The Reunion(68)

So freaking close to finally finding out what it’s like to have Beau Novak’s lips on mine, and now I’m sitting here, feeling like I have a heavy case of . . . hell, of blue balls.

How is that even possible?

This morning, I woke up with the worst hangover, not from wine, but from my family. I decided to flee the nest, get some perspective, do some thinking, and next thing I know, I’m being saved by a knight in a white lab coat.

A knight I used to think about all the time.

A knight I chose not to think about after the fire.

A knight who has serendipitously come bounding back into my life.

I need to tell Laramie.

Reaching for my phone, I type out a quick text to him.

Palmer: I’m in Dr. Beau’s apartment. He almost kissed me.

I spoke with Laramie the other night and told him how I keep running into Beau. Laramie insists I call him “Dr. Beau” because he thinks it has a better ring to it. He also insists on pictures. I’ve been able to sneak one, but that’s about it.

My phone dings.

Laramie: Heaven help me, is he naked in the other room, wearing nothing but a stethoscope and ready to give you a physical examination?

I chuckle and text back.

Palmer: No. I WISH!

Laramie: Ugh, then what the hell are you doing? If he almost kissed you, why aren’t you making it actually happen?

Palmer: A patient with something stuck up their nose came by.

Laramie: Medical emergency! What was stuck up the patient’s nose?

Palmer: Does it matter?

Laramie: To me it does. You know how I watch the shit out of all of those medical shows. I need to know what it was.

Palmer: Uh it was some child with a dog named Chase up his nose.

Laramie: CHASE? From Paw Patrol! Oooo, what a twist. Did not see that coming. I would also like to know the diameter of that figurine. Either it was a small Chase or that kid has quite the set of nostrils.

Palmer: It looked pretty small, but it wasn’t the kid’s first offense according to the panicky mom.

Laramie: God, kids are the absolute tits. Look at this toy, I’m going to shove it up my nose, ruin everyone’s night, and laugh it off later while I make plans to do it again.

Palmer: That is scarily accurate.

Laramie: Three vengeful nieces will prepare you for the way they think. Trust me, that kid thinks he’s the king of Toyland right now.

Palmer: Well, he ruined my first kiss with Dr. Beau.

Laramie: The nerve. Paint the picture, let me see if we can get you back in the mood when he gets back. What were you doing?

Palmer: Building a puzzle.

Laramie: Blinks A . . . puzzle? Like a real jigsaw puzzle?

Palmer: Yes, of a gardenscape.

Laramie: Oh damn. Babe, you’re going to have to take your shirt off and shimmy your titties at him to get him back in the mood. There is no way a gardenscape jigsaw puzzle is going to do it on its own. Especially after he has to dig for gold in a little punk’s nostril.

Palmer: That’s what I was afraid of. So, you think I should take my shirt off? That’s pretty forward, I’m not sure I can do that.

Laramie: What are you wearing now?

Palmer: Long story, but his clothes. Mine were dirty.

Laramie: Dear Jesus, I just had an idea! Does he have any of his lab coats in his apartment?

My eyes land on the coatrack near his door, which does in fact have a few lab coats on it.

Palmer: Yes . . .

Laramie: Time to strip, babe. Wear nothing but the lab coat, and when he arrives, tell him the doctor is in the house.

Palmer: I think you fail to realize that is something I would SO not do.

Laramie: Fine, then let the puzzle carry the mood for you. Good luck getting your first kiss fifty years from now.

Palmer: Do you really think he’s not going to be in the mood when he gets back?

Laramie: He just plucked a dog from a schnoz. There’s no recovering after that unless you take it up a notch. You’ve wanted him for a while, so go get him.

I nibble on the corner of my lip and study the lab coats from the couch.

Palmer: I don’t know . . .

Laramie: Do it. You know you want to.

Palmer: I can’t believe I’m actually considering this.

Laramie: Do it. Do it. Do it then thank me later.

Palmer: Gahhhhh. I’m going to do it.

Laramie: That’s my girl.

I think I’ve lost my freaking mind.

Setting my phone down, I stand from the couch before I lose my nerve and go over to the coatrack, where I pluck one of the lab coats down.

This might be taking a bold step, going from first kiss to naked in a lab coat, but I know that’s where this was going. The look in his eyes, the little touches here and there. The compliments, the confessions. It’s been a buildup. Add on the storm relentlessly setting the backdrop, and we’re golden.

And I hate to admit it, but Laramie is right. A gardenscape puzzle isn’t going to make things sizzle when he gets back. But this will.

Before I can change my mind, I quickly drop my pants and take off the sweatshirt Beau gave me. Heart pounding, I throw the lab coat over my shoulders. It’s way too big, but I make the best of it by buttoning the bottom button so my southern area is covered, and then I roll the sleeves up to my elbows. I leave the rest of the coat untouched, letting it show off the middle of my body but not revealing too much, just enough to gather his attention.