“It’s fine. You’ve hosted us, Mitch cooked, and I’ll clean.”
I settle in and do the dishes while the guys sit on the couch. Andy looks tired and I realized I haven’t asked how he’s doing. I wonder how to bring up the subject as I watch the snow continue to fall heavily through the window.
After I finish with clean up, I join the boys on the coach. Some sports channel is droning on about basketball playoffs or something. I curl up next to Andy, needing to be close to him, when cell phones begin to buzz.
Andy gently moves my legs over to stand and walk further away, while Mitch answers his phone.
Their conversations overlap, so I don’t really hear either of them well. They both end the call within seconds of each other.
“I’m out. I’ve got a date.”
Andy glances at Mitch. “You sure you can drive in this?”
Mitch’s smile is wicked. “Don’t have to drive. I met this little brunette on the elevator last night. She invited me down to her place for lunch.”
“You just ate,” I say pragmatically.
He winks at me. “I’m suddenly very hungry. Don’t wait up for me.”
Andy shakes his head. “You’re worse than Dave.”
“Don’t hate the player,” Mitch says getting to his feet. “I might be back. So don’t go having sex on the couch.”
“I have to go into the hospital. I’m hoping Cate will come with me. We shouldn’t be long though.”
Mitch grabs his coat before saluting us goodbye while heading out the door.
“So, will you come to the hospital with me?”
There is hope in his eyes. He knows what he’s asking of me and I’m not sure I’m ready. He may be used to walking in the cancer ward, but one experience was enough for me to last a lifetime. Still, if I’m going to be with this man, I need to get used to what he does for a living.
“I don’t have a change of clothes, remember? I have heels and a skirt. I can’t walk in the snow like that.”
“Actually, I drove this morning which turned out to be a mistake. I left my car because they have volunteers with four wheel drive who are playing taxi. I’ve arranged for someone to pick me up in ten minutes. The roads should be better on the way back and I can drive us home.”
I sigh with a smile. “Okay, I’ll go.”
He’s practically beaming his pearly whites at me. He’s knows I like a man with good teeth and his are dentist approved.
“If you look at me like that, we’re going to miss your ride,” I tease.
“Are you daring me to see what I can do in ten minutes?”
He tosses me over his shoulder before I can answer and shows me just what he can do in that short time. It’s a hell of a lot.
When he gets the call his ride is here, I’ve just finished getting dressed.
“Is your office open tomorrow?”
I check my phone. “I’m not sure. I don’t have any messages from them yet. Do you know what the weather man says about tomorrow?” I haven’t watched the news since I’ve been here.
“Supposedly, the snow will end late tonight. We will have up to eighteen inches when it’s over.”
“Eighteen inches?”
He nods and helps me get into my coat. We head downstairs and once we get outside the wind howls and snow lashes over me. I can’t imagine driving in this weather. This area isn’t supposed to be prone to snow like this. I feel like stomping my feet like a toddler that my first winter in DC area is the worst they’ve seen in years.
We dash over to the SUV that waits at the curb. When Andy opens the front passenger door, I’m just as shocked to see the woman driver as she is to me.
“Hi,” she says as Andy ushers me to sit in front.
I recognize the blonde ponytail the woman sports. I can’t be sure it’s the same nurse as the one I caught kissing him. But she does have on scrubs.
Andy climbs in the back. “Thanks for the ride, Becca.”
“Yeah sure. I was on the phone with Stacy when you called in. Since I drove right by your place, I offered to pick you up.”
“Becca, this is my girlfriend Cate. Cate, this is Becca. She’s a nurse in the oncology unit.”
“Girlfriend?” She says the word under her breath. I’m not sure she even realizes she’s said it out loud. “Nice to meet you,” she says with a cheery smile I can tell is forced.
She holds out her hand and for a second I’m tempted to pull a Mitch. Then again, I’m not positive she’s the nurse that’s been hitting on Andy. She could be another nurse interested in him, and could I blame her?
“You too,” I say giving her a genuine smile and shake her hand briskly.