Page 93 of Perfect Distraction
Lauren giggled, and Andrew glanced over at her, a happy grin on his face. “Whose turn is it?”
Jake, an eight-year-old boy whom Lauren had met a few weeks ago, spoke up. “Mine. Lauren, do you have any cows?”
Dagnabbit. She had three. She scowled and handed him the cards, muttering, “This is udder nonsense.”
Andrew burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Jasmine asked.
“This girl.” Andrew jerked an elbow at Lauren, and amusement lit up his eyes. “She quacks me up.”
Jasmine’s lips quirked, but she rolled her eyes. “You’re not funny.”
Andrew huffed once, then he looked at Lauren with disbelief. “She’s goat to be kidding, right? That was a good one.”
The look of indignation on his face forced a chuckle from her. He was adorable. She reached over and lightly pinched his muscular forearm. “You think you’re so a-moo-zing, don’t you?”
Jasmine laughed at that, and Andrew dropped his cards on the table. “No way. My goat one was better than that.”
Still smiling, Jasmine glanced at Lauren. “Yours was so funny it gave me goose bumps.”
Lauren nodded appreciatively, and Jasmine returned a conspiratorial grin. It was the first smile she’d ever received from Jasmine, and she felt a sense of accomplishment. Even if she’d required Andrew’s help to get it.
It took Andrew a minute to process, but then he held up his hand. “Nice.”
Jasmine slapped her hand against his, her expression pleased with just a touch of embarrassment.
They resumed playing and Jake won the game, but because the little boy was already wearing a hat and Jasmine had more points than Andrew, he still relinquished his hat to her. He plopped it onto her head before excusing himself to the refreshment area for a drink.
The other kids left the table, and only Jasmine and Lauren remained.
“He really likes you,” Jasmine said quietly.
Lauren smiled. “You think so?”
She nodded. “He told me. But even if he hadn’t, it’s pretty obvious.”
Lauren gathered the cards in a pile and stuffed them into the small box. “Is it obvious that I like him, too?”
“Um, yeah.”
The way Jasmine said it made Lauren laugh.
Then Jasmine’s expression turned serious. “He’s cool. You’re really lucky.”
A lump suddenly formed in Lauren’s throat. She tried to swallow it down, then met Jasmine’s dark eyes. “I think so, too.”
Lucky didn’t even begin to cover it.
…
On Wednesday, the midday break in patient visits was just long enough for Lauren, Emma, and Kiara to grab lunch together.
“What’s everyone doing for Valentine’s Day?” Emma asked, stabbing at her salad with a fork.
“Nate and I are staying in,” Kiara said. “Making dinner and watching movies.”
“Lame. What about you, Lauren?”
