My Devotion

13. Numbers

"You really don't have to come if you're working." Adina's voice is soft like always and I have learned a lot in a short time.

Adina, my timid little deer.

It broke my heart when I seen her right at having a panic attack, all because of me too. If she wasn't focused on staring at my hand she would have been able to see the glassy look in my eyes for a moment as I got it under control, that is how much it bothers me I had scared her. Another new development on how she pulls things from me I haven't ever felt before.

I am not looking to just hook up and leave her. Nor hurt her in anyways by using her just because I heard of her pregnancy.

There are no rules out there that we can't date just because she is pregnant. She is probably fairly new out of a relationship but she isn't trying to just snatch me in, it is the other way around I want her and was right before begging her to agree to a date with me.

Plus it was no lie, I do like kids. Just don't ask me the last time I been around a baby because the answer would be.

Once last year, during a EMT call I was on.

I enjoy kids though anytime I am around them and have got involved with some of the little leagues our town has for kids as the station likes to sponsor them and us get out there to coach and play practice baseball or flag football with them.

Also fairly certain the look in her eyes the first time we ever met was slight fear. Her reactions put me in mind of someone who has experienced abuse.

"I am off work technically." I take a glance at my watch.

We didn't call into dispatch that the call took longer then our scheduled shift so we are officially off work. I take my phone out and see Lumie texted me, I respond that he can take the ambulance to the station I would get a ride there in a bit.

The urge to make sure Adina eats is to great. In a strange way, I have a protective feeling over her once she calmed down and then hearing her other part made it more too.

"But don't you want to go home or do anything else?" She looks up to me and I stop walking.

With a small breath I smile at her. She is thoughtful and caring. Who is the retard that didn't cherish her?

"I rather make sure you get food and are okay."

Her cheeks get a tint of pink, as her lips quirk up into a sweet smile. "Okay then."

We walk to the food court and I stop at the enterance, letting her look over the options the hospital has to buy from. Because this hospital serves a couple counties it is rather large, which helps too because there is several food options within the food court for actual mini restaurants.

"Where do you want to go?" I ask her when she doesn't make a move but looks to me.

I see a small bit of shock like she isn't used to being asked and then she points to the sandwich shop. Not thinking, I place my hand on her lower back to guide her over but she flinches a little. Something I could slap myself for not thinking before just touching and she couldn't see me move. It hurts my heart seeing her flinch at the contact not knowing what could come, so I remove my hand.

She stops walking and then looks back. "Sorry."

"It was my fault." I give her a soft smile that she returns.

"It's mine. I'm sorry just can't stop it."

"Give it a little time and let me show you there is no reason to be nervous or have to fear from my touch. No one will hurt you here."

She scrunches her eyebrow. "You can't really promise that though, because crime is every where no matter where a person is at."

"Okay true, but I can promise I won't ever harm you in that way."

She nods slowly. "I still am sorry."

"Adina, my little deer, stop apologizing because there is nothing that is your fault. You will need time to see and trust me, which I will patiently wait for and rejoice once you trust me enough to know my words are true."

"You sound like you want more than one date."

"Because I do. I don't date and dump. If I am being honest I've only ever dated twice before." I shrug my shoulders as she looks shocked by my words.

"Have you seen yourself though?" She covers her mouth and I can tell when she is not filtering her thoughts like she normally does which I am really liking.

"Sure I have couple times a day through the normal cleaning hygiene." I smirk as she blushes.

"That isn't what I meant."

"I know." I smile and then walk us to the line to wait our turn. "It didn't work out before not that anything horrible happened just one was during school years and her parents moved them from town and then the last one just decided wanted more than my salary could give."

"That is pathetic." She spits and I smile at her words.

"Happens though for some. Money can be more important than love for some people." I shrug once more. "After you." I get behind her with our turn to order coming up.

I listen as she orders the type of sandwich she wishes to have made up and then put in my order. We watch as a machine actually spins and does it all once they put the orders in the machine for the smoothie she ordered. I don't say anything but watch how Adina is fascinated by the thing which makes me smile.

"Can I ask something?" She whispers and I hum in reply. "What was with the little deer thing?"

I smile softly and look down at the back of her head. "A fitting little nickname I think, just something that came out without thinking."

She turns and looks up to me. "Not even on a date yet and you came up with a nick name." She smiles and it lights up my entire world. "I like it though, I never had one before."

She turns when the worker calls our food is ready. The worker tells us the total and I hand over cash before she can. We get the food and she thanks me as we walk over to a drink section at the food court, where she orders a water and I get a coffee, which she uses the cash she had ready for the food and beat me paying for it.

"Now we are even-ish." She laughs lightly.

"I rather pay for all your meals."

"Thank you."

"Could we exchange numbers? That way I can call you for our date and make sure it works for you? I was thinking this Friday if that works?"

She nods. "It does for me."

We exchange phone numbers and I walk her back to her brothers room since she doesn't seem to like the crowd at the food court area.

"I'll call you." I smile and she nods.

"I would like that."

"See you soon, little deer."

"See you." She smiles then opens the glass door back to the room.