Chapter 7

On Friday morning, Krista picked up her pace to stay in stride with Grace. “I can’t believe you talked me into this,” Krista complained, already breaking into a sweat. “I like morning muffins better.” She was wearing her yoga pants and sneakers, her work uniform in the backseat of her car.

“I have to be able to fit into my wedding dress in a few weeks,” Grace told her, pumping her arms beside her as she walked. “This’ll energize your day. I promise.”

Krista growled as she kept walking. “I walk up and down the hospital halls all day long, back and forth. I get plenty of exercise and my feet already hurt by the time I settle into my bed.”

Grace laughed, but didn’t show any remorse for this morning’s decision. “So, Jack and I want to invite you over to dinner at our place this week.”

Krista glanced over. “Why?” she asked, a suspicious tone swinging in her question.

“No reason. Well, there is a reason, but we want to wait to tell you until we’re together.”

Krista narrowed her eyes. “Are you pregnant?”

“No.” Grace laughed and shook her head. “And if we were, I wouldn’t mysteriously invite you over to dinner to tell you.”

“Right. Well, I guess I have no choice but to say yes then. I can’t stand the suspense. But I hate being the third wheel, so if you two start getting handsy, I’m out.”

Grace waved a hand. “There’ll be four of us anyway, so you won’t be a third wheel. And I’m not saying anything else because I know you and you’ll ruin the surprise. How about Sunday night?”

Krista nodded. “I have the day off. I can be there whenever you want.”

“Perfect. Let’s do five-thirty.”

They passed Abby’s restaurant and Abby exited the front in her own pair of yoga pants and sneakers.

“This is an awful idea,” she complained, walking up beside them. Her red-toned hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail.

“Don’t tell me the morning muffin habit isn’t starting to make your clothes a little tight,” Grace said cheerily.

“I don’t meet you guys every morning,” Abby said. “So I’m good.”

Krista shrugged. “And I wear scrubs all day. They have elastic waistbands.”

“You two crack me up.” Grace laughed.

They continued walking until they reached the waterfront and Grace tagged one of the benches on the boardwalk. “This is the one-mile point. By the time we reach our cars we’ll have gone two miles. Our heads will be clearer and our bodies will thank us.”

Krista and Abby shared a look that made Grace swat them playfully.

Krista doubted her head would be any clearer. It’d been convoluted with work and Chandler Dale, and Noah, lately.

“How was the date on Wednesday night?” Abby asked, as if reading her mind.

“I’m not sure. Good, I guess.”

“Are you seeing him again?” Grace asked.

Krista nodded. “I think so.” She looked between them. “He made me laugh and that’s always a plus. But there was also a disaster. Karen showed up and stopped at our table.”

“Oh, no. Your boss outed you dating a colleague. Is that against the rules at Blushing Bay Memorial?” Grace asked.

Krista shrugged. “Kind of. I never would’ve even gone out with him if Noah hadn’t pushed the issue. It didn’t even occur to me that I might be breaking some rule or ethics.”

Abby waved a hand. “Whatever. It was just one date. Dinner with a colleague. Did you kiss him?”

“No.” But Krista had thought that maybe Chandler was going to try. She’d scrambled for her keys quickly as she’d made her way to her front door and avoided eye contact. She wasn’t ready to be kissed. It’d been ages since she’d been kissed by a man and…

Krista stopped walking, her heart rate skyrocketing as if this morning’s walk had been a sprint around the town. “Oh, my God,” she said in a low whisper.

“What?” Grace and Abby sandwiched her, concern written on their faces. “What’s wrong?” Grace asked.

Scattered memories started to push in on Krista’s mind. Grace was right. She was able to think clearer and suddenly she’d remembered something. Something she absolutely didn’t want to share with the women beside her. Because it was too fresh, too raw, and she needed to process it. “N-nothing. I just think I left the curling iron on at home.”

Grace frowned. “Don’t you have one of those automatic-shutoff ones? They’re a lot safer.”

“Yeah. You’re right. No big deal.” Krista laughed lightly and continued walking, moving quicker now. She couldn’t get to her car fast enough. No wonder Noah had been acting so weird lately, like a skittish dog who’d been abused somehow.

Abby dropped off when they passed her restaurant again. “See you all later. The walk was nice.”

Krista and Grace waved and continued until they reached the parking lot where they’d started. “Bye, Grace. This was great,” Krista said quickly.

“Liar.” Grace dipped inside her car and came back up with a box of granola bars. She offered one to Krista. “Here’s breakfast.”

Krista reached for one. “Thanks. You rock.”

“So we’re on for Sunday night?” Grace asked.

Krista nodded absently.

“And then we’ll do this again on Monday morning because you love me and want me to look beautiful on my wedding day.”

Krista cocked her head to one side. “Yes, I do love you and you’ll be a beautiful bride no matter what.”

When Krista was finally in her driver’s seat, she took a moment to breathe and explore the memory she’d had. Or maybe it’d just been a bad dream. Flashes of her lips coming in swift contact with Noah’s hit her with a shattering force. Without warning, she’d leaned forward and kissed him, and it hadn’t been some innocent, friendly, best-friend kind of kiss. Nope. There were wet lips and a splash of tongue. Did he kiss me back? She tried, but couldn’t remember.

Krista banged the back of her head against the headrest of her car. No, no, no, no, no. Noah’s sudden change in demeanor made sense all of a sudden.

She rubbed her forehead and cranked her car. Then she ripped open the wrapper of the granola bar and ate while she drove. She’d never told Noah how she felt because she was afraid he wouldn’t reciprocate. And her fears were all but validated now. He didn’t feel the same. If he did, he wouldn’t be acting so strangely right now. She parked at the hospital and carried the bag with her change of clothes inside.

“Have you been working out?” a voice asked as she entered the building. Chandler was exiting the hospital gift shop with a Mountain Dew in hand. “Did you do an extra workout for me?” he asked, waggling his eyebrows.

Krista couldn’t help but smile. He was handsome in his own right. And charming when he wasn’t bragging about how wonderful he was. “I went for a speed walk with friends…I had fun with you the other night, by the way.”

“Me, too.” He twisted the cap off his Mountain Dew and took a long pull. “We should do it again. Maybe tonight?”

Krista hesitated. She needed to get over Noah and she needed him to think that the other night was just a mistake. Because it was. Just her drinking too much and doing crazy things that meant absolutely nothing. She looked up at Chandler. She didn’t like to use people, though. She didn’t want to hurt the man standing in front of her. “If I say yes, it might be for all the wrong reasons,” she told him honestly.

He lifted a shoulder, his friendly smile unwavering. “Then I’ll have to give you all the right reasons to say yes the next time.”

Krista hugged her bag to her side, wishing she felt more for this guy. He was definitely wonderful in his own right. Maybe another date would do the trick. “Okay then. I’d love to go out with you. Tonight would be great.”

On Sunday night, Noah rang Jack’s doorbell at five-thirty for the mysterious dinner he’d been invited to. He was right on time for a change. Mostly because he’d been waiting for this dinner all day. He usually spent Sundays on the water or out and about with Krista. He and Krista hadn’t spent much time together lately, though. She’d been off seeing Dr. Doolittle and he’d just needed time to get his head on straight. Maybe he’d call her tomorrow.

Jack opened the front door. “You’re on time? This is a miracle.”

Noah shook his head. “Is this how you treat your dinner guests?”

Grace waved him in. “Ignore him. Come inside and have a beer.”

“I won’t say no to that.” Noah offered Jack a smug look. “Good thing you’re getting married, so you’ll actually have a better half.”

Jack crossed his arms at his chest. “Really? Is that how tonight is going to go?”

Noah grinned.

The doorbell rang again behind them.

“There she is,” Grace said, rushing over to answer the door.

“Who?” Noah asked, looking at Jack.

“Our other guest. Did you think you were it?” Jack shook his head. “So full of yourself.”

Noah landed a punch to his shoulder. Then his gaze caught on the other guest. “Krista.”

Krista turned her gaze from Grace and noticed him, too. She looked as surprised as he did. “Oh. Hi,” she said, and if he wasn’t mistaken her cheeks bloomed a whole new shade of dark pink. Since when did seeing him make her blush? Had she remembered their kiss?

“Okay, dinner is almost ready. I’m so excited that you two could come.” Grace hurried back to the kitchen.

Krista stared at Noah for a long moment. The usual easiness between them was gone, which felt like a body slam to Noah. He didn’t like this new tension that seemed to separate them. He didn’t like looking at her and having no idea what to say.

“So, uh…” He fidgeted with his hands.

Krista hooked a finger toward the kitchen. “I’m actually going to go see if Grace needs help cooking,” she said, cutting him off. She offered up a smile that didn’t reach her blue eyes and hurried past him.

“Wow. What’s going on between you two?” Jack asked, handing him a beer.

Noah popped the tab. He’d need this and more tonight. “I’m not exactly sure.”

“Is it that guy she’s dating?”

Noah shook his head. “She’s not dating him. She’s just been out on a date with him.”

“It’s been two dates now, I hear,” Jack said.

Noah drank again. “You know what, I think it’s great. Maybe you guys can have a double wedding.”

Jack laughed. “You’re full of yourself and full of shit tonight. You and Krista have always had a little more than friendship between you two. If you don’t get your act together and figure it out, you’re going to lose her, you know.”

The truth of that statement resonated deeply inside Noah, like a boat’s sonar sitting over the ocean, pinpointing exactly where his garbage was hidden. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, tipping his bottle back and drinking again.

“Okay, man. Have it your way.”

Noah shrugged, as if Krista and Dr. Dale were no big deal. “She has a right to date and I have a date this coming week, too.”

He said it as Grace and Krista entered back into the room, carrying plates of food.

By the look on her face, Krista had heard him. Her eyebrows lifted just slightly. “With Barbie?” she asked, setting the plate she was carrying on the table.

“Her name was Amber, and no. Someone would have to pay me to take that woman out again.” He hoped this would make Krista smile. She didn’t.

“Well, if you need to have your date on Wednesday night, that’s perfectly okay with me,” Krista said.

Her words were another punch to his gut. “Wednesday Wings are sacred.”

“Were,” Krista said, smiling stiffly now. “But we’re getting a little too old for that kind of stuff, don’t you think? I might have a date of my own that night, so…”

“On Wednesday Wings night?” Noah was aware that Jack and Grace were looking between them. “You already missed the last one.”

“I guess I could just bring my date to Wednesday Wings with me. Like you did with Barbie.”

“Amber,” Noah corrected again.

“Right.” Krista notched up her chin just slightly. It was her look of rebellion and he knew it well. Usually they rebelled together, not against one another.

“All right,” Grace interrupted. “Dinner is on the table and Jack and I can’t wait to talk to you two.” She and Jack pulled out their chairs and sat. Noah followed and Krista sat down last. They’d been seated beside one another and why wouldn’t they be? They were best friends.

Who didn’t seem to get along so well these days.

Krista jabbed at a piece of shrimp on her plate of pasta Alfredo. She wavered between mortification that she’d kissed Noah and pissed off that he was pulling away because of it. He was even planning a date with someone else, which made her want to smack him and then run from the room in tears.

She wouldn’t do that, though. She couldn’t.

“Soooooo,” Grace said, sharing a glance with Jack. “We brought you two here to dinner because we want to ask you something.”

Jack nodded. “As you know, we’re getting married in just a few weeks and we’re following tradition. So I need a best man.”

“And I need a maid of honor,” Grace added.

Krista sat up straight. “Are you serious?”

Grace laughed. “I haven’t even asked you yet. But, yes, I’m serious. Will you be my MOH?”

Krista squealed, her mortification and pissed-off mood dissolving to sheer joy. “Yes, of course! Ahhh! I’m so excited!”

“So, am I being asked to be your MOH?” Noah asked, grinning at Jack.

“I was thinking more of a best man. I don’t think you’d look good in pink, no offense.”

Grace frowned. “Eggplant purple is the color since it’s happening right after Thanksgiving. And yes, your kerchiefs will match our dresses.”

“Oh, eggplant is a great color!” Krista said. “I love that.”

“I keep telling her eggplant is not a color, it’s a vegetable. But she won’t listen,” Jack told Noah loudly, then winked at his fiancée. “So you’re a yes, too?” he asked Noah.

“Of course, bro. I’m honored.”

Jack nodded. “We might need a little help pulling this thing off so quickly.”

“Anything you need. I’m your main man.” Noah grinned proudly.

Jack shared a glance with Grace. Then the two looked back at their best man and maid of honor. “We’re honeymooning at the Sawyer cabin. Where Mom and Dad went after they got married,” Jack said.

“That’s perfect.” Noah reached for his drink.

“It’s in the mountains, right?” Krista asked. She’d heard Noah speak of it before. Their family went up there a couple times a year, and she’d always been more than a little jealous. Her family liked to go camping at local campgrounds near the beach. She’d seen the beach a million times. The mountains, in contrast, were new and exciting.

Grace nodded. “The Blue Ridge Mountains. We were hoping one of you—”

“Or both,” Jack said, offering a pointed look at Noah.

“Would have time to go up and prepare the cabin for us.” Grace tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I know it’s asking a lot, but there are only four weekends before we marry. Friends and family will already be in town for the holidays, so I don’t want to move the date out. There’s so much to do. And I don’t trust hiring a cleaning crew. They might miss something.”

Jack turned to Noah. “Do you think you could swing it, bro? I hear the fishing is still good up there. You could make it a multipurpose trip.”

“Of course I’ll do it. My weekends are fairly free.” His gaze slid to Krista.

“Well, I work one weekend a month,” Krista said. “But I’m free this coming one. I can help, too,” she told Grace. “Just give me the address and I’ll meet Noah up there.” Because Noah was good at chopping wood, but he wouldn’t ensure that all the dust bunnies were gone. And dust bunnies and romance didn’t mix. Jack and Grace had been through a lot to get to this moment. As Grace’s friend and MOH, she wanted to make sure their special day and honeymoon was perfect.

Noah nudged Krista with his elbow. “It’s a long drive. We could ride together.”

Krista stubbornly shook her head, keeping her gaze on the happy couple. “Not necessary.”

“So you two are sure you don’t mind?” Grace asked.

“I would do anything for you, you know that.” Krista smiled at her longtime friend. “A mountain honeymoon is going to be fabulous.”

Grace pushed back from the table, stood, and walked around to hug Krista. “Thank you! And thank you for agreeing to be my maid of honor. I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather have beside me.”

Jack looked at Noah. “This means a lot, bro.”

“No problem.” His gaze slid to Grace. “And I will be happy to wear an eggplant kerchief for my favorite sister-in-law.”

“Aww! That’s so sweet,” Grace said.

Krista had to admit she thought so, too. Noah had it in him to be extremely sweet when he wanted. And thoughtful and charming, witty and everything she wanted on her list of qualities in a man. But he didn’t want her. She was just one of the guys to him, which put a great big X over him on her list of potential Prince Charmings.

“You sure I can’t pick you up on Saturday morning?” he asked Krista later as they headed to the door to leave.

She shook her head. “I actually have a lot of things I need to do. And errands and…” She couldn’t think of her excuses fast enough. “I’m sure. I’ll just ride up there and meet you.”

A show of disappointment settled in the deep furrow of his brow. “Okay. I’ll meet you there and we’ll romanticize the cabin. Might want to pack an overnight bag. It’s a six-hour drive each way, and I figure we have at least a full day’s work between us. Plan on it taking all weekend, and maybe that next Monday, too.”

Krista hadn’t thought that part through. Overnight in a romantic mountain cabin with the man she was desperately trying to fall out of lust with. Maybe even two nights? Crap.

Krista offered a reassuring smile to Grace. “Don’t worry about a thing. You can count on us.”

A few hours later, Krista laid in bed, unable to sleep. Her phone beeped with an incoming text. Glancing at the screen, Chandler’s name popped up. Why, oh why couldn’t she be falling for him? He was the one who seemed to want her.

Are you awake? the text asked.

If she responded, she’d have to chat with him. And he was a chatter. She blew out a long sigh and started to put the phone back down. It beeped again. Glancing at the screen reluctantly—because she didn’t feel like dealing with Chandler tonight—her entire body lit up. Noah’s name flashed on her screen. Her response to him was visceral, and that was the difference between Chandler and Noah.

Are you awake? Noah’s text asked, too.

That seemed to be the popular opening line tonight. Instead of putting the phone down, her fingers moved across her phone’s keyboard.

Yes. She waited anxiously for his response.

I just wanted to say good night.

Krista smiled softly, her heart melting despite her desperate need to cool her feelings. This was why she couldn’t get over Noah. Her fingers typed her response: Good night.

And with that, she turned off her phone and closed her eyes.

The next afternoon, Krista plopped down in the chair behind her desk. Her feet were already killing her. She’d started the morning with a two-mile walk with Grace and Abby, and then worked an eight-hour shift that had her running from room to room. She was exhausted. Collapsing into a chair at the nurse’s station, she logged into a computer to finish up her documentation from the day.

“Krista.” Karen stepped up behind her. Krista had successfully avoided the head nurse over the last few work days—ever since she’d been spotted having dinner with Chandler.

“Hi, Karen. How are you?”

Karen frowned, her skin pinching and sagging as she did. A smile would do wonders for making her look younger, Krista thought, holding her tongue. She needed to get back on her boss’s good side before she nominated her successor. “I’m good. So, you and Dr. Dale?”

“Just friends,” Krista said quickly. And that was the truth, even if she wished to God she felt something more for the young doctor.

Karen pulled up a chair beside her.

Oh, God. Here it comes. “Krista, I’m concerned. As your friend, not your boss. There was a time that I, too, dated someone that I worked with.”

Krista’s fingers froze on the keyboard. “Really, Karen, it’s not—”

“Just let me speak. If you go down that route, there are inevitable repercussions. People talk in a place like this. Rumors happen fast and it’s not good, especially if you’re in a position that demands respect.”

Like the head nurse position, Krista guessed silently.

“It was just dinner and we probably won’t even go out again. Really.”

Karen hesitated, then nodded. She laid the time-off sheet that Krista had put in this morning down in front of her. Krista already had the upcoming weekend off, but she put in for Monday, too, in case Noah was right and it took longer than expected to romanticize the cabin. “Head nurses don’t often get the luxury of taking long weekends.”

Krista looked up. “Karen, this is the first time I’ve taken a long weekend in over a year. I never shirk my duties and I have the time off to take.” And she deserved to be head nurse more than anyone else on this floor. She’d been here the longest. She was the most qualified.

“I just want you to be aware of the responsibilities that might come your way if you were to move up in the ranks. Not everyone is cut out for such a position.”

Anger swirled like a dark tornado in Krista’s belly, funneling up through her chest. She inhaled deeply, still biting her tongue as hard as she could. Afraid to speak—because she would definitely say something she’d regret—Krista only nodded.

“Okay.” Karen stood.

Thank you, God!

“Have a good night,” her supervisor said, patting Krista’s shoulder before walking away.

Krista blew out a breath. Sucked in another and repeated. She did it until she wasn’t about to explode.

“Everything okay?” Chandler stood at the front of the nurse’s station now.

Krista shook her head, then her gaze jumped to make sure that Karen had left. “Not really.”

“Want to talk about it?” he asked.

“Not really,” she said again, clutching her pen. She did want to talk about it, but not with him. She needed to talk to Noah. He was always her sounding board.

Chandler shrugged lightly. “If you change your mind, you have my number.”

She smiled. “Thanks.” She watched him walk toward the elevators and disappear, searching herself for any inkling of attraction. Nope, nothing. She was so screwed to be single forever.