Page 55 of Draft Pick
Her brows furrow. “Is what serious?”
“You trying.” I nod to her phone. “Nick. Dating. All of it, I guess.”
“Why do you want to know?”
I don’t overthink it, just answer honestly. “I just want to know about you, Juniper. That’s it.”
Silence stretches between us. “I’m ready to settle down.” She holds up her phone, turning the screen to face me. “Thisis me trying.”
I nod because I don’t know what to say. I also know if I say something out of impulse, I may regret it. “Any luck?”
“Does my excitement not tell you enough?” Juniper asks mockingly.
I shrug. “Seemed like you had a good thing going with Vance.” I cringe just thinking about seeing them together. Vance seemed decent. But nowhere near good enough for Doc.
“You would know, right?” She cocks her head, making me smirk. “I still can’t believe you did that. Do you interfere with all your other customers’ dates, too?”
“Just yours.”
“Lucky me.” She smiles, and I know it’s jokingly, but I find it to be true.
“His name is Vance. Hardly sounds like the name of a proper husband. Juniper and Vance. What kind of weird shit is that? His name fits better with a Helga or something,” I huff.
Juniper leans back in her chair, arms crossing at her chest alluringly. Her words strike me. Surprise me. Best way or worst way is yet to be determined. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you sound like a jealous boyfriend.”
My confidence sticks to my throat. “And what makes you think that?”
She tucks the hair on her left side securely behind her ear, revealing not only a slender neck, but the daintiest tattoo.
A butterfly.It’s simple linework, looking very similar to the same butterfly she carries with her.
Is it a coincidence that my radiant daughter loves butterflies, too? Her room is covered in them. But how did I not notice that delicate ink all this time? Guess I need to watch her more intently, so I don’t miss a thing.
“Only jealous boyfriends care about those things.”
“Gonna need you to break it down for me, Doc.”
She ticks her lip. “Who I’m dating. Why I’m dating. The obvious.”
“Wrong,” I deadpan. “If I were your boyfriend, there would be no room for that because dating outside of me wouldn’t happen. It would be us and only us. I don’t share. One date or five. Never. Obvious enough for you?”
Her mouth opens and closes, seconds away from speaking before she stops herself. Just when it looks like she’s finally mustered the words to say, a knock resounds on the front door, followed by the door opening.
“Crew? Adeline?” Hilary announces, closing the door behind her and entering the kitchen.
Juniper panics, standing quickly to leave. But me? I don’t move an inch. I’ve got nothing to hide, especially because there isnothingto hide. “I should go,” Juniper rushes, pushing her chair in and leaving me at the table.
I turn my head just as Hilary comes into view, stopping short at the sight of Juniper in my home.
Trust me, Hil. I’m unsure about it, too.
“Dr. Wilde. Hi. What a surprise,” Hilary says, mouth gaped open as her head swings toward me for answers. I’ve got nothing in me but a smirk. Hilary knows better than to ask questions about my love life. It’s nonexistent. Which means, this—a woman in my home—is so abnormal for me it’s comical.
“It’s nice to see you again, Ms. Walters. I was just leaving.” She points to the front door, and I call out, “Later, Doc. You make a damn good pancake.”
Pretty sure she scurries faster. The door closes abruptly behind her, and Hilary’s declaration sends a buzz through my system. “Oh, you’ve got some serious explaining to do, Mr. Briggs. Doodle!” she shouts up the staircase. “Get your things, baby girl. And don’t forget Trolli.”
“Take a seat, Hil. Let’s chat. You’ve got roughly”—I glance at my watch—“three minutes before a very energetic six-year-old gets down here to get all your questions out, then I won’t hear a word about it ever again.”
