Page 19 of Reckless With the Rookie
Carter Stanton is a veteran player and a great guy; he told me there’s a place for me on a pro team, even if it’s not Cleveland’s.I have to trust that and not let worry derail me.
When I set the glass of ice and bottle of Sprite down beside Blair’s plate and take my seat beside her, she smiles at me.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she says.“But thank you.”
“I know where to get them now if you need more.”
She opens the bottle and fills her glass immediately.A server puts a fresh bottle of Heineken on the table for me.
“So how’s nursing school?”I ask her.
“It’s good.I’m starting a clinical rotation in an obstetrics unit next week.”
“Are you looking forward to it?”
“Mostly.I’m a little nervous, but mostly excited.”
“Do you have to look at ...the ...?”I stumble over my words.
“Vaginas?Yes.”Her warm smile goes all the way to her eyes.“And C-sections, too.That stuff doesn’t bother me, though.”
“You probably wouldn’t make it far in nursing if it did.”
“I’ve seen people pass out in clinicals.Some of them overcome it and some don’t.”
She’s very pretty.Her soft-looking skin and curvy body remind me how long it’s been since I was with a woman.I can pick up on the slightest hint of her floral perfume—just enough to make me want to lean in closer.
“Teach me something about nursing,” I say.
She quirks a brow, amused.“Anything?”
“Anything.”
I take a drink of my beer, watching her as she calculates.
“Okay, here’s something important.If someone recently had surgery, and they cough or sneeze and their organs come out through the incision, you shouldnotshove them back in.”
“What?”Lucien cries from the other side of the table.
“Not our conversation,” Talia snaps.She gives me and Magnus a quick smile and says, “Ignore him.”
Blair’s cheeks flush.I wonder if she knows this is a setup.I wasn’t sure at first, but now that I’ve picked up on everyone at our table listening to our conversation while pretending not to, I know.
I can’t get entangled with my coach’s fiancée’s sister.That wouldn’t be much better than Kelsey.But Blair intrigues me.I want to know her better, even if we’re only ever friends.
“That actually happens?”I ask.“People’s organs can come out?”
“Yeah.We’re supposed to have patients cough or sneeze as gently as they can while holding a pillow.”
I rub a hand over his jawline, imagining it.“I can’t even imagine sneezing and having organs pop out.I’d need some serious sedation.”
“You’d get it.That’s a trip into emergency surgery.”
She’s sipping her Sprite as our predinner salads are delivered, and I sneak a glance at her.Blair is the complete opposite of Kelsey.There’s nothing fake or pretentious about her.
“Those are some ripe tomatoes,” Blair says to Jules.
Jules laughs so hard a little snort comes out.“Oh my god.The farmers market creep.”
