Perfect Distraction

by Allison Ashley

  An hour into their visit, they were seated around a round table with several kids, playing a farm animal variation of Go Fish. After the first two rounds, Andrew had persuaded Jasmine to join in. He’d flipped his chair around backward and leaned his chest against the backrest, his long legs bracketing either side and his hands holding his set of cards on the table, looking just as focused as if it were a professional game of poker. He’d changed things up and worn a Royals baseball cap today, which he’d also turned backward after the first game, declaring things were “getting competitive.”

  Lauren watched as he leaned to his left, where Jasmine sat, eying her cards.

  “Psst,” he whispered loudly. “Got any horses in there?”

  She frowned. “It’s not your turn.”

  “I’m just planning my next move. Help a guy out.”

  Jasmine narrowed her eyes and pulled her cards to her chest. “Go away, cheater.”

  Andrew sat back with wide eyes, feigning shock. “I thought we were friends.”

  She shrugged one shoulder. “When I beat you, I’ll take that hat.”

  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?”

  Lauren still felt a little weird talking about Andrew openly at work but tried to ignore the niggling sensation of unease. These were her friends, and everything was out in the open between the three of them. Plus, they currently sat in the noisy café and no one paid them any attention. “Same, actually. We’re stopping by the Valentine’s party at Children’s, but then I’m going to try to make Andrew dinner.”

  Emma curled her lip in mock disgust. “Is this what happens when you fall in love? Things get boring?”

  Kiara smirked and took a drink of water. “Nothing boring about naked dinner and a movie.”

  “Naked?” Emma trilled. “You definitely did not say that the first time.”

  “Didn’t I?”

  Lauren laughed at her friends, choosing not to involve herself in the direction the conversation had gone. She dipped a French fry in ketchup. “I actually wanted your opinion on what I should wear,” she said. “Be honest…do you think I can pull off pink?”

  Emma winced, and Kiara looked away, scratching the back of her neck.

  Lauren took no offense, as that had been her initial thought, too. “Can I show you?” She unlocked her phone and pulled up a selfie she’d taken in the dressing room. “It’s not like a bright pink, and I thought it wasn’t too bad…”

  Emma grabbed the phone and her eyes went wide. “Wow.”

  Kiara leaned over to look. “Hot damn. Who would have thought? You make that sweater look good.”

  Lauren grinned. “Thanks, girls.” Pleased, she put her phone away and pointed at Emma. “What about you? Any Valentine’s plans?”

  Emma’s face turned red, and she shrugged. “Maybe.”

  Lauren and Kiara snapped to attention.

  “You do!”

  “With whom?”

  Emma scrunched her nose. “I’ve been flirting with this guy at the gym for weeks, and last week he finally asked for my number. We’ve been talking on the phone for at least an hour every night, and he asked if he could take me to dinner.”

  “Emma, that’s great,” Lauren exclaimed. “Tell us about him. Is he funny? What does he do for a living? Is he cute? Does he have a nice squat?”

  Kiara groaned, and Emma nodded vehemently. “He certainly does.”

  Emma filled them in on everything she knew about him, and Lauren hoped things went well for them tomorrow night. She hadn’t seen Emma this excited about a guy in…well, ever.

  “I can’t wait to hear how it goes,” Lauren said. “I’ll expect a full rundown on Friday morning.”

  “Right back at you,” Emma said.

  “Andrew has an appointment Friday, we could just ask him,” Kiara joked.

  “Don’t you dare,” Lauren sputtered.

  Emma shook her head. “I’d never ask my patient about their love life. That would be awkward as hell.”

  Lauren agreed. She looked between her friends, worry etched between her eyebrows. “But promise me you’ll take good care of him, okay?”

  “We always do.”

  Andrew: Whatcha doing?

  Lauren: Standing in the spice aisle at the grocery store.

  Andrew: Getting stuff for tomorrow night?

  Lauren: Yep. Prepare yourself for the most average homemade meal you’ve ever tasted.

  Andrew: I can’t wait.

  Lauren: Me neither.

  Andrew: The spice aisle, huh? Is it chili in there?

  Lauren: A little, but I can dill with it.

  Andrew: (you already used that one on me but I’ll let it slide)

  Andrew: Good. Curry on.

  Lauren: It’s about thyme I found someone who loves puns as much as I do.

  Andrew: We’re mint to be.

  Lauren: I clove y
ou so much.

  Andrew: I clove you, too.

  …

  On Valentine’s Day, a beautiful bouquet of flowers arrived with Lauren’s name on it. It wasn’t signed but had a terrible hand-drawn picture of what looked like a deer and the words, “I’m so fawned of you.”

  She would keep it forever.

  She left work early to pick up Andrew and head to the Valentine’s party at Children’s Hospital. She sent him a text message when she pulled in and put the car in park to wait.

  A few moments later she watched him come down the stairs, a little slower than she’d have expected. Usually the days before a treatment were when he felt the best…but then again, the toll of chemo could build over time. He wouldn’t want her to mention it or ask if he was all right, so she focused on the rest of him, which looked damn good. He wore fitted jeans and a deep burgundy sweater, and the signature gray hat he seemed to favor. He opened the car door and sat down.

  “Sorry I wasn’t ready, I fell asle—”

  His voice came to an abrupt halt when he looked at her.

  She smiled.

  His brown eyes drank her in. “You’re wearing pink.”

  “I thought it would be festive. You know, for Valentine’s.”

  “You remember pink is my favorite color, right?”

  She nodded. “I remember.”

  He rubbed the side of his jaw with one hand. “What I remember is you saying you didn’t wear pink well.”

  She quirked an eyebrow. She still didn’t think it was the most flattering hue for her, but as Emma and Kiara had confirmed, this particular blush-colored sweater seemed to compliment her auburn hair quite well. She’d thought of Andrew when she bought it and had been waiting for an excuse to wear it for him. “Do you agree?”

  “I think it’s a good thing you texted me to come down, because if you’d come up we wouldn’t have left my apartment.”

  Lauren couldn’t stop her smile from widening to ridiculous proportions. She reached across and put her hand on his thigh. “You look great.”

  He moved her hand away, entwining their fingers and resting both on the console. “We’re going to a place with kids…I need you to keep your hands to yourself for a bit. Okay?”

  “Okay, big man.”

  The game room at the hospital was filled with heart-shaped balloons and decorations, and upbeat music streamed from a large speaker in the corner. The room was full of patients, their families, and volunteers. Tables were set up for face painting, Valentine’s Day card designs, and jewelry making.

  Lauren and Andrew stuck together for a few minutes but eventually separated, visiting with the kids and parents they’d gotten to know. Lauren noticed Jasmine enter the room, wearing Andrew’s red hat, and didn’t miss the small smile on the girl’s face when she saw him. He waved at her enthusiastically and met her in the middle of the room. He pulled a red envelope out of his back pocket and gave it to her, bowing with a flourish. Jasmine blushed and sheepishly handed him a white piece of paper.

  Lauren couldn’t quite see what was on it, but she fell in love with Andrew a little more. His heart was so generous and caring, and though he’d never admit to it, he felt deeply. Not only for the kids he’d gotten to know here, Jasmine especially, but about life in general. He was affected by good music. Romantic movies. The things happening in the lives of the people he knew. He was good, and wanted to spread that goodness beyond himself.

  He was an incredible man, and he would be a wonderful father someday.

  When it was time to leave, Lauren took his hand in hers as they walked down the long, colorful hallway. She hoped the elevator would arrive empty and got her wish. The second the doors closed, she pushed Andrew against the wall and locked her arms around his neck.

  “You’re so amazing.” She kissed him.

  “And hot.” She kissed him again.

  “I love how sweet you are with Jasmine.” Again.

  “Why are you so wonderful?” She kissed him once more and pulled back.

  He blinked at her, looking a little dazed.

  “I asked you a question,” she said with a grin.

  “You expect me to think right now? You just attacked me in an elevator.”

  She kissed him again and stepped away as the doors opened, and he draped his arm around her shoulders as they walked to the car.

  “What did Jasmine give you?” she asked.

  He held up the white rectangle, which turned out to be a section of thin canvas rather than paper. On it was a painted image of an outdoor landscape with mountains and a bright blue sky.

  “That’s beautiful. Did she make that?”

  Andrew smiled, a proud gleam in his eye. “Yep. She’s an artist.” His voice wavered when he said “artist.” He cleared his throat and looked away, and she didn’t bring attention to his obvious emotion.

  They drove back to her house hand in hand, and Lauren couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. She’d never been in a relationship over Valentine’s Day before. Had never even spent it with a male who was a friend, much less one she cared so much about. She’d never really understood what the fuss was about, until today. Everything seemed more romantic, simply because it was a day recognized by the whole world as one dedicated to love. Every touch, every word, every thought seemed permeated with Andrew and what she felt for him.

  As they approached her house, she slowed, coming to a stop next to her mailbox. She rolled her window down.

  “I don’t know why I do this every time I come home,” she said. “I never get mail.”

  Sure enough, it was empty, and she closed the metal door and pulled her car into the driveway.

  “Do you want mail?”

  “Sometimes. When I bought this house, I was most excited about having a real mailbox. Isn’t that stupid? I guess I thought having one meant I had a real home. But, since everything’s online, it’s always empty.”

  “That’s not stupid,” Andrew said quietly.

  They got out of the car, and she grabbed his hand, smiling up at him. “But my house won’t be empty tonight. I’m glad you’re here.”

  She cooked fajitas, because he’d said it was his favorite food, imagining he might be able to feel the love she put into the meal’s preparation. She’d certainly felt his affection with the flowers that morning, and the several silly love-related puns he’d sent her in text messages throughout the day. And in every brush of his fingertips around her waist as she cooked.

  Andrew coughed a few times during dinner, and she worried she’d made the meal a little too spicy, but he assured her it was perfect. He had two servings, so she figured it couldn’t have been too awful.

  Instead of a movie they watched a documentary about the Seven Wonders of the World—not romantic by any means, but perfect for them. They watched it in her bedroom, side by side on her bed, her head on his chest. Toward the end of the film, Lauren registered Andrew’s breathing had sped up. She lifted her head. “You okay?”

  He smiled. “I’m good. I was just thinking about how pretty you are in pink and wondering how much longer this damn documentary was going to last before I could do this.”

  He pulled her on top of him, her legs straddling his thighs, and slid both of his hands into her hair, pulling her face down to his. He kissed her thoroughly, and soon she, too, was breathing heavily.

  Sometime later they lay beside each other, both on their backs. Andrew had one of her hands in both of his, toying with her fingers.

  “Do you think we’ll get married?”

  Lauren froze. “You’re not asking me, are you?”

  “Not right now.”

  “Oh. In that case…I’d say maybe.”

  “Maybe?”

  “What do you want me to say? That’s not a good question to pose theoretically.”

  “What if it wasn’t
theoretical? What if I was asking you to marry me?”

  “Are you?”

  “No.”

  “Andrew!”

  “What? I’m just curious what your answer would be.”

  “Why are you even thinking about that?”

  “Because I love you. Isn’t that what people in love should think about? The next steps?”

  “Probably.”

  “So?”

  “I already told you. Maybe.”

  “You’re infuriating. You know that?”

  “You should have thought about that before theoretically asking me to marry you.”

  “Probably so.”

  “What else have you thought about? About us?” she asked, admiring his masculine hands as they massaged her fingers.

  “Honestly?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Sex.”

  “Is that so?” Lauren’s face warmed, and he tightened his arm around her.

  “Do you think about that?” he asked.

  “Of course I do.”

  “Is it okay that we haven’t? Yet? I just want our first time to be perfect, and I’m terrified I’ll have a repeat of the night before we kissed. And I’m so tired all the time, which pisses me off. But also, I’m a little worried that it would, um…expose you. To the chemo, somehow. Is that possible?”

  Lauren propped her chin on his chest. His left arm was folded behind his head, and he looked down at her with questioning eyes.

  “It’s possible, yes. I never got to this part in your chemo education,” she pinched him in the ribs, and he flinched and laughed, “but I usually make sure men know to wear condoms. To protect their partner.”

  Andrew nodded, his smile fading. “Even that wouldn’t protect you one hundred percent, though. I’d rather wait until I’m done and it’s completely safe, if that’s okay with you. I mean, to be clear, I don’t want to wait, but I think we should wait. You know?”

  Lauren shifted higher on his chest and planted a sweet kiss on his lips. “I do know.” She pushed herself to a sitting position beside him, folding her legs together. “Actually, I’d kind of thought the next guy I slept with would be my husband.”

  Andrew’s eyes met hers, and he tilted his head to the side, waiting for her to continue.