Internal Fixation - Tawdra Kandle Page 0,17
with her worries instead of just pacifying her.”
“That’s real growth, Jen. Thanks.” I ran my fingers over the screen of my tablet, pulling up Mrs. Scarborough’s chart, and frowned at the orders. “Hmmm. I think I need to consult with the nutrition team downstairs before I talk to her. Can you please let her know I’ll stop in to see her before I leave for home tonight?”
“Got it.” Jenny yawned and moved her neck from one side to the other, stretching the muscles. “I’m about to go eat my lunch out in the courtyard. Care to join me?”
“I can do that. I have a salad in the fridge. Meet you out there in ten?”
“I’ll save you a bench.”
I stopped at the nurses’ station to check on a couple of patients’ test results before I walked down to the lounge to retrieve my salad and handbag. Sliding my sunglasses over my eyes, I pushed open the door to the courtyard and wandered out to join Jenny.
“What a beautiful day.” I sat down and spread a cloth napkin over my lap. “It never fails to amaze me that the most pleasant weather in Florida happens in November and December.”
“I know. I have all of the windows at home open—I slept without the air conditioning on last night. It was glorious.” Jenny bit into her sandwich. “Makes me remember why I live here.”
“Oh, you mean the smokin’ hot guy who looks like he wants to eat you up with a spoon isn’t the reason?” I teased.
“He’s a big part of it,” she admitted cheerfully. “But being in love is even sweeter in Florida. At least, in the fall, the winter and the spring. In the summer, I think I’d rather be in love up in New England, where it’s cooler.”
“Speaking of Nico, did you happen to check with him about this Monday?” I slid her sideways glance. “About the two of us driving over and having dinner before the game? And then me staying over afterwards?”
“You make it sound like we’re kids asking our parents for permission to have a sleepover.” Jenny rolled her eyes. “But yes. Nico said that he’d reserve a table for us in the late afternoon, and he’d have some amazing vegan food for you. He’s also promised to change the sheets on the bed in the guest room.” She snickered. “But he did ask me to warn you that the walls in his condo are thin, so you should probably bring earplugs, because sometimes we can get . . . loud.”
“Great.” I plunged my fork into the salad. “Flaunt your hot monkey lovin’ to your poor sex-starved friend.”
“It’s tender and passionate love-making, dude, not just hot monkey sex,” Jenny informed me loftily. “And as for flaunting it, I have no shame about that. But when it comes to you being sex-starved . . . maybe you won’t be.” Jenny wiggled her eyebrows at me. “Maybe you won’t even be staying with us that night. Maybe Noah’s going to make his move and suggest that you two celebrate Tampa’s win on Monday Night Football in your own very special way.”
“Jenny.” I shot her a reproving glare. “I’ve told you over and over that Noah and I are just friends. Nothing more. Plus, even if we were more, which we are not, we’re trying to be very circumspect about our friendship, because we don’t want people to think things that aren’t accurate. And his parents are staying with him, too, so I highly doubt any moves will be made. Finally, we don’t know that Tampa’s going to win, so don’t jinx the team.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. You forget that I grew up with a football player. Kyle’s the most superstitious son of a bitch you ever want to meet.”
“He’s not. He’s super adorable.” I’d met Kyle Ward, Jenny’s older brother, who was a fullback for the Richmond Rebels, when he came down last summer to visit during the off-season. “Don’t pick on him. Remember, he’s my fallback lover.”
Since Nico was Kyle’s best friend and had for all intents and purposes violated the sacrosanct friendship treaty and bro code by falling in love with Jenny, Kyle had threatened to return the favor to Jenny by hooking up with me. While I would’ve been more than happy to enjoy a one-night stand with Kyle if he’d been just a random guy, I wouldn’t ever make my friendship with Jenny awkward by sleeping with her big brother. Still, Kyle and I both liked to