Page 24 of Make It Last

Yet I loved learning that Tanner was loyal and steadfast. That was the kind of guy I thought I married. I turned out to be completely wrong on that count.

“Anyway,” Holly said, leaning forward, “I came to fill you in. I have a place for you to stay.”

“You do?”

“You’re just going to have to get up three steps to get in the door. There are stairs inside, but there’s a bedroom downstairs, so you’re good. My friend Tate rents some small houses. He usually rents them to tourists because”—she rubbed her fingers together—“money. But he’s got one available, and he says you can stay there.”

“Oh, I can pay,” I said quickly.

“Well, you can work that out with him. He’s a good guy.”

“So how do I work this out?”

“I’ve already worked it out.”

“But I can’t drive there.” I pointed at my foot.

“Oh, oh! I didn’t work that detail out.”

She snapped her fingers. “I can give you a ride when you discharge tomorrow.”

“Worst-case scenario, I stock up on groceries and get some internet, so I don’t need to do errands.”

“Oh, there’s already internet. There’s everything.” She smiled brightly. “You’re not going to be trapped. Don’t worry. It’s a small town. Chris will give you rides. I’ll give you rides. I’m sure Tanner will.” She waggled her brows. “Oh, and conveniently, this place is about a mile away from where Tanner lives.”

“Really?” I narrowed my eyes. “Are you up to something?”

“No,” she said innocently. “I just found out you kissed him right now. I’m not up to anything. I promise. Anyway, I gotta run. I’ll text you all the information later. But tomorrow, I’ll take you there when you’re discharged.”

“Aren’t you going to be on duty?”

She shrugged. “I’ll make it work. It’s not very far away.”

Chapter Eleven

Ava

Getting a ride

As soon as I heard Tanner’s voice, my belly spun with butterflies, and my nerves sparked. Tanner wasn’t even in the room yet. For all I knew, he wasn’t here to see me. He was a firefighter and a first responder. There were plenty of people in this hospital he could be checking on for work, right?

“How’s your mom?” Chris asked.

“Pretty good. How are you?” Tanner replied, his voice all low and rumbly.

The footsteps slowed in the hallway. It was loud in the hospital, so I could totally justify wondering how far away they were. Chris had just cleared me for discharge. I’d managed to walk up three steps with my little medical boot. I was officially free. I’d had a glorious, hot shower, real clothes were on my body, and I was ready to bust out of the hospital jail.

I knew it wasn’t actually jail. But you try being stuck with your leg in traction for a week and tell me it doesn’t start to feel like jail. I’d been contemplating the beginning of that zombie show—the one where the guy wakes up alone in the hospital after the zombies run wild. That thought had haunted me more than once.

“Hey, Ava.” Tanner’s voice pulled me from my spiral as he knocked lightly and leaned around the doorway.

“Come in, come in!” I called, waving him in with maybe a little too much enthusiasm. My belly was doing a full-on pirouette.

He grinned. “You’re ready to go, I see.”

“Yes!” I was sitting on the edge of the bed. Chris had lowered it so my feet were flat on the floor. I lifted my booted foot up proudly. “I have to wear this and do physical therapy, but I’m almost free.”

Tanner’s grin sent heat blasting through me. I tried to ignore it. I hadn’t seen him since the kiss.