She tucks her chin but says nothing.
“What’s your biggest fear, Jenny?”
Dabbing a tissue at her eyes, she lifts her head. “That I can’t handle it.”
“But don’t you think you did that today?”
She shrugs. “Not really.”
“Why?” I’m fairly certain I know what the problem is, but if she can recognize it without me telling her, she’ll know what to do next time. And be more willing to do it.
“Because I had to get help?” she whispers.
“What’s wrong with that? When I went to my doctor, she didn’t do everything herself. She had a team of people working with her.”
The corners of her mouth lift a tiny margin, and then she gives me a reluctant nod that tells me she gets it.
“You’re not alone, Jenny. And you don’t have to do it all yourself, okay?” Why do I hear Nick’s voice saying the same thing to me?
“Okay.”
I push from the counter with a deep breath and clasp my hands. “Good. Now, I have to get back for my next patient. And he’s a big one.”
“The General?”
“Yep.”
“I’m technically done here. Can I watch?”
No better moment than the present to practice what I just preached to her. “Sure. Actually, he’s ready for some bigger movements, and an extra pair of hands would help. You up for that?”
This time, her smile is full on. “Definitely.”
As we head over to my area of the building, my phone buzzes in my side pocket. A text from Nick…
Running a few minutes late. Sorry.
I scold my heart for being blatantly obvious in its sudden uptick in beats. Sure, it’s the first time Nick has ever texted me.And so what if it makes me feel somehow more connected to him? It’s just a text for crying out loud.
Then again, there’s a part of me that’s still that naïve eighteen-year-old, crushing on her brother’s best friend. I’m determined to figure out how to shut her up for good.
CHAPTER 9
Nick
Getting Zane’s text, asking me to stop by on my way to physical therapy kind of caught me off guard. I’ve been so focused on getting my shoulder back to full strength that I haven’t stopped in as often as usual.
Stepping back into headquarters is like coming home for Christmas but without all the family drama. The familiar smell of the place comforts me at first, then reminds me of the ache that’s been sitting in my chest since the accident—the ache that’s also my fear about whether I’ll be able to return to the profession I love.
And I do love being a lifeguard. But what if I can’t do it anymore? What if I get back out there and my shoulder gives out in the middle of a rescue? What if I can’t swim fast enough to save someone from drowning?
My doctor said my chances of getting almost full range back were pretty good. Like ninety-five percent. But what if that turns out to be not good enough?
Zane rises from his desk when he sees me walking toward his office. He shakes my hand as he draws me into the inner sanctum of lifeguard operations and closes the door. I’ve had the privilege of being part of this amazing team for close to sevenyears and operating more like Zane’s assistant over the last two. He’s not only been like a mentor to me, but he’s also one of my best friends. So I know him well enough to recognize his expression—the one he wears when he has something important or serious to talk about.
“Thanks for stopping in, Nick. Sorry about the short notice.” He settles in behind his desk as I sit down in the opposite chair. “I just wanted to check with you about where you’re at since your certification expires in close to two months.”
I could have sworn I had several months before I had to retest, which seemed like plenty of time to complete the therapy plan Hannah outlined for me. But if he’s right, I may not be ready. “Are you sure?”
