the world. Is there a problem here?”
Jeff reached for his leather folder. “I guess not. I guess I read this wrong.”
“I’m sorry about my sister and Dan,” I said. “I tried to tell you. I tried to tell them. But this is my personal life.”
“Say no more, babe,” Liam said. “We don’t owe this guy anything.” Liam stepped toward Jeff. “Let me make something clear. If you want a cup of damn good coffee or some of the best baked goods in the city, come on in. But if you’re walking around with something else on your mind… stay away.”
Jeff’s face twisted up in anger, but he quickly backed down.
He grabbed his coffee cup and stormed out of the bakery.
Liam turned to face me just as Lucy stepped up next to me.
Of course, Lucy stood there, fanning herself, taking deep breaths.
“Well, well, well,” Lucy said. “You’ve got me all hot and bothered, Liam.”