to our feet and watched him approach.
“How is he?” Mom blurted.
“Very well,” the doctor said. “He did great, and he’ll be ready to leave in twenty minutes. The procedure was clean and simple. No complications. I think he’s going to have dramatic improvements in the next few months.”
“Oh, that’s so great.” Mom clutched her chest, relieved by the news.
“Thank you,” I said to excuse the doctor.
“Well, that’s a relief,” Mom said. “I can’t wait to get him home.”
“Me neither.”
We visited with my dad for a while, had dinner like usual, and then he went to bed early after the long day.
I went back to the apartment with Lizzie, and after she brushed her teeth, she went to bed.
I stayed in the living room to watch TV and enjoy a glass of wine. Since I’d taken the entire day off and Derek’s book was finished, I didn’t have any pressing matters requiring my attention, so I chose to wind down for the evening.
My phone lit up with a message from Derek. How’s your father?
I was surprised he’d texted me again when he’d already checked in with me earlier. The question was sweet because it was genuine. He’d been thinking about it all day, waiting for me to give him an update, and when he couldn’t wait any longer, he reached out to me again. Good. The procedure went well. We got him home, had some dinner, and put him to bed. He’s not in much pain, which is great.
I’m happy to hear that. And you?
I know this is going to change his life for the better, so I’m glad it’s done. Just have to get him into physical therapy and start that process…but in time, he’ll be good as new.
I’m sure he will.
I thought the conversation was over, so I set my phone to the side.
He texted me again. Is there anything I can do for you? Bring you something to eat?
It was such a thoughtful gesture…and so unexpected. I’m okay, but thank you.
Because I can get a burger over to you in no time.
I chuckled because I knew it was a joke, even in the context of a text. LOL. Now I’m going to want one for lunch tomorrow.
Then we’ll get them.
Were you lost without me today? I sent a smiley face, so he knew I was teasing.
He didn’t respond right away, and the dots didn’t light up. But then they appeared, his message popping up instantly afterward. Actually, I was…
Eight
Derek
Emerson brought lunch and set it on the table before she returned to my office so she could eat alone and work on whatever needed her attention. She never joined us, and I wasn’t sure if it was because she was uncomfortable around the guys or she just wanted there to be some distance.
I took my food into the office and sat on the couch across from her.
She looked up from her salad, surprised I was there. “It’s not a burger, but I can’t eat too many of those…” She smiled then pushed around the contents of her salad, mixing it with the dressing.
“Next time.” I didn’t get one either. Otherwise, I’d have to hit the weights harder every morning, and I already pushed myself to the limit as it was. I couldn’t outrun my fork. It was no surprise that my dad was still in great shape because he didn’t have to work out as hard to keep his physique since he chose to uphold a strict diet.
“How was your day yesterday?” We’d talked for a bit on the drive to the office, but we’d spent most of that time talking about her father. “You didn’t starve, right?”
I chuckled. “We skipped lunch, actually.”
“Really?” she asked in surprise. “So, when I’m not here, you’ll literally go hungry?”
“Yes. So, we need to rethink that vacation time off I offered.”
She chuckled. “If I left for a week, I’d come back to three corpses in the lab…”
“Two. I’d eat them.”
She chuckled again, the color moving into her cheeks.
I wasn’t a funny guy, so I always felt a sense of accomplishment when I made her laugh. The last few times we interacted, it’d been a little awkward since she’d asked me to sign those books and I’d basically told her she was the only person who knew me. I’d been saying a lot of stupid shit lately—and I needed to stop.
It was fucking impossible.
I used to be a man of few words, but now I couldn’t shut up.
She took a few bites of her