Good thing, because judging by my distorted reflection in the elevator doors, my hair is a hot mess.
“I’m Harper,” I say, extending my hand. “I’m a student nurse in the surgical unit.”
Her eyes light up and a smile curves her bright pink lips, reminding me of my grandma. “So you’re Harper,” she says, taking my hand in hers and giving it a firm shake. What Rosemary lacks in stature, she more than makes up for in enthusiasm, her silver curls bouncing with each pump of her hand. “Chase has told me all about you.”
“Oh, really?” I give Chase a meaningful look. One I hope conveys a whole lot ofWhat-the-hell-did-you-tell-her?andWhat-the-hell-were-you-thinking?
He has a concussion, I remind myself. He can’t be held accountable for his actions.
The hell he can’t.
And, is it me, or does everyone want me to fail my clinicals? First Bri. Now Chase? I need to nip this in the bud.
Now.
Also, where is the freaking elevator?
“When you stopped visiting, I had to find someone to talk to,” Chase says, doing a piss-poor job of feigning disappointment. “Rosemary’s an excellent listener, though.”
So, what? They became BFF’s over the weekend?
Oh, my God. I don’t even care. Why am I letting him draw me into another ridiculous conversation?
“That’s great,” I say, as the elevator dings and the doors slide open with a quiet hiss. “Enjoy the rest of your walk.”
Before I can move my cart an inch, Rosemary’s got my arm in a death grip. “I’m feeling a bit tired,” she says, looking up at me with soft brown eyes. “Not as young as I used to be, you know. Could you finish Chase’s walk? He shouldn’t have to suffer because these old bones need a rest.”
I turn to Chase and narrow my eyes. I know a setup when I see one, and this is definitely a setup. Rosemary might look like my favorite grandma, but she’s as manipulative as my matchmaking Aunt Jean. Honestly, who’d have thought she had it in her?
“I’ll take these linens to the surgical unit, you take Chase up to the roof for a spin around the garden.”
She can’t be serious. I stare at the pair of them, incredulous.
“Well, what do you say?” Chase asks, grinning like the devil he is.
“I say I need to get back to the surgical unit. Nurse Rogers is expecting me.”
“Pishposh,” Rosemary says, waving off my concerns. “I’ll let Nurse Rogers know you’re caring for a patient. This boy needs some fresh air.” She pats Chase on the shoulder again. “It’s not good for a strapping young man like Chase to be kept indoors.”
Like he’s a freaking animal or something.
Here’s the thing. Rosemary might weigh a buck twenty soaking wet. If she’s too tired to push Chase, she’s too tired to push my big-ass linen cart.
“I really don’t think this is a good—”
Before I can finish, Rosemary moves, quick as a flash. She grabs my cart and pushes it into the elevator. Me? I just stand there and watch, slack-jawed. I mean, it’s not like I can wrestle it away from her. What if she falls and breaks a hip?
Besides, as a nursing student with one week of experience, literally everyone outranks me. Including misguided, matchmaking volunteers.
The doors slide shut and I sigh. “I’m totally going to fail my clinicals.”
“No way. Nurse Rogers loves me,” Chase says, flashing that annoyingly cocky grin of his. “But, hey, if you do fail, you might as well have fun doing it, right?”
Chase
Harper’s quiet as we wait for another elevator to come. I don’t push her. It’s obvious she needs a minute to process. Which I get. Rosemary can be a lot to handle, but damn if I don’t love that little firecracker.
I should’ve known she’d pull something like this the moment we saw Harper standing there.
