Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
“But then you’re a ray of sunshine to everyone in there, aren’t you? Especially Clara.”
He gives me a scolding look. “Don’t mention her. The nurses will hear you.”
Arthur has a thing for another resident at the nursing home. I noticed him watching her every time I was here and she was in the room, but he denied it for the first six months. Now he’ll only admit he thinks she’s good company.
“You should ask her out,” I suggest.
He scoffs. “And take her where? To the dining hall? So we can sit at a table full of people with their dentures sitting on napkins who can’t hear a damn thing?”
When he puts it that way...yeah, it doesn’t sound very romantic.
“It doesn’t have to be elaborate to make her feel special. Get her some flowers. Put on a nice jacket. Comb down your two hairs.”
He grunts. “I don’t need dating advice from a guy whose balls just recently dropped.”
I arch my brows. “You’ve had zero dates in the year I’ve known you, so...I think you do.”
Arthur looks like a kindly old man, but he could hold his own chirping with the guys in my team’s locker room. I know he enjoys our banter, even if he pretends it annoys him.
“When was your last date?” he asks in a smug tone.
“Last one? I don’t know, a few months ago. I actually have a date Thursday night.”
He studies me over the rim of his glasses, his lips turned down in the frown he wears when he’s thinking. “Well? What’s her name? You taking her somewhere nicer than a nursing home dining hall?”
“I made a reservation at a good Italian place. And her name’s Cam. She’s my best friend’s girlfriend’s sister.”
His frown deepens. “That’s a bad idea.”
I ignore my flare of aggravation. “Why is that?”
“Because if it doesn’t work out, and it probably won’t, your best friend and his girl will be mad at you.”
“Why do you think it probably won’t work out?”
He scoffs. “How many women have you been out with?”
“I mean...ever?”
“The number doesn’t matter. Point is, none of them worked out, did they?”
I open my mouth, then close it again.
“Cancel the date. Your best friend is more important.”
Why does he assume I’m a douchebag who’s going to screw Cam over and piss Dom off? I don’t let on how aggravated I am.
“I don’t have to choose between the two.”
Arthur shrugs. “Okay. I won’t say I told you so.”
“You’re overthinking it.”
He drops the subject, making his next move in our chess game.
“Check.”
I move my king out of check and Arthur counters by putting him in check with another piece. A nurse stands off to the side as we both play in silence, concentrating.
“That’s it. Checkmate,” Arthur says.
“Well done,” the nurse, Sara, says. “And now it’s time for your medication.”
I look at my watch and then back at her. “He doesn’t usually take medication in the afternoon.”
“The doc put me on a new one,” Arthur says. “Supposed to help with the shakes.”
Sara passes him a pill and some water and he takes it. As soon as she’s out of earshot, he gives me a wry look. “Don’t ever get old, kid. It’s no damn fun.”
“Beats the alternative, though.”
A corner of his lips quirks up in a smile. “I suppose.”
“You want to play some more chess?”
“If you’re not tired of losing yet.”
“One of these games, I’m gonna sneak up on you and win.”
His laugh is hearty, so thorough he has to wipe his eyes when he’s done laughing. I like making him laugh like that. Even if I have to lose a hundred and forty-four chess games in a row.
CHAPTER FIVE
Cam
As the one who brewed the fresh midmorning pot of coffee at the downtown Denver law office where I work, I’m entitled to pour the first cup. But when Tom Caldera, one of the associate attorneys, walks into the employee break room, I immediately grab a mug and fill it to the brim before passing it to him.
“Bless you,” he murmurs as he takes a sip.
“How’s it going?”
“Oh. I figured the dark circles under my eyes said it all.”
The sagging, dark purple bags beneath his eyes really do tell a story. And it’s a story I know well. Tom and his wife Jeannie have five-week-old triplets, two boys and one girl. Newborn multiples consume every bit of a parent’s time and energy, and Tom was only able to get two weeks off when they were born.
“I take it sleep training isn’t going any better?”
He sighs heavily. “Sleep training is a myth. I did get three hours of sleep last night, but Jeannie got maybe one hour. So tonight’s my night to let her sleep. Really looking forward to experiencing total delirium sometime soon.”
“If you don’t mind me bringing my boys with me, I could come over for a few hours this weekend and take care of them so you guys can get a good nap in.”