Water pulsed at my spine and shoulders.
“Oh,” I gasped, lowering my arms to fall into the current. “This is nice.”
He laughed and settled into a nearby seat. “Are you feeling relaxed?”
“Yes.” It was a semi-foreign sensation. Usually, I wasn’t this comfortable unless I was waking up after a particularly nice rest. I leaned back, allowing my hips to rise in the water. “Thank you for this.”
“I figured it’d be just what the potential doctor ordered,” he said, puffing out his chest.
“You mean you?” I teased.
“Either of us. I make an excellent doctorandpatient, if you ever care to practice,” he said.
I giggled at an errant memory. “Do you remember when they brought in the drama students to act as patients for a diagnostics test?”
“Yes.” He rolled his eyes. “I had an idiot who kept forgetting which side was supposed to hurt.”
I snorted. “They must've been so sick, they were disoriented. My patient complained about the lights and showed signs of nausea. I thought it was part of the test. Turns out, they were super hungover in addition to their assigned ailment.”
Angel laughed. “What was your diagnosis?”
“I told them if they had a concussion, they needed rest. But if they’d been drinking, we had aspirin in the nurse’s office. I also suggested they eat some bread or croutons to soak up excess alcohol. The next weekend, I saw them and their friends stuffing their pockets at the salad bar.” I laughed. “They said, ‘Thanks, Doc. You’re a real lifesaver.’”
“You are,” Angel said, but I didn’t believe it.
Making someone’s day a little easier wasn’t exactly medical intervention. But it was good. “I still smile at croutons,” I told him.
“Well, I’ll be sure to put extra in your salads,” he said.
I chuckled at the idea of it.
We kicked around a bit, brushing against each other in the current as we chatted about various adventures.
It was so nice to reminisce and relax. I floated on my back and gazed at the stars. Steam drifted toward those twinkling lights and infinite wishes.
Right now, I couldn’t think of anywhere I’d rather be. Or anyone I’d rather be with.
When I smiled at Angel, he was already gazing at me, his expression slightly slack and his face flushed.
“What?” I asked.
He straightened his spine and smiled a bit too widely. “Just enjoying the view.”
Because I was pretty? I twirled my hair into a bun atop my head.
His gaze dipped pointedly to the tank top I was wearing, which was now almost sheer.
Ah, scrubs.
I slouched to conceal my nipples in the froth. “Haven’t you seen plenty of chests?”
“Not yours.” He tipped his head, his eyes gleaming with the multicolor lights. “It’s a privilege.”
“Oh my gosh.” I hid my flaming face.
He might be teasing, but it sounded sincere. He liked me.
My cheeks hurt from smiling so much. When was the last time that happened?
