Thanks to Devir Ginator for editing and all his help with the story. It's been invaluable.
Thanks for reading, commenting and voting. Hope you all enjoy!
****
T. J. and I were standing the vending machines when we saw the trio exit the ICU. He had been complaining about his hand hurting so we had gone to grab him something to take his pain meds with. I was so taken with seeing Michelle without her glasses that I didn't notice the tears on Lissa's face but T. J. spotted them after he grabbed his soda.
"Something's wrong," He said worriedly.
We hurried over to them as they walked toward the chairs.
"What is it? What happened?" I asked Lissa.
"He's awake!" Lissa answered excitedly. "Scott woke up!"
T. J. shouted out and got shushed by the lady at the desk. He apologized then pulled Lissa into a hug.
"That's great news Lis!" He enthused then winked at Michelle. "Looks like your little trick worked!"
Michelle flushed slightly at the praise then and bumped my arm with hers.
"Hey, you," She greeted me. "I thought you'd be sleeping right now?"
"Hey yourself," I smiled. "I could say the same about you."
"You did put me through my paces with our swim this morning but I did manage a half decent amount of sleep last night," She said.
"I bored you right to sleep huh?" I joked.
"I don't know, maybe," She winked at me. "Vlad should make an appearance next time we watch a movie."
"Vlad only watches silent movies or Russian propaganda films. Talk about putting someone to sleep," I chuckled.
"He'd win any movie line bet on those films I suppose," She stated.
"I doubt it," I smiled at her.
"Silent... right," She smiled back. "He was anything but silent this morning."
"That's Vlad. He likes his movies silent but can't keep his mouth shut when he really should," I shared. "You uh... look nice by the way."
"You mean without the glasses and my hair tied up in pony tail?" She asked.
"No, I mean... I like the ponytail and the glasses," I answered.
"Really?" She asked.
"Well yeah. I've only ever seen you in them until now and you look great either way I guess I'm just used to seeing you in them is all," I answered.
"Kenny, if you're trying not to flirt with me you're failing miserably," She pointed out.
"Can you blame me? You looked in the mirror before coming here right?" I asked her.
"I did but..." She started to answer as her face flushed.
"If I'm making you uncomfortable just tell me and I'll try to curb my tongue," I told her.
"And keep your eyes to yourself?" She teased.
"Heck no but at least you won't have to listen to my commentary about it," I answered.
She paused and looked at me for a long moment.
"That was not the response I was expecting," She admitted.
"You were expecting me to lie and tell you that I wouldn't look at you again?" I asked with a grin.
"Sort of," She said. "I mean isn't that the normal response?"
"I thought we'd established that I'm not normal," I tried to joke.
"What we established is that you were creepy," She quipped back playfully.
Addison had been not so subtly listening in on the conversation and had to smile as she watched Michelle flirt. It was a very rare occurrence and she enjoyed seeing this side of her friend.
"Mr. Grayson, are you hitting on my friend?" Addison joined in.
"Trying not to, ma'am, but..." I started to answer but was cut off.
"Kenny, if you say I'm making it hard, I swear that I will drown you on our next swim," Michelle interrupted me.
"I wouldn't say anything that crude," I told her.
"After what happened this morning," She smiled. "I'm not so sure."
"I was going to say was that I have a thing for brainy blondes thank you very much," I stated.
"She's the brainy one for sure. I tell her all the time that she should wear her glasses like a badge of honor but she insists on putting in her contacts every morning," Addison shared.
"I plan to get eye surgery as soon as I'm hired on at the aquarium so lucky me," Michelle shared.
"That's too bad," I sighed. "I think I'll miss you in glasses."
"Maybe I'll save a pair to wear just for you," She assured me with a laugh.
"You know for two people who are just friends, you guys are flirting an awful lot," Addison pointed out.
Lissa nodded along with her and smiled at Michelle.
"Us flirt?" Michelle asked innocently.
"We don't do that," I said. "It wouldn't be professional."
"You're guarding my family not Michelle," Addison smiled. "Flirt away, Kenny."
I turned toward Michelle and smiled.
"Look who got permission to flirt," I said.
"Oh thanks a lot, Addison," Michelle sighed. "I get him trained and you show him a shiny new ball to play with."
"Hey, I'm not trainable," I argued.
"You can say that again," T. J. chimed in.
"Who invited you into this?" I countered.
"I saw an opportunity and jumped in," he laughed.
"Jumped in on what?" Ramon walked up to the group and asked.
"They're playing pile on me, Ramon, and no you cannot join in," I shared.
"Damn it and I'm good at that game too," Ramon responded.
"Did you get her number?" I asked in an attempt to switch the conversation.
"You think that while my teammate is in there fighting for his life I'm out getting some ladies number?" Ramon asked trying to sound shocked when I said nothing back and just stared for a moment he broke.
"Yes, I got her number," He confessed. "Of course I got her number. Scottie would be crushed if he knew his injuries stood in the path of true love."
"You can tell him that yourself," Lissa said. "He just woke up."
"He did? For real?" He asked and we all nodded. "That's great!"
"I'm sure he'll be pleased that you found... what did he call it T. J?" I asked.
"True love," T. J. added.
"That sounds awfully familiar to me, T. J.," I chuckled.
"Hey I'm serious guys," Ramon protested. "She could be the one."
"The one," T. J. shook his head. "Oh no, Grayson, are you hearing this?"
"Yes and that sounds even more familiar," I answered then noticed the ladies are looking at the three of us very confused. "Sorry, ladies, you see Ramon finds
the one
