Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 75699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Instead, naturally, I did what I did best and changed the subject. “Any of the others coming?”
“The kids are over there.” Dad pointed out Wren and Rowan sitting near the front, holding large bowls of popcorn. Like me, Rowan was also in waiting mode, hoping to hear about the show soon, so I’d endured a lot of decorating talk the past few weeks. “Eric is on the way, but Jonas is stuck at the hospital. They’re so short-staffed lately. He’s having to cover NP hours and admin work.”
“Yeah.” Maybe I should have told my dad my news. If Jonas was alerting others about his schedule first, maybe I was less of a priority than I’d thought. I tapped my fingers against my phone in my pocket. “Guess it means Jonas is good at what he does.”
“That, and the guy is incapable of saying no to a damn thing,” Dad added.
I had no doubts Jonas was an amazing leader and nurse practitioner, but I still had to nod my agreement. My teeth gritted every time he said yes to another shift. Also, was I one of those things he couldn’t say no to? Afterall, I was the one who’d pressed for more kissing and usually sought him out first. What if he’d be happy about my news? More time for work, at least.
“Think you can give me a ride home after the movie?” I asked Dad, both as a matter of practicality and to force my mind away from Jonas.
“Of course.” Dad grinned, the same wide Murphy grin my grandpa had, the same eyes as mine sparkling. “Glad you asked.”
Dad would be sad when I went back to Arizona. Oh, he wouldn’t say anything, stoic to the end, but he’d miss me. And I hadn’t exactly done a great job of spending time with him while I was here. Now, time was running out on numerous fronts.
“Maybe I can stop in and see the cats for a moment.” I made the offer sound casual, but Dad’s obvious pleasure was serious stuff. Maybe I needed to look beyond our personality differences and make more of an effort.
“I’d like that.” He nodded, grinning even wider. “Denver doesn’t drink, but I’ve got a way better root beer than the generic soda they’re serving here and some vanilla ice cream in the freezer.”
“You’re on.” I smiled back. I’d break my dad’s heart all over again when I told him I was leaving. And as for Jonas, it was a toss-up which of us would be the heartbreaker first. Perhaps that was why I’d offered to spend time with my dad. Delaying the inevitable hard conversations sounded pretty damn good right then.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Jonas
As I arrived home from yet another late overtime shift, I crept past the darkened kitchen. My last meal had been early afternoon. Maybe. The day was a bit of a blur. I’d need to eat before bed, but first, I needed to locate Oz and see if he needed to go out.
And okay, I wanted to see if there was any chance Declan was still awake. I wouldn’t wake him if his door was shut, but it had been a long, trying day. I wouldn’t mind a friendly face. As luck would have it, Declan’s door was cracked, and the glow from a low lamp escaped into the hallway. And there was my traitorous dog curled up with Declan, who was watching something on his phone while lounging in flannel pants and a gray T-shirt.
“You’re up late.” I stepped inside his room, happy to find him awake but also a little concerned. “Sick headache again?”
Once a nurse, always a nurse, and predictably, Declan released a long-suffering sigh.
“Nah. Just a lot on my mind.” Declan patted the scrap of bed next to him and Oz. “I’m glad the hospital finally let you go home.”
“Me too.” I yawned and stretched but didn’t approach the bed. If I laid down, I likely wasn’t getting up again until morning. “I’m starving, but do you want to talk about what’s keeping you awake?”
“Eventually.” Whatever was bugging Declan didn’t sound too urgent as he hefted himself off the bed, Oz at his heels. “Let’s find you some food first.”
Declan seemed in an unusually bossy mood, so I happily trailed behind him to return to the kitchen. He flipped on the lights for the stove and island individually, which made the kitchen seem smaller and cozier. Standing in front of the fridge, he made a series of clucking noises and shook his head.
“Everyone was at the movie night, so there’s not much in the way of leftovers. I’ll make you some eggs or something.”
“You don’t have to do that.” I tried to peer around him and find something I could simply grab and eat, but he pushed me toward a stool at the island.