She sniffed and pulled back, swiping her forearm across her eyes. Andrew felt the loss of her immediately, and he nearly pulled her back against his chest. He settled for putting his arm around her waist for support, and they walked in the direction of her car.

“I’m so sorry.” Her voice shook, and she occasionally hiccupped as she inhaled. “I’m not usually like this… I’m so embarrassed.”

They came to a stop by her car, and Andrew turned her to face him. He ducked low to meet her gaze directly, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Don’t be ridiculous.” He held out his hand. “But I’m driving.”

She didn’t argue and dug around in her purse for her keys. She placed them in his palm, but before she could get in on the passenger side, he pulled her in for another hug.

“I’m sorry,” he said for the tenth time, but it was true. He was sorry she was hurting, and that she had a job where this probably happened often. He was sorry that in the back of his mind, he wondered if someday he would be the one she was crying over.

This time her arms wound around his waist, causing a tightening deep in his abdomen. His heart squeezed inside his chest and he closed his eyes, memorizing the feel of her like this.

“Thank you.” Too soon, she pulled back and opened the car door.

He went around to the driver’s side and got in. She sat quietly beside him as he started the car and maneuvered out of the parking garage.

They didn’t speak for several blocks, the soft melody of the radio the only sound.

He drove right past the entrance to his apartment complex.

She noticed. “Where are you going?”

“We need ice cream.” He thought she might point out that it was only eleven-thirty in the morning or that they hadn’t had lunch yet.

Instead, she nodded. “Good call.”

And just like that, he fell for her a little more.

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

When Andrew pulled into Betty Rae’s parking lot, Lauren offered him a small smile. “My favorite.”

“Mine too.”

“Though you should have told me this outing would be BYOI.”

“BYOI?” he repeated.

“Bring Your Own Insulin.” Good Lord, could I sound more like a science nerd?

But the look Andrew gave her wasn’t one of forbearance. Rather, it was almost affectionate. “Is that pharmacy humor?”

She grinned. “Yeah.”

When they reached the counter, he turned to her. She’d tried to wipe away her smeared eye makeup in the car, but she bet a few smudges remained. She hoped she didn’t look too awful.

“Split a S’mores sundae?” he asked.