He didn’t hide the concern from his gaze. “Well, instead of saying anything or going to him, what if I run a full panel and just check your blood work and make sure there aren’t any red flags? Maybe you’ve got mono or a virus. Let’s rule out everything before we panic.”
“Really? That would be amazing. And you could keep it between us. If anything comes up, then I’ll go see Dr. Roberts. But I’m fairly certain it’s just exhaustion. I have been going nonstop.”
“It probably is. Stop by my office later today, and I’ll have Janet draw your blood and get it over to the lab. With the holidays, it might take a bit longer, but we’ll get all of it back shortly after Christmas. Then you can put your mind at ease.”
“Thank you, Carl,” I said. “And how about you? Are you doing okay?”
“I am. I think I’m going to take some time and just be alone for a while. You know if you change your mind, and you and Finn don’t work out, I’ll be here.” He waggled his brows, his attempt to be funny.
I chuckled. The problem was, it didn’t matter if Finn was committed to this or not in the long run. He’d shown me what I wanted out of a relationship and what it meant to truly be loved by a man.
And I knew that Carl and I did not have a future.
He pushed to his feet and clutched his chest. “I know that look very well. I get it. You’ve got it bad for the guy. I knew it the first time I saw you two together when you came home outside of Cottonwood Café.”
“What do you mean?” I stood and followed him to the door.
“The way you looked at him after he’d kissed you.” He shrugged. “You’ve never looked at me that way.”
Finn and I hadn’t even been a real thing back then.
“How did I look at him?” I chuckled as he pulled the door open.
“Like he was the center of your universe.” He leaned over and hugged me goodbye. “He looked at you the same way. And you know what, Reese?”
“What?” I asked as he stepped outside.
“You deserve that. I know it. And I think you know it now, too.” He held a hand up and walked toward the parking lot. “Don’t forget to come by today. I want to run that blood work.”
I waved. “I will. Thank you, Carl.”
When I closed the door, I leaned against it and closed my eyes.
He was right. I did look at Finn that way.
Because Finn Reynolds was the center of my universe.
twenty-three
Finn
I’m going holiday shopping with Reese tonight. I got her that charm bracelet I told you about. You know, the one that supposedly says, “I want to date you for real.”
Hugh
What was the gift that said, “I want to fake date you?”
Cage
That’s the gift of the penis, apparently.
You were the ones who told me that sex would make her want to date me, not fake date me, you dicksicles.
Brinkley
And this is why you don’t go to a man for dating advice. Sex is never going to show a woman that you want to date her seriously.
Georgia
Hmmm… I’m not sure that’s true. It made me want to date Bossman.
Cage
I just sat down to have lunch, and now my fucking appetite is ruined. For fuck’s sake, don’t talk about your sex life on the group chat, Georgie.
Brinkley
This is the guy you went to for advice, Finny? He doesn’t have a clue how to handle a woman.
Cage
I’m on this thread, you know that, right?
Brinkley
I do. I just don’t care.
Hugh
Maybe you should just tell her that you want to date her for real.
Brinkley
Really? You think? Duh. That’s what I’ve been trying to say.
Because she’s still not sure how she feels about Dr. Lamebrain, and I don’t want to scare her off.
Georgia
I have to tell you something, but I don’t want you to get upset.
Tell me.
Georgia
Maddox and I met Reese at the office this morning, and Carl was just leaving when we arrived. It may have been nothing, but I didn’t know if you knew he was going to see her today.
Cage
I thought she was done with his bullshit design project.
She is. I didn’t know they were meeting today. This is what I’m talking about. We don’t speak about him anymore, so I don’t know where she stands with him or with me. Ever since we entered this gray area, she doesn’t say much about him.
Brinkley
You’re leaving to film a movie after the holidays. Don’t you think you should be discussing this? You live together. You sleep together. You’re best friends. I have news for you, Finny: You are dating her. You just aren’t talking about it.