Until Autumn

“Tell me about it. I came home that night to find my whole apartment trashed, my fridge completely empty, and that asshole lounging on my couch as though he owned the place. I swear, I kicked his ass out so fast. I was just lucky that Breaker was standing at my door and scared the shit out of him, so he hasn’t tried to bother me yet. Though, it did mean that I got that cash back faster than he’s ever done anything before in his life.”

“Damn straight,” KC grins, holding her hand up for a high-five. “What a loser. I swear, I never liked that guy to start with, but you were adamant that you wanted to give it the old college try.”

“I know,” I groan, wishing I had just listened to my friend in the first place. “That’s what I get for being a lonely bitch with an itch to scratch.”

KC shakes her head. “There’s always my big brother,” she says with a cheesy-as-shit grin, making me roll my eyes. She’s been trying to set me up with the guy since the second we first met, but we’re just friends. It’ll never happen, and besides, I may or may not have a little something with the sexiest doctor alive. “You know Jay has a massive crush on you. You guys would be so adorable together. Not to mention, you’ll make the cutest babies ever.”

I groan. “How many times do I need to tell you that Jay and I are never going to happen? Besides,” I say, slicing my gaze back to the play equipment. “There may or may not be a very attractive doctor who’s currently stealing every last bit of my attention.”

KC sputters over her milkshake. “Excuse me?” she demands, choking on her drink. “Umm … WHAT? When in the ever-loving hell were you going to tell me? Who the hell is this doctor?”

I grin, glancing back at my best friend. “His name is Dr. Mayson and he’s like—”

“DR. FREAKING THORNE MAYSON?” she questions, wide-eyed. “Are you kidding? I know him. He’s only the best freaking obstetrician in the state, not to mention, he’s fine. He’s the doctor who delivered Aalia, and damn, he did a good job of it too. She had so many complications but … oh,” she gasps, meeting my eyes. “Your boyfriend has been in and around all of my lady bits. That’s not going to be an issue for you, is it?”

I can’t help but laugh. “Chill out. He’s not my boyfriend. I don’t even know what we are,” I tell her.

“But you like him, right?”

I roll my eyes. “Yes, I like him maybe a little too much for my own good. We had this one awesome moment in an on-call room last week, but everything has been at a bit of a standstill since then.”

“What do you mean?”

I shrug my shoulders. “I don’t know. Maybe he got what he was after or just didn’t like me enough to keep it going.”

“You’re insane if you think that,” she tells me. “Look at yourself. You’re absolutely stunning and have a personality to die for. Any man would be lucky to have you. I’m sure he’s just nervous about the whole mixing work with pleasure thing. I mean, it’s been years since I’ve even seen the guy but he came off very professional when I was dealing with him.”

“He is,” I say, deep in thought. It’s been an incredible two weeks since starting at the hospital, but I’m not going to lie, it’s confusing as hell. I’ve still been helping Dr. Mayson with the procedures folder and that time together is amazing. We’ve been flirting like teenagers and I’ve found that those stolen moments with him are the best part of my day, but he hasn’t kissed me again, and that’s putting doubt in my mind. Maybe this is all just a bit of fun for him.

“Mommy, Mommy, watch me,” Aalia screams at the top of her lungs as she stands at the top of the slide, dangerously close to falling.

“Okay, baby. I’m watching,” KC calls back, still sipping on her milkshake.

“ARE YOU WATCHING?”

KC groans but keeps the warm smile on her face. “Yes, Aalia, I’m watching you, honey. Go down the slide.”

Aalia lets out an excited squeal and then jumps up into the air before coming down on her little ass and flying down the slide like a damn dare-devil. I suck in a breath, sure as hell that she’s broken her ass in some kind of way but as she flies off the end of the slide and drops heavily into the sand at the bottom, she laughs and sprints right back to the stairs for another go.

KC and I just stare. “How is your kid still alive?”

She shakes her head. “I have no freaking clue.”