Free The One Left Behind (The One Series) by Lena Nicole Page A

Why don’t you go with Addison on her break and keep her company.”
    Before I can say it isn’t necessary, Pierce surprises me with his response. “I would love to. If it gets me away from you and your horrible match making skills I’ll go. Shall we?” I look at Pierce and see he has a small grin on his face which shows he’s just teasing his little sister. I’m a little confused by his shift in attitude. He goes from quickly dismissing the idea of being with me to being excited to go on break with me.
    He holds out his hand and, staring at it, I replay what just happened in my head. How did I go from turning down Cameron to accepting Lexis’ invite for her brother to accompany me on my break? I need to start paying more attention. I grab his hand and turn to walk out as Lexi shouts, “Have fun kids!”
    I shake my head and continue walking. “Is she always like that?”
    “Worse, much worse. I tried to keep quiet to spare you the match making wrath of my sister but she is ruthless. Every time I have to take her here she always embarrasses me asking nurses if they are single. I love my sister and she means well, but sometimes she’s just too much.” Hearing him explain his silence at her question sends a wave of relief through my body. It also explains his sudden outburst if he has to endure this type of thing from Lexi constantly.
    We get to a sitting area by the twenty-four hour coffee shop that’s in the hospital. I get a French vanilla coffee with a sesame bagel. Pierce also orders a French vanilla coffee but with a blueberry bagel.
    “So, as I was saying before Lex cut me off, I wanted to call and see how you were doing but I didn’t have your number. So how are you? How are you adjusting since the day I saw you? Have you remembered anything?” He’s staring intently into my eyes waiting for my response.
    “Sadly no, but you gave me a different outlook on the situation and I can’t thank you enough for that.” I start to play with the bottom of my shirt feeling the need to keep my hands busy.
    Pierce gives me a big smile. “No need to thank me. What are friends for?”
    Friends. He considers me a friend. That is nice to hear I guess. I don’t know why, but hearing him put me in the friend zone feels kind of like a letdown.
    I don’t have a long break – only twenty minutes – so the rest of the time flies by. Pierce asks me a lot of questions which makes me happy that he’s showing so much interest in getting to know me. He wanted to know everything from my favorite color, my favorite movie, even my favorite superhero. He got a good laugh when I told him my favorite superhero is Harley Quinn. He informed me that she’s a villain and doesn’t count. The next thing I know we are back at my desk.
    “Thanks for keeping me company on my break. I’m sure you will hear an earful from Lexi. Try and let her down easy.” I wink at him as I nudge his shoulder. He grins, looking at me from the corner of his eye.
    “Well, it’s not her fault she’s a hopeless romantic. It runs in the family, so I better get back to her before she starts planning our wedding. But how would you like to grab lunch with me this week?” He’s looking at me straight on with a hopeful sparkle in his eyes.
    I don’t even have to think about my answer. I have a good time in Pierce’s company and it will be nice to have a friend I can just relax with.
    “Definitely, how’s Saturday?”
    “Saturday is great. I’ll see you then.”
    He starts to walk away and I realize I still haven’t given him my phone number.
    “Pierce, wait.” As he comes back to my desk I say, “I forgot, let me give you my number that way if something comes up and you can’t make it you can let me know.” I give him my number and don’t see him or Lexi for the remainder of my shift.
     

IT’S EARLY SATURDAY morning and I’m sitting on the deck of my house looking at the ocean above the roofs of the other houses with a coffee in my hand.