Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
He takes another sip of beer. “How long do you think you can sustain that?”
I arch a brow. “Forever?”
He raises the bottle in the air. “That can’t be the life you envisioned for yourself.”
I stopped having visions of what I wanted for the future years ago. I now view life through a distinctively narrow lens. I’m arrogant enough to know that I’m one of the best cardiologists this city has, and if I can save a life, or offer someone a better quality of the life they’re living, that’s all I need.
I go for a change of subject I know he’ll welcome because he always does. “Dinner tonight was good. It was great to catch up with the family.”
“It was.” He nods. “I was glad Eloise could stop by. It’s too bad she had to run off to meet up with that kid you saved. It’s Dax, right? His name?”
I almost toss my head back in relief, but I keep it together. “That’s his name.”
“Astrid gave her a call right before I left to check in on her.” He laughs. “You know my wife. She worries too much about the people she loves.”
I don’t know if it’s possible to do that, but I’ll take his word for it.
“Eloise’s mom was trying to track her down, so Astrid filled her in. She let her know Eloise was with a friend.”
Thank Christ it’s Dax she was with.
He’s so wrapped up in Penny that he can’t see what me and half of the men in Manhattan see when Eloise is within a ten foot radius.
“She’s good to Stevie.” He glances at the floor before his gaze levels back on me. “My daughter has the best people in her life. I’m including you in that, Gaines.”
I’d do anything for that little girl.
Berk tosses back what’s left of the beer in a single gulp. “Astrid was tucking Stevie in when I left, so I need to head home to tuck my wife in.”
The wink he tosses me confirms that the newly married couple won’t be falling asleep early tonight.
“Go have fun,” I encourage him.
“You should listen to your own advice more.” He plucks the bottle off the table and takes it with him to the kitchen.
I’ve been having the time of my life during the past forty-eight hours. I hope to have more of that same fun soon.
“I’ll stop by our favorite coffee spot this week and see if you’re around,” he promises, laughing because we both know the coffee there is some of the worst in Manhattan.
“Thanks again for dropping off the thank you cards.” I lead the way to my door.
“Anytime.” He stops just short of grabbing the doorknob. “Work has got to get heavy at times, Gaines. If you need an ear, day or night, you know how to reach me.”
I pat his chest. “I’m good, Berk, but I appreciate that.”
“I’m here for you.” He taps my chest harder. “Don’t forget that.”
“The same goes for me.” I take the step of opening the door. “Go home to your wife before she dozes off.”
“She’s eagerly awaiting all this.” He skims a hand over the front of his button-down shirt. “I guarantee she’s not falling asleep anytime soon.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Eloise
It’s been more than a week since I saw Gaines at Astrid and Berk’s. I’ve spent that time immersed in school and work. Half of my work time has been devoted to Penny’s dress. The other available hours I’ve had, I’ve split between pulling two shifts at Vinyl Crush and working on a sweater for a longtime client.
I’m just finishing that up now so I can ship it to her first thing tomorrow.
A knock at my apartment door startles me enough that I drop my knitting needles in my lap.
I laugh because when I first learned how to knit in fourth grade, I would openly curse whenever I dropped a needle or a stitch. My mom remedied that quickly by taking my knitting supplies away for a week.
At that time, it felt like a punishment worse than death.
I realized it wasn’t when my grandpa passed away during summer break a few months later. I knit a blue carnation for my mom to pin on his suit jacket so it would be buried with him.
The carnation was lopsided and had been soaked with tears on more than one occasion before it reached the hands of the funeral director, but it was a gift to the man who had let me sit on his shoulders whenever I wanted to see above the tall tree in our front yard. He always told me that my future was beyond that tree, and I’d know it when I found it.
Some days I still believe his words. Other days, I’m not sure if he believed them himself.
“Eloise!” Stevie calls from the other side of the door. “Let us in. We have hot dogs and curly fries!”