They resumed playing and Jake won the game, but because the little boy was already wearing a hat and Jasmine had more points than Andrew, he still relinquished his hat to her. He plopped it onto her head before excusing himself to the refreshment area for a drink.

The other kids left the table, and only Jasmine and Lauren remained.

“He really likes you,” Jasmine said quietly.

Lauren smiled. “You think so?”

She nodded. “He told me. But even if he hadn’t, it’s pretty obvious.”

Lauren gathered the cards in a pile and stuffed them into the small box. “Is it obvious that I like him, too?”

“Um, yeah.”

The way Jasmine said it made Lauren laugh.

Then Jasmine’s expression turned serious. “He’s cool. You’re really lucky.”

A lump suddenly formed in Lauren’s throat. She tried to swallow it down, then met Jasmine’s dark eyes. “I think so, too.”

Lucky didn’t even begin to cover it.

…

On Wednesday, the midday break in patient visits was just long enough for Lauren, Emma, and Kiara to grab lunch together.

“What’s everyone doing for Valentine’s Day?” Emma asked, stabbing at her salad with a fork.

“Nate and I are staying in,” Kiara said. “Making dinner and watching movies.”

“Lame. What about you, Lauren?”

Lauren still felt a little weird talking about Andrew openly at work but tried to ignore the niggling sensation of unease. These were her friends, and everything was out in the open between the three of them. Plus, they currently sat in the noisy café and no one paid them any attention. “Same, actually. We’re stopping by the Valentine’s party at Children’s, but then I’m going to try to make Andrew dinner.”

Emma curled her lip in mock disgust. “Is this what happens when you fall in love? Things get boring?”

Kiara smirked and took a drink of water. “Nothing boring about naked dinner and a movie.”

“Naked?” Emma trilled. “You definitely did not say that the first time.”

“Didn’t I?”

Lauren laughed at her friends, choosing not to involve herself in the direction the conversation had gone. She dipped a French fry in ketchup. “I actually wanted your opinion on what I should wear,” she said. “Be honest…do you think I can pull off pink?”

Emma winced, and Kiara looked away, scratching the back of her neck.

Lauren took no offense, as that had been her initial thought, too. “Can I show you?” She unlocked her phone and pulled up a selfie she’d taken in the dressing room. “It’s not like a bright pink, and I thought it wasn’t too bad…”

Emma grabbed the phone and her eyes went wide. “Wow.”

Kiara leaned over to look. “Hot damn. Who would have thought? You make that sweater look good.”

Lauren grinned. “Thanks, girls.” Pleased, she put her phone away and pointed at Emma. “What about you? Any Valentine’s plans?”