Page 38 of What We Break
"I'm in a bind with the outreach tonight. Cervantes was supposed to help with medical stuff—blood pressure checks, medication refills, basic care—but his kid's sick. And Lisa just bailed on me too. I've got forty people expecting us at Pine Street camp in an hour, and I'm down to just me and one other volunteer."
Shit. Danny runs a homeless outreach program downtown, and I help out when I can. Usually it's distributing food and basic medical care—blood pressure checks, wound cleaning, connecting people with services.
"These folks are counting on us, man. Some of them haven't seen a medical person in months. I need someone who knows what they're doing."
I look at Laine, who's standing a few feet away pretending not to listen but obviously hearing every word. We've been planning this afternoon for two days. I finally get time alone with her, flowers memorized, route planned, the whole thing. And now...
Come on, universe. Give me a break here.
"Man, I'm actually on a date right now."
"Shit, sorry. I didn't know. Maybe I can call around, see if anyone else is free."
"What's going on?" Laine asks quietly.
I cover the phone. "Friend of mine runs homeless outreach. They doregular medical care—blood pressure checks, wound cleaning, that kind of thing. He's short-staffed for tonight."
"Tell him we'll be right there."
"What?"
Her brow furrows, and she puts her hand on my arm. "Tell him we're coming. I'm a nurse, you're a Paramedic. Sounds like they need us."
"You sure? This wasn't exactly what I had planned for our afternoon."
"Reid." She gives me a look. "People are counting on getting care tonight. Of course I'm sure."
I stare at her for a second. Most people would be disappointed about changing plans, maybe offer to help another time, rain check, we'll figure it out. But she's already mentally switched gears, thinking about what needs to be done instead of what she's missing out on.
Something shifts in my gut. Clicks into place.
I really fucking like her. Likereallylike her.
"You still there?" Danny asks.
"Yeah, man. Change of plans. I'm bringing backup. We'll meet you at the camp in an hour."
"Seriously? You're a lifesaver. Thank you!"
I hang up and look at Laine. "You know this means spending our date giving flu shots and checking blood pressure in a homeless camp, right?"
"Sounds perfect to me."
And the crazy thing is, she means it. She's smiling like I just offered to take her somewhere amazing instead of completely derailing our afternoon.
"We should probably stop by your place so you can change clothes," I say.
"Why? What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"
I look at her jeans and nice sweater, her clean sneakers. "Nothing. But you might want something you don't mind getting dirty." The people who live at the encampment try their best to keep clean, but no running water combined with dirt and scrub brush means it's nearly impossible to do.
"I shop at thrift stores. Everything I'm wearing cost less than our breakfast the other morning. Besides, I'm a nurse. I've been vomited on, bled on, and worse. Trust me, I can handle whatever we're walking into."
Right. Of course she can.
"My truck's back at the parking lot," I say.
"What are we waiting for," she says, turning, and heading in the opposite direction of the truck. Hiding a smile, because how fucking cute is she, I cup her elbow and steer her in the right direction. Her cheeks get a little pinker, and she gives me a little shoulder bump.
