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in my stomach, pointing out that fact that I have never asked for this man to be part of my life. I shoved it down and smiled at Tom.
     
    “I came to thank you,” I said, keeping my voice was calm as I could.
     
    Tom’s eyebrows shot up. “Really?” The incredulous tone in his voice made me frown. “I’m sorry if I’ve offended you, but really?” He laughed, shaking his head. “I thought you hated me.”
     
    “I did. Actually, I might still if you don’t stop.” He nodded and zipped his lips. I was reminded, for a moment, of elementary school. Tom struck me as the kind of guy to survey the playground from the monkey bars and shoot bullies with rocks from them. I giggled.
     
    “What?”
     
    “I’m picturing you in coverall shorts with a slingshot,” I said. Tom’s eyes went wide, his cheeks flushing for a second. The image made me laugh even harder.
     
    “I don’t look that good in shorts,” he said.
     
    My gaze flicked across his splayed form and a teasing smile played across my lips. “I don’t know,” I said. “I think you’d look good in just about anything.” Tom smirked at me, his eyes teasing. It took me a second, but then I realized what I’d just said and bit my lip. “Sorry, that might have been a bit too Taryn.”
     
    He chuckled. It was a low, throaty sound that sent shivers up my spine. I twitched to keep myself from rubbing my shoulders. “I don’t mind.” There was something in his expression as he said it that super-heated my insides. I shook my head, a smile on my face as I fought down the sudden wave of arousal.
     
    “You’re something, you know that.” Outside the room, there was a crash as a nurse’s food tray banged into the wall. The spell broken, I looked away from Tom and coughed in discomfort. “Do you know when you’ll be allowed out of the hospital?” I asked. The tiles of the floor suddenly seemed much more interesting than Tom. A flush rose to my cheeks. He was a handsome man, so the reaction wasn’t completely unexpected – no more than that earlier burst of arousal – but I couldn’t help but curse this permanent embarrassment. He had saved my life and I had thanked him, hadn’t I? What more was there to it?
     
    “A few days at most, they said. Hopefully two.” I swore I could hear him smiling. “Then I’ll be back to chasing after you.” I choked back a cough at his tone. Chasing me? Is that what he thought it was? The heat rushed back to my face and I clenched on fist in my lap. I couldn’t place this emotion, though it was somewhere between anger and annoyance.
     
    Turning to the window, I stared out at the frost covered grass, untouched by most in the hospital court yard. I took a deep breath to calm myself before I spoke again. “You don’t have to chase, you know,” I said. “I get it, I was immature. I mean, I’m still not going to let you into my apartment when I’m sleeping, but I think it’s time I stopped running.”
     
    “Oh?” Tom’s voice was so soft I almost missed it completely.
     
    I replied, “Yeah. You’re doing your best, so it’s the least I can do.” I laughed, nervous, and scrubbed at my hair. It was a mess from sleeping, but I hadn’t bothered to do anything but pull it back into a loose ponytail. The animals didn’t care what I looked like, so I never bothered in the morning. “So I think next time we’re together I won’t run screaming in the other direction.”
     
    “I’d appreciate it. Might make my job a lot easier.”
     
    “A lot less interesting though.” I grinned. He laughed and grinned in return.
     
    “True enough,” I replied. For a little while, neither of us spoke. I watched the last of the leaves fall from their branches and drift down to the frozen grass. Clouds gathered above and sent deep shadows across the few paths where people walked. The room was likewise cast in shadow, despite the overhead light, and my eyes drifted across it. I fidgeted, unsure of what to say