“And now you’re dating someone, and you didn’t even tell me.”
“I told you, it’s new. It isn’t my fault that—”
“Besides, it’s important for couples to make time for each other outside of work,” Gran stresses. “You can’t only see each other at the hospital. I know how you are.”
“We do make time outside of work,” I protest. “We went to a bar on Friday.”
“A bar,” Gran huffs. “You can’t have quality time at a bar.”
There is a spark of memory that involves Noah’s body pressed to mine while his scent made me dizzy—and I think to myself I could make a valid argument against that. I keep quiet since it would most likely just have her picking out flower arrangements and venues though. Also, it still makes me feel a little funny when I remember touching Noah as casually as I did.
“I just don’t have a lot of years left, you know?” She sighs. Dramatically, I might add. “I always hoped to see you settled and happy before I kick the bucket.”
“We both know you’re likely to outlive me.”
“Not if my granddaughter keeps breaking my heart.”
“Fine!” I shake my head, watching the floor numbers change from three to two and willing the elevator to move faster. “Okay. I’ll ask him when he’s free.”
“Oh, wonderful. I’ll make my pot roast. Or is chicken better? Maybe I could—”
“I don’t think it matters what you cook,” I assure her, tapping my foot. “You don’t have to do anything special.”
This is going to be a disaster. I had hoped to ease Noah into all that is Moira Carter, but it looks like that’s not an option, since she’s apparently going to hound me right up to the altar. I’m starting to wonder if this is better than all the blind dates.
I have an errant thought about model trains, and that quickly puts the matter to bed.
“Of course I do! This could be my future grandson-in-law—”
“Gran.”
“—and first impressions are incredibly important.”
I round a corner, hardly paying attention to where I’m going now. “I’m sure Noah is going to think you’re perfectly wonderful as long as you don’t insist on acting batshit craz—”
I forget what I was saying as a familiar body comes into view—and I’m thrown by the person standing in the hall outside the ER.
“Noah?”
He looks frazzled, his arms crossed and his mouth taut as he looks up at me from the floor, his brow furrowed.
I can hear Gran’s voice distantly, my body having a weird reaction to seeing him after so many days. It’s like I forgot how to move all of a sudden. Did he smell this nice three days ago, or is it only because it’s been so long since I’ve been this close to him that’s making his scent seem more delectable?
“I have to go, Gran,” I tell her absently. “Lots to do. I’ll let you know soon.”
I’m not even sure she hears me hang up, still muttering about a menu for a dinner that hasn’t been set in stone yet.
I’m still just standing there. “What are you doing down here?”
“I was . . .” He looks me up and down, his eyes darting toward the way I’ve just come. “Were you having lunch?”
“Yeah. Over in the cafeteria.”
“Oh.”
“Were you looking for me?”
“I . . .” He shifts his weight from one foot to the other, almost like he’s uncomfortable. “Yes. I probably should have texted first.”
“No, that’s okay. I mean, I would have saved you the trip if you had and come to you, but it’s totally fine.”
“Right.” He nods down at the floor, still frowning. “Good. Okay.”
The expression on his face is still one of almost worry, and I push away the distraction of his scent as I reach out to press my fingers to his arm in concern. “Are you okay?”
His eyebrow quirks as he looks back up at me. “Okay?”
“Yeah, I mean . . . You don’t usually come down to my floor. Plus, you look super stressed. Did something happen? Because I can—”
“No, Mackenzie,” he interjects. He scrubs a hand down his face, his eyes darting down the hall. “It isn’t anything that—”
“Shit.” I follow his gaze, noticing an RN who’s turning the corner while perusing a clipboard. “Right. We shouldn’t talk about it here.”