CHAPTER TWENTY
Sarah
“You got zapped by your own vibrator?” Maggie’s already repeated this five times. “How does that even happen?” she muses yet again.
“Are you done yet?”
“Guess you could say that what you and Jack have is”—she pauses for emphasis—“electric.” She makes zapping noises before dissolving into laughter.
“Glad I could serve as comedic relief for you.”
“You have to admit…” Her smile widens. “It’s pretty damn funny.”
“Hilarious,” I respond dryly. Settling on her couch, I release a long sigh.
“Maybe the universe is trying to tell me something,” I muse. “Like maybe I really should give that new dating app a try.”
Maggie makes a dismissive sound. “Sarah. That app is ridiculous. They include stuff like whether you hate paying extra for guacamole or not.”
“Well, it is kind of a downer…” I trail off playfully. She rolls her eyes at me. “I should just give up on men and put all my energy into growing my window basil.”
“Seriously?” She stares. “Do you hear yourself right now?” She wrinkles her nose. “Besides, your window basil is pathetic.”
I blow out a heavy breath. “Yeah. Chalk that up to yet another Pinterest fail.” I reach for my cell phone and pull up the dating app. “Get over here and let’s see if I can find a guy who won’t channel his inner Dom.”
Maggie slides closer to me, peering at the screen of my phone. “You should also make sure he likes to snuggle on the couch and watch classics like The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, or, oh, I don’t know”—she lifts a shoulder in a half shrug—“maybe The Princess Bride.”
Her ploy at being nonchalant is pathetic at best. I eye her, but her gaze remains on my phone’s display.
“Subtle, Maggie. Real subtle.”
Finally, her eyes lift and meet mine. Her lips curve upward in a sly smile. “Just sayin’. You’re not going to find a guy like that”—she nods toward my phone—“there.”
With a huff, I toss my cell aside, and it lands softly on the couch cushion beside me. Reaching into the pocket of my hooded sweatshirt, I withdraw one of my chocolates and unwrap it.
And hell if the message written on the inside foil wrapper doesn’t stop me in my tracks.
Stop searching for what’s right in front of you.
* * *
“He’s a cutie. You could totally bag him.”
I shove Clint around the corner of the nurses’ station, hissing at him. “You can’t be serious right now.”
He smirks. “He seems like he’d be a ton of fun, Sarah.”
My glare is hard. “He came in with an English cucumber stuck in his ass, Clint.”
His smirk widens, eyes dancing with delight. “Like I said, he’d be a ton of fun.” His expression sobers suddenly, and he appears concerned. “You’ll have to keep him away from the produce section in the grocery store, though.” He purses his lips thoughtfully. “That might be far too much temptation for him.”
With a frustrated sound, I turn my attention back to the patient’s chart, purposely ignoring him. “Clint,” I growl softly in warning.
“Yes, Sunshine?”
My head whips around to stare at him, and he offers a knowing look. “Don’t worry. I know that’s the special nickname Jack gave you. I just wanted to see if it still worked its magic. Especially since you’ve been avoiding him lately.”
“I’m not—”
“You are,” Clint interrupts me calmly.
I toss my hands up in exasperation. “How do you even know this?”
He folds his arms against his chest. “Because we talk, Sarah. We may not be close enough to, oh, I don’t know, share little episodes of spanking, biting, and electrical shocks to the vajayjay, but Jack and I’ve become friends.”
I attempt to ignore him as I turn and look over the schedule.
“Haven’t found anyone on that app yet, have you?” The whispered words in my ear make my jaw clench tight.
“I never said that.”
“You didn’t have to. Your dry panties say it all.”
Whirling around on Clint, I poke a finger at his chest, hissing quietly. “You’d better stop now, or I’ll file a complaint.”
He merely wiggles his eyebrows, pulls out his cell phone, and backs away with a gleeful grin. “As if anyone would believe that I, Nurse of the Month, could be anything other than charming.” There’s a millisecond pause. “Plus, I’m on break right now, so I figure I’ll head over to the cafeteria and text my new BFF the news about someone’s horribly dry undergarments.”
“Cli—”
“Later, Sunshine.” He strolls away, leaving me glaring at his back.
* * *
“What’s the deal with you and Jack?”
Pushing the door to the dishwasher closed, I press the start button and lean back against the kitchen counter. “No deal, really.” I shrug. “I mean, I’m convinced the universe is against us. But it’s also no secret that I think he’s so hot someone could drown in my panties when he’s nearby.”
Maggie’s eyebrows shoot up, eyes going wide. “Whoa. O-kay, then.”
“I heard the word panties, so count me in.” Ry strolls into the kitchen with a wide smile. He slings an arm around Maggie’s shoulders and whispers something that makes her cheeks flush before dropping a quick kiss to her temple.
“Ugh.” I wave a hand at them as if shooing them away. “Couples in love.”
In truth, I adore them and the fact they’re deliriously in love thrills me. Is it slightly nauseating how perfect they are for one another? Yes. Does it also make me throw up a bit in my mouth at their little, obviously naughty, whispers? Double yes. But I deal because that’s what best friends do.
Grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge, Ry turns and eyes me curiously as he uncaps it. “So what’s this about panties?” He smirks and takes a swig of water.
Maggie turns to him. “Sarah mentioned something about how Jack’s so hot someone could drown in her panties.”
Ry sprays water everywhere, practically showering poor Maggie. Sent into a coughing fit of laughter, he covers his mouth, attempting to regain control of himself. I grab a dishtowel and toss it to Maggie so she can mop up the mess.
“I don’t think it warranted a reaction like that,” I remark to Ry.
Maggie tosses the towel back onto the counter and announces she’s going to change her shirt.
“Sorry, Mags,” Ry calls out as she disappears down the hallway. Turning his attention back to me, he shakes his head with a smirk. “Sarah, Sarah, Sarah. Still keeping me on my toes, I see.”
I shrug and offer a smug smile. “You asked.”
He glances down the hall and then back at me. “You and Jack are back on better terms, I take it? I mean, especially if you’re talking about”—he falters for a moment, and I can’t help but find his discomfort amusing—“panties and, uh, drowning.”
“Kind of.” I shrug again. “Aside from the crazy incidents that seem to always happen when we’re together.”
Sobering, Ry falls silent for a moment and tosses another glance down the hall where Maggie retreated. Returning his attention to me, he waves me closer before lowering his voice. If I didn’t know any better, I’d be concerned. Except his eyes are sparkling with mischief, so I know he’s up to no good.
“While she’s back there,” he says softly, “tell me this.” One eyebrow raises slightly. “Has Mags ever mentioned me inducing her ‘panty-drowning’ effect?”
Schooling my expression, I shake my head with faux sadness. “Dry as the Sahara, Ry,” I answer, releasing a long, mournful sigh to add more emphasis.
He stares at me for a moment, eyes studying me, and I do my best to maintain a straight face.
Finally, his lips curve into a wide grin, and he hooks an arm around my shoulder, holding me in a headlock. Pulling me in close, he uses his other hand to give me noogies, ruffling my hair as though I’m a small child.
“Ry!”
“You lie!” I can hear the laughter in his voice while I struggle to break free from his hold. “Admit it! Admit to the panty drowning!”
“Fine!” I toss back, continuing to struggle. “Always! She always says that!”
Instantly, I’m released and blow out a huff of breath. Attempting to smooth down my hair, I toss a hard glare at Ry. Before I can scold him, we hear Maggie mutter, “I really don’t think that warranted a headlock, Ry.” She’s standing with her arms crossed, watching us with barely banked amusement.
“Ah, but a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do, Mags.” Ry tugs her close and skims his lips over her forehead before leaning back to flash a cocky smile. “Especially when it comes to panty drowning.”