once already, but Chloe always comes to the rescue, right there to help with my mishaps.
“So you do want to get punished?” I finish with the green and clean my brush to continue with some brown, and next some red and yellow to fill in the patterns on the shell and the body of the turtles.
“That depends.”
“On what?”
I can feel her eyes on me, but I stay strong, and don’t look her way. “On what the punishment is and if I’ll like it.”
Fuck. I don’t need a hard-on at the children’s hospital. There aren’t a lot of people left, but a few are still milling around for their late afternoon appointments. But no one needs to witness this disaster in the making if I can’t get a handle on my dick soon.
Or someone’s hands . . . or mouth.
Shit, what’s wrong with me? This is so not helping.
Let’s think about cute baby turtles. There’s little Squirt right in front of me.
Couldn’t get much more adorable than that.
I swallow repetitively before I clear my throat too. Pathetic. “Well, I guess you can find out later if you want.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Sure.” There. I sound totally nonchalant, like I don’t have a care in the world. And there’s definitely nothing to see here in this roped-off area, people. “Want to grab dinner when we’re done?”
“I have lasagna at home.”
The paintbrush almost falls out of my hand as I look at her. “Your lasagna?”
“Yup.”
“Hell, yes.” I’m only a decibel away from shouting it from the rooftops.
“Shush. Little ears.” Chloe chuckles and swats her hand at me. “Plus, only special people like my family and friends are allowed to know about my lasagna.”
Little ears? Fuck, she’s cute.
She’ll be the best mom one day. I’ve always known that.
But one thing at a time. I don’t want to overwhelm her either and drive her away. Because did she just throw me in the friend category there with her little statement? Huh. Not ideal, but I can be her friend, with benefits—lots of them—until she’s ready for the next step.
I give her a cocky grin because that’s the kind of relationship we have. “We can Netflix and chill?”
She shakes her head and laughs. “Something like that, sure.”
Awesome.
Chloe holds up her finger. “But only if we focus for the next hour now and paint.”
“Deal.” I hold out my pinky to her, and she stares at it for a moment before gingerly curling hers around mine.
“Deal.” She gets her phone out of her pocket and plays around with it for a moment. “I’m going to listen to some music. I need all the help I can get to stay focused. Let me know if you need anything, okay?”
I nod and get working on my own painting. Sometimes, I peek over and watch her paint, all engrossed in not only her artistic skills but also how she moves her body to whatever music she’s listening to. Until she looks at me and laughs before giving me a shoo motion with her hand.
She was right though, we do get a lot done during the next hour. And even though my painting lacks some skills, I also feel oddly accomplished.
After we clean our brushes and trays in the bathroom, we stow everything in the hallway closet and make our way to the elevator.
A man rushes toward us. “Chloe.”
The same man I’ve seen her with before here at the hospital—where she’d kissed his cheek, or was it him kissing her?—and another time where he picked her up at the house.
“Hey.” She goes up on her toes and hugs him. For a lot longer than you’d hug an acquaintance or normal friend. Hmm.
He gives her a peck on the cheek and looks at her. “You’re all good?”
She smiles up at him. “Yup, all good.”
“Great.” He gives her shoulder a squeeze before his gaze moves to me. “Hey, Noah. It’s been a while.” He holds out his hand and I shake it. Dumbfounded.
Do I know this guy?
“Hey . . .” It couldn’t be more obvious that I have no clue who he is.
“Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry.” Chloe slaps a hand on her forehead. “Noah, do you remember my uncle Cody? He used to look a bit different. More hippie with longer hair and a beard.”
“Thanks for that reminder.” Cody laughs and elbows her in the side. “I’m glad Checco isn’t here to witness that trip down his beloved ‘fashion faux pas’ memory lane, or I’d never hear the end of it. Again.”
“He loves to tease