She exhaled, running a hand over her ponytail before offering a small, hesitant smile.
“Maybe we can try being friends?”
Friends.
I wanted to laugh.
Instead, I studied her, her determined expression, the way her fingers twisted together like she wasn’t sure she wanted to be saying this either.
Then, I grinned. “I could use a friend.”
Her brows lifted, suspicious. “Friends whodon’tsleep together.”
I tilted my head. “Tomato, tomato. Everyone has their own definition of friends.”
Her eyes darkened, her posture tensing.
I smirked and held out my hand. “We’ll go to the rehearsal dinner and wedding, have a great time. You tell me about your life now, and I’ll hold doors open for you,friend.”
She stared at my outstretched hand, her lips parting like she wanted to argue, but then she just sighed, placing her palm against mine.
As soon as our fingers touched, a shock shot straight through me.
I didn’t let it show. But fuck, I felt it.
“This ought to be fun, huh?” I murmured, watching her carefully.
She didn’t pull away right away. And that was all I needed to know.
5
Michelle
Work hard.
Always have a nest egg.
Follow a passion.
I repeated my mantra over and over, hoping it would ease the throbbing pain in my feet. Becoming a nurse and being financially stable on my own were more important than oxygen, and to achieve that, I had to attend school, complete my clinicals, and manage a restaurant most nights. Today was no different.
It was the last two hours of clinical where we reflected on what we learned, and when it was over, I’d have to head to Sully’sto work until midnight.Ain’t no rest for the wicked, as the saying went.
“Michelle,” Ally’s voice cut through my exhaustion, sharp and unwavering. “What did you learn today about bedside manner?”
Ally was a hard-ass. Intelligent, demanding, no-nonsense. The kind of nurse I admired. The only feedback I’d gotten from her after an eight-hour shift shadowing her was a curt good. That was it. No praise, no sugarcoating.
I liked that about her.
“Compassion, honesty, respect, and listening are essential,” I answered without hesitation, my voice steady despite the ache in my bones. “It can be challenging when a patient is complicated or agitated but we have to remember they are sick and in the hospital. We need to remain professional regardless of how they treat us. We don’t always know what’s happening in their lives and these situations can be very difficult.”
Ally nodded. “Exactly.” Then she turned to Bella, whose voice wavered slightly as she answered.
I listened, half-distracted, my brain already mapping out the next twelve hours:
Change into work clothes
Shove food in my mouth
