Page 29 of Two-Step
“Sure,” Nathaniel says, releasing my hand, but he frowns in concern. “You’re okay, right?”
I nod. “I’m fine. We’re here to see someone who just came in.”
“Oh, cool,” Nathaniel says, beckoning. “Y’all follow me.”
We fall in step behind him, and, I swear, Nathaniel starts humming the theme music toHexed.I grin. What a nice guy. I look over at Beau to share this thought, but he’s still watching me through narrowed eyes.
What a crabby ass.
Screw him,I decide and turn my attention back to Nathaniel. “This is really nice of you.”
He grins at me over his shoulder. “Well, I should warn you, when we get there I’m going to ask for a selfie and an autograph.”
I laugh again. “You got it, Nathaniel.”
He sets off, making us nearly retrace all our steps, but then he goes straight at the juncture where we had turned right.
“Oh, wow. This is where we messed up,” I say.
Nathaniel nods. “Yeah, that sign is confusing,’” he says, pointing to the overhead placard. “The ER waiting room is just through those doors.”
And from this angle, I can read the etching on the glass indicating the emergency room. “Thanks so much. I can’t believe we missed it.”
The big guy just shrugs. “Happens all the time.” Then he fishes his phone out of the front pocket of his scrubs. “Can I get that selfie now.”
“Of course!” I step closer to him but I already know our height difference is going to pose a problem. This is typical. “But a selfie might not be the best,” I say, gesturing between the two of us to indicate the obvious height difference.
He chuckles. “Yeah, you don’t look so tiny on TV.”
I cup my mouth with one hand and stage whisper. “Camera tricks and high heels.”
He laughs again, and I swear, out of the corner of my eye, I see Mr. Grumpy Pants frown again. Wow. Wow. I really don’t like this guy. Nathaniel is being super nice to us. The least he could do is keep from scowling.
Nathaniel holds out his phone to Beau. “Dude, would you mind?”
For a moment, I’m almost afraid that Beau will say no. I’m ready to ask anyone else to help us, but then Beau surprises me. His frown clears as he looks at Nathaniel and he takes the phone with something almost resembling a smile.
Readying for the camera, I lean into Nathaniel and he wraps a hefty arm around me. “Don’t worry,” he says, tucking me to his side. “I’ve only changed a few bed pans today.”
I go rigid and wide-eyed, but then he smiles down at me. “Just kidding.” And then he taps his badge. “Radiology. No bed pans.”
And I crack up. Completely. I laugh so hard, I almost don’t notice that Beau is frowning yet again. They guy must havezerosense of humor.
At least he hides his glower with the phone when he snaps a few pictures of me with Nathaniel. Then Nathaniel hands me his pen, and after hunting around in his pockets for something I can autograph, we settle on the receipt from his takeout bag.
I haven’t signed an autograph since before Sally and I set out on the AT, so I have to remind myself not to use my real signature. My autograph signature has a tall and swooping cursive I and A and a tail on both S’s whereas my legal signature is much more subdued. Moira made me craft an autograph for two reasons. The first was to protect me from identity theft and forgery, but even if that wasn’t an issue, she told me my own signature just wasn’t pretty enough.
I’m sorry to have to break it to you, Iris, but there’s nothing special about you…
...if there were, your father never would have left.
The words come back like boomerangs. And like the Australian weapon, these nearly take me down again.
“Here you go.” I force a smile and hand back the pen and receipt. “Thanks again for all your help.”
“My pleasure. So glad to meet you.” His big smile lifts my spirits. “Thanks for being so cool.”
I give him a practiced bow that makes him laugh. What he doesn’t know is that I’d fall over if I tried to give him a practiced curtsy.
