I get to work and head straight to the ER. Edward is already there, at the computer. I glance around. There don’t seem to be any serious emergencies that aren’t being attended to.
“Good morning,” I say to Edward.
He looks up from the computer and gives me a lazy smile. “Morning.”
“You’re here early.”
“Just trying to wrap my head around your computer system and seeing if I can help out.”
I peer over at his screen. “Would you like any help?”
“Not for the moment. But I’m sure I’ll be asking soon.”
“No problem at all. Feel free to ask away.”
“Are we still on for coffee?” he asks.
I smile. “Sure. I can have a chat with the most eligible bachelor in Crown Village Hospital.”
He chuckles. “Is that what I am now? How do you know that?”
I glance at the three nurses staring at us, then lean in and whisper, “The nurses know everything.”
He laughs again, and it makes me smile.
“Would you like to know your nickname?” I’m having way too much fun teasing him.
He cringes. “I’m not sure... Do I want to know?”
I give him a sharp nod. “It’s a good one. I think you’ll find it amusing.”
He looks unsure. “Ahh... okay... shoot.”
“McDaddy.” I try to hide my laughter but fail miserably.
He looks stunned. “That’s uh... interesting.”
“Oh, come on, it’s pretty funny.”
He runs a hand through his hair. “Must be the gray hair. I’m not that old.”
“How old are you?” It slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it.
“Late forties.”
My eyebrows shoot up. That’s not old at all. “Must be the gray hair.” Plus the fact that he’s ridiculously good looking.
“Get out!” a man yells. Our heads turn to a security officer pushing a guy out the door.
I rush to them with Edward by my side. “What’s going on?”
“He was sitting with his friend over there,” the officer says, glancing at the guy on the bed, who had overdosed. “He was stealing medical supplies out of the cabinet.”
“You’re a fucking liar!” the man spits. He pulls his arm back and punches the officer hard. The officer falls to the floor, blood gushing from his face.
Edward tackles the man while I kneel and tend to the officer. There’s a cut above his eye that’s bleeding.
“Are you all right to get up? You’re going to need a couple of stitches.” The officer sees the blood on his hand and faints, out cold. I sigh. “Can I get some help over here?” I yell. Nothing is ever dull around here.
