“And yet, you love me.” Her eyes widened as he waggled his brows, then pulled her upright and pressed a quick kiss to her hairline just above the bandage. “If I say it enough, eventually you’ll believe it. Seriously, though. Stay here. Get some sleep. We’ll try again tomorrow.”
She swallowed, emotion thick in her throat. “Thank you.”
Bryce smiled. “Anytime.”
And just like that, the pressure lifted.
CHAPTER 21
Beth had to admit—the following days were fun.
Packing should have been overwhelming, but with Kim, it was anything but. Between the throwback music, Kim modeling ridiculous hats (why did they have a Viking helmet in the back of their closet?), finding FIFTEEN different photos that Bryce had snuck into their photo college—he hadn’t even been in their apartment fifteen times—and of all things, an impromptu broomstick dance-off in the kitchen, it almost felt like old times.
She needed that.
She needed to laugh. To enjoy these last few days in the apartment she and Kim had called home for years.
Beth slid her stethoscope around her neck as she scannedthe patient list for her shift. The familiar scent of antiseptic and coffee lingered in the air, a comforting contrast to the whirlwind of the past few days. Here, in the ER, things made sense. Here, she knew her role.
The emergency room was already busy at 6 in the morning when she clocked in. Gladys, the charge nurse, ever the efficient machine, barely looked up from her charting as she handed Beth the first patient assignment.
“Buckle up, Stoner. The ER is a madhouse, and we’ve got overflow.”
Her last name was technically Jensen now. But no one at work knew she was married.
Not yet.
“Not a problem,” Beth said with a big smile, glancing at the chart before pushing through the door of room 6.
A woman—mid-20s, exhausted, worry written all over her face—looked up the second Beth stepped inside.
“Hi, I’m Beth, your nurse, can you tell me what’s going on with your son?
The mother’s voice cracked. “He’s been fussy and pulling at his ears all day. I don’t know if it’s teething or if something’s wrong.”
“Alright,” Beth said gently, washing her hands before she approached. “Let’s take a look.”
She carefully placed her stethoscope against his little chest. Heart rate normal. Lungs clear.
Beth smiled at the baby, who blinked up at her with big, watery eyes before stuffing a fist into his mouth.
The mother exhaled shakily. “He had an ear infection last month, and I’m just afraid I missed something.”
Beth nodded, checking the little one’s ears. Slightly red, but no signs of infection.
“I get it,” Beth reassured her. “It’s always scary when they’re not acting like themselves. But good news—his ears look clear, and his swollen glands are usually a sign his immune system is doing its job. Probably fighting off a mild virus.”
The woman visibly relaxed.
“So, he’s okay?”
“I don’t see anything concerning. Would you like me to bring him a popsicle to suck on while you’re waiting for the doctor to come in and check him out?”
The mom let out a relieved laugh, pressing a kiss to her son’s head. “Thank you. That would be great.”
Beth smiled. “Of course.”
“Morning, Stoner,” Nurse Michelle greeted, sliding up beside her as she charted at the nurse’s station. “How was your weekend?”
