Page 42 of Off the Wall
“Nooo. Don’t remind me.” Nori covers her eyes, but I continue.
“Car mishaps, three. And now bike adventures. That’s four fingers already,” I say. “We just need a thumb for a whole hand. And that might even make us … friends.”
Nori opens her eyes, fresh color blossoming in her cheeks. “You know, when you first moved in, Hayden and I thought—” She takes a quick beat. “Ithought maybe you felt likeyou were better than us. But I was wrong.” She offers me a small smile. “And I’m glad.”
“Me too, neighbor.” Warmth spreads inside me, filling the hollowness in my chest. Nori’s the firstnewperson I’ve felt any real connection to in years. Besides my old friends and family members, I haven’t felt safe letting anybody else get close to me. Not since Daphne took off. Nothing like having the woman you’re prepared to marry find someone else within weeks of your career ending. Trust was hard to come by after that. And any relationships I’ve risked investing in since have been strictly professional.
Then even Alex let me down.
I take in Nori’s smile now, and my gut constricts. What if I’ve let her too far in? Too quickly?
“I’m sorry about earlier, by the way,” she says. “That thingwhere I told you I can’t date you?” Her throat goes blotchy and she shakes her head. “That was ridiculous, of course. It’s not like I actually thought you were … or that I was … or that we could ever …”
“Oh, I know.” I hitch my shoulders. “And don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll say something way more stupid soon.”
She chuckles. “Don’t get my hopes up.”
We both start moving back toward the building, pushing the bike between us, almost like we had the exact same thought at the exact same time. “Should we take the bike back to storage?” she asks.
“Nah. The racks in the courtyard are safe enough. Only residents with keys can get in there. You shouldn’t have to drag this thing in and out of the basement every time you want to use it. I’ve got a lock in storage I can grab for you.”
When we reach the stairs, I lift the bike to carry it up, and she follows behind. We’re just through the big double doors, passing the lobby desk, when my phone pings in my pocket. I set down the bike.
“Hold on,” I say, checking the incoming text.
Sandra Fulsome
Dr. Arnold’s got a case I told him you’d be good for. 12-year-old boy dove into the shallow end of the pool. C1, C2 fracture. If you want to bring your new posterior cervical system, we’re putting the patient under soon. When can you be here?
I grimace, then quickly respond.
Me
I’ve got a set there already sterilized. On my way in ten.
So. Sandra did her job, convincing Dr. Arnold to try out Powell’s equipment. Now it’s time for me to do mine.
“I’ve gotta get to the hospital,” I grunt. I start pushing the bike toward the courtyard, moving quickly.
Nori trots along next to me. “What happened?”
“It’s a kid,” I tell her. “Twelve years old.” I can’t say any more about a patient or a case. Probably said too much already.
“That’s terrible,” Nori says, rushing to keep up. “Don’t worry about getting me the bike lock right now.”
“I’ll bring it by later,” I say. “If the case goes too late, I’ll just?—”
“ACK!”
With a small cry, Nori trips over a stone, stumbles on the walkway, and goes down hard.
Chapter Thirteen
Nori
I’d better be havinga nightmare.
I can’tactuallybe sprawled on the ground in the middle of the courtyard, can I? I was feeling pretty proud of myself after a few good laps around the building. Now I’m bleeding from both my palms and kneecaps.