“Are you sleeping over at his place?”

“Are you okay with that?” I ask instead of answering her question.

She rolls her eyes as she slides off her stool. “Of course. Plus, I have to be up early to get to the hospital.”

“Could you take an extra day off?”

“No, two weeks is even more than the hospital wanted to give me.” She goes to the fridge and pulls out a jug of water, then grabs a glass from the cupboard. Seeing the exhaustion in her features I shut my computer.

“You should go to bed.” I slide off my stool and Skye, who’s been stuck to my side like glue since Clay left, gets up and does a doggy stretch.

“I will. I’m gonna shower, then watch some TV until I pass out.”

“What’s your schedule this week?”

“Hectic.” She sighs. “Dr. Nice Bottom is taking a few days off to go golfing, so I’ll be covering his workload.”

I smile, Dr. Nice Bottom’s name is not actually that but when Leah first started working at the hospital, he came in every day wearing bicycle shorts and so that’s the nickname he was gifted.

“When is your next day off?”

“Next Monday.”

“Ewww.” My nose scrunches.

“I couldn’t agree more.” She starts to help me as I close up the containers from our dinner. “Will you be home at all this week, or have you traded me in for unlimited orgasms?”

“I love you, but orgasms are pretty amazing.”

“I bet they are.” She laughs.

“Honestly, I’m not sure what this week will look like, but I’ll definitely see you at the memorial Saturday.”

“Yes, you will.” She tips her head to the side and asks, “Is Annie coming for that?”

“No, but she’s going to do something similar with her sons and her husband.” I say quietly and she nods. “Hopefully with your sketch, Tucker and Miles will be able to find Matthew and get some answers.

“I hope so.” She walks to where I am and wraps her arms around me. “I love you.”

“Where is this coming from?” I hug her back.

“I just want you to know, you’re a great friend—the best kind of friend.”

My throat gets tight, and I squeeze my eyes closed to keep from crying. The truth is I wish I had been a better friend to Carly, that I had spent more time with her that I had gotten to know her better. But I can’t change that now. “You’re going to make me cry.”

“No crying.” She leans back to meet my eyes. “I just hope you know that you’re amazing.”

“Thanks,” I whisper, letting her go so that I can press the sleeves of my shirt into my eyes and cut off the tears.

“Now, I need to shower, and you need to go get an orgasm, and while you’re at it get one for me too.”

“I don’t think that’s how it works.” I give her a watery smile.