Deep dimples dug into his cheeks. “I was saying that you’re still single. Maybe Juanita can find a match for you.”
Juanita rubbed her hands together. “Yes! My cousin’s youngest son, Ray, would be perfect for you.”
“No, thanks. I’m kind of with someone.” She sent a meaningful glare toward Jarrett.
His eyes went wide. “Oh, yeah. I forgot about that.” His gaze darted toward Juanita and back.
“How long have you been dating this someone?” Juanita pursed her lips, somehow looking down her nose at Rylie, even though she was much shorter.
“We’ve only been together a few days,” Rylie answered, choosing her words carefully. “But I’ve known him for years.”
“Whoever he is, he doesn’t deserve you,” Juanita declared, with a sharp nod. “If he’s known you for years and he’s just now getting around to asking you out.”
“Actually, he’s never taken me on a real date,” Rylie said.
“Then he really doesn’t deserve you,” Juanita said.
“It could be that he didn’t ask you out because he knew you’d turn him down.” Jarrett’s voice was casual, but muscles rippled along his jaw.
“You’re making up excuses for him.” Rylie stood and walked to the door, peeking into the hallway. Shouldn’t the surgery be over by now?
“Someone needs to defend him.” Jarrett cocked his head to the side. “They said it would take about thirty minutes to insert his PICC line. When he’s out of surgery, they’ll come get us.”
Rylie went back to her seat beside Juanita. “I’m just afraid he’s going to wake up hurting and get scared.”
“Jarrett, you never told me what happened.” Juanita said. “How did you end up getting approved as Gabe’s guardian? Did you and Carlie get married? Where is she, anyway?”
Jarrett looked like he’d been asked to eat leftovers that had turned green in the refrigerator. “Uhmm…”
The door opened and a man in scrubs walked in. “Mr. and Mrs. Alvarez?”
“Yes.” Jarrett rose to his feet, and Rylie moved to stand beside him.
Rylie kept her eyes trained on the doctor while he explained that the surgery had gone well. But she felt Juanita’s gaze boring a hole in the back of her head. The moment the doctor left the room, Juanita cleared her throat, commanding their attention.
When Rylie and Jarrett turned to face her, she was standing with her arms crossed and her foot tapping on the floor. “Is there something you forgot to tell me?”
Jarrett groaned aloud. “It’s a long story.”
“Fortunately,” Juanita said, as she lifted an eyebrow, “we’ve got a lot of time on our hands.”
CHAPTER 9
Jarrett sat up and swung his foot to the cold hospital floor. He rubbed his sore shoulder muscles and winced at the ache. The convertible couch was too short and hard for comfort.
The door cracked open and Finn’s face appeared, a medical mask covering his nose and mouth to protect him against infections he might acquire in the hospital.
“Good morning,” Finn whispered, eyeing the sleeping Gabe as he entered the room. “How’s our patient?”
“He slept great.” Jarrett stretched his arms over his head, groaning. “A lot better than I did.”
“Yes, that bed is terrible. I tried to sleep, but gave up and worked all night. I’ll do that again tonight and get some sleep tomorrow morning.”
“I really appreciate you coming. I didn’t realize how exhausting this was going to be.”
Finn waved off his thanks as he reached to pull the blanket over Gabe’s exposed arm. “You know you’d do the same for me. In fact, you sat with me multiple times when I was stuck in the hospital.”
Finn’s cystic fibrosis had required frequent hospitalizations, which he’d usually kept a secret except from their tightly-knit group.
“Yes, but this time you have a wife and a new baby, so I know it’s a sacrifice.”
Finn chuckled. “I’m getting more sleep here than I do at home with a four-month-old.”
“But it’s worth it? Going without sleep?” Jarrett attached his prosthesis with a shoe and sock already in place and added a matching pair to his foot.
“It’s totally worth it, Jarrett.” For once, Finn looked serious. “I can’t even explain how much I love Larkin. I’d do anything for her. You know what I mean?”
A strange lump formed in Jarrett’s throat, thinking about the baby. Though he’d always wanted kids, he’d never really thought about having an infant until he’d seen all three of his buddies with babies of their own. Though the chances of him fathering a child were slim after his chemo and radiation, he could adopt a baby like his buddies had. He wondered if Carlie would be happy with that option.
“I can imagine,” Jarrett said. “I already feel that way about Gabe.”
“I knew I’d love kids if I ever had them.” Finn sat down in the adjacent chair. “You know how it is. You have nieces and nephews, too. I just never thought it would happen to me.”
Finn referred to his reticence to have a family because of his shortened life-expectancy. Fortunately, Laurie had convinced him it wouldn’t be selfish to marry and have a family.
Jarrett stood up and folded his sheets and blanket, pushing the bed back into couch form.
