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“It’s easier not dealing with that anymore,” I tell him. “It also helps to have my kid because he would never—” My words are cut off when my phone begins to ring. Something in my gut tells me something’s wrong. This isn’t a normal call. I don’t know how I know. I just do.
My hands begin to shake as I answer the call. “Yeah?”
“Rune,” I swear I recognize the voice, and my heart leaps in my chest. “You need to get to the hospital. It’s Elio.”
THREE
EASTON
Digging my teeth into the flesh of the peach, I try not to grimace. It’s a little too ripe and mealy, but I’m not about to say that aloud. The last time I did, the guys called me Princess Peach for a month. And while I wear her like a badge of honor—she’s always my pick for Mario Kart, thank you very much—I’m not in the mood to have everyone thinking I’m some kind of priss.
I turn my attention over to Ozzie and Teo, who are having a push-up contest. Ozzie, of course, is beating the fuck out of Teo, who is—fuck, I think maybe fifteen years older than our spry little rookie.
He’s been on the team since before I can remember, and while he’s not old enough for retirement, he has been making noise about getting a desk job sooner rather than later.
A soft elbow touches my arm, and I glance over at Camilo. “Boss.”
He rolls his eyes. “How are you with taking care of fish?”
I blink at him. It’s not the weirdest question coming from my boss. He doesn’t have a lot going on for him now that he’s divorced. He and his ex never had kids, so I’m pretty sure all Camilo has left regarding his at-home responsibilities is making sure he’s clean enough that black mold doesn’t start growing, and taking care of his…fish, apparently?
“I still have Leo’s fish,” I say.
“Can you follow a schedule?”
I stare at him. “Wait. Are you asking me to fish-sit?”
“House-sit,” he says softly. “I need to go back home in a few months.”
I’m not sure what “back home” means to Camilo. He grew up on the West Coast, but his mom was from Colombia, and as far as I can remember—which isn’t a lot most days—she moved back there a couple of years ago.
“So, like…San Francisco, or…”
“Caldas,” he says, his accent going thick for a second. It makes me smile, though the expression doesn’t last long because Camilo looks upset, and my heart sinks. “My brother’s getting married in October. My mom’s been taking care of things, but she can barely take care of herself these days.”
My gaze hits my feet. “Shit. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.” He drops a hand on my shoulder and squeezes gently. “Lex will hold down the fort, and I asked Logan to do dual shifts until I get back—and I asked North if he will come back for a month while I’m away.”
Well. Fuck North for not telling me that. I’ve been working myself into several anxiety attacks at the thought of doing all this without him. I didn’t know we had extra time.
I remind myself to put powdered ginger in his ball dust later.
“I can do a little house-sitting,” I tell him, realizing he’s probably waiting for my answer. “But I do kill plants, so…”
“I just have a couple succulents.”
“Uh, yeah. I might kill those too,” I tell him with a grimace. “Like, not on purpose.”
He rolls his eyes but smiles and shakes me. “Just don’t kill my fish, and we’re good.”
Well fuck, I don’t want to promise him that. After killing six ferns, I decided that being responsible for keeping anyone alive except our patients and Leo’s single fish was not for me. “I’ll do my best.”
“I’m filled with confidence,” he says dryly, then turns his attention to Ozzie, who is sitting cross-legged, and Lex is feeding him water from a straw like a baby hamster while Teo is lying on his back with his arm slung over his face.
“I could have kicked both their asses back in my day,” Camilo says. “I could have—”
He doesn’t get the chance to finish his sentence. A call comes in, and within seconds, I’m aware that it’s my worst nightmare. It’s a child. A young child. And he’s being given CPR by the pond after someone pulled him out.
