Yours Truly (Part of Your World, #2)(86)

Levi watched him go. “What was that about?”

I rolled my eyes. “Who knows? If he’s not dramatic, he dies.”

Levi gave me his number and I texted him Hi so he could save mine in his phone when his hand was free. “There,” I said, putting my cell away.

He studied me for a second. “You know I got tested for Benny.”

I smiled. “You did? Thank you.”

“Did he get a donor?”

I nodded. “He did, actually. He gets the transplant next month. A perfect match.”

He smiled. “Good.” Then he paused. “Hey. It’s really good to see you.”

I nodded. “Yeah, you too.”

“I’m not saying that I stabbed myself on purpose just to have an excuse to come track you down, but it’s definitely been the highlight of my day. I bet Cindy would like to hang out too. Get the band back together.”

I was cracking up at this when the door slid open again. It wasn’t Hector, though—it was Jacob. “Hey, I was wondering if I could get a consult,” he said, leaning into the room.

“Sure.” I looked at Levi. “I’ll be right back.”

I came out into the hallway. “What’s up, whatcha got?”

He nodded over his shoulder. “I’m about to drain an abscess the size of an orange in room six. I thought you might want to watch.”

I grinned. “Awwww, you come bearing gifts? I can’t, though. I’m going to do these stitches.” I nodded over my shoulder.

“Just have a resident do it.”

“Nah, I’m gonna do this one.”

He nodded slowly. “Do you know him or…”

“Yeah, remember I told you about the family my mom worked for when I was growing up? The one that hired her as a nurse for their grandma? This is their youngest son. We sort of grew up together.”

“Oh. Can I meet him?”

I laughed. “You want to meet him?”

He crossed his arms. “Yeah, why not. I want to meet someone you grew up with.”

“He’s a stranger. You are aware of that.”

“I think I can handle it.”

I shrugged. “Okay. Come on.”

We went back into the room and Levi sat up straighter as we came in. “Levi, this is my friend Jacob. Jacob, this is my childhood friend Levi Olsen.”

“I’d shake your hand but…” Levi said, holding up his injury.

“Levi had a run-in with a paring knife,” I explained.

Jacob nodded and slipped his fists into his pockets. “Well. You’re in good hands.”

And then he just…stood there.

“Well,” Jacob said again after a moment. “Nice to meet you.” Then he looked at me. “Eight for dinner tonight at my parents’.”

“Yup…” I gave him a slightly confused look, since the dinner was for my mom and my brother, so of course I knew what time it was.

He stood there just long enough for it to be weird. Then he left.

I looked back at Levi.

“Is that your boyfriend?” he asked.

I laughed a little. “Yes. It’s a long story.”

He nodded. “He seemed kinda jealous.”

Now I really laughed. “He’s not, trust me.”

God, I wish he were.





Chapter 36

Jacob



She introduced me as her friend. Her friend.

Even eight hours later, I couldn’t stop thinking about it as I waited for Briana and her family at my parents’ house.

Briana had wanted to pick up her mom and her brother and meet me here. We hadn’t been able to do lunch together like we planned, so I didn’t get a chance to ask about Levi—I winced when I thought of him. Levi. What kind of a name was that? It sounded like a garden tool.

They’d seemed comfortable with each other. She’d taken way too long to stitch him up. I’d stared at the door of room three until I actually did have to go drain that abscess, and when I was done, she was still in there.

What had they been talking about?

I was chewing on my thumbnail. My anxiety was humming again. It had been quiet for weeks and now it was back. I couldn’t tell if it was the dinner tonight or Levi.

Her friend.

I was probably overthinking this. I was sure I was overthinking it. Maybe she introduced her boyfriend as a friend to everyone? I mean a boyfriend is a type of friend. Right? It wasn’t technically wrong.

But the problem was that I wasn’t her boyfriend. Not really. And maybe she’d wanted him to know that.

I paced in the foyer, waiting for her to pull into the driveway so I could meet her at the door. It would only be my parents, Jane, and Grandpa today. Everyone else had to work. I was grateful for the smaller crowd because I was already feeling drained. By Levi.

When Briana and her family finally pulled up outside, they were ten minutes late. As they came up the walkway, I took a deep breath and opened the door with my best smile. “Hey, there you are.”

“Sorry, we had a little detour,” Briana said, coming in and kissing me on the cheek. My heart skipped. I didn’t normally get kisses of any kind.

At least she wanted her mom and brother to know I wasn’t a friend.