Dr. Moreno made eye contact with Logan and nodded. Then he swiveled on his bedside chair to the computer and entered some information.
“Dylan, I put in a request for a pediatrician to check in on you too as an extra precaution.” Dr. Moreno wiggled the mouse at the computer and entered the vitals into it. Then he closed out the program and stood. “The pediatrician, Dr. O’Connor, will be by soon. She’s one of our best.” He sidestepped around the hospital bed.
“Ok.” Dylan’s mom chewed on her thumb nail. “This has been an eventful day. We went to a movie last night, and we thought his stomachache this morning was due to him eating too much popcorn. Little did we know he’d have to have his appendix removed.”
“I’m glad you brought him in when you did.” Dr. Moreno glanced at Logan then the nurse. “And I hope the next few days for you all is a lot less eventful.”
“As for me,” Logan placed a hand on his chest, “I wanted to report that the surgery was straightforward with no complications.” He then squeezed Dylan’s shoulder. “And you earned your way out of school for at least a week.”
Dylan mustered up a half smile.
Dr. Moreno chuckled and moved toward the door to leave. A knock at the door sounded before he left, and Dr. Moreno opened it.
Then bread woman, Brooke, from last night breezed through the door. For a brief moment, she stalled. Then she straightened her back and lifted her chin. “Dr. Moreno.” She continued further into the room.
Logan paused thinking he might be seeing things. Her appearance was completely different than the night before. Today, she wore a lab coat over her black pencil skirt and a vibrant blue button-down blouse tucked into it. Her brown hair was down and curled into loose beach waves that danced around her shoulder blades.
The sight of her all put together and in control made him suck in a breath and simply stare back in awe. This couldn’t be the same woman from last night, could it? The woman he met last night was vulnerable and down on her luck. This version of Brooke knocked him off balance with her squared shoulders and confidence.
Then she stopped by the foot of Dylan’s hospital bed and peered around, and her gaze landed on Logan. Her eyes dilated a smidge, but she quickly regained her composure. “We meet again.” She stared back at him.
Logan grinned. “I guess so.”
Her lips twitched in the corners like she was fighting off the forming of a smile. “Is that the patient’s file?” She nodded toward the chart in Logan’s hand.
“Yes,” Logan stretched his arm out to offer it to her, “it’s all yours.”
“Thanks.” Brooke accepted the chart and opened to the first page.
“How—” Dr. Moreno wagged a finger between them. “How do you two know each other? He only started here a week ago.” He furrowed his brow.
Brooke’s back stiffened, and she continued to flip through the chart. “We go way back—” She snatched a pen out the top pocket of her lab coat and made a note on the chart. “Not that it is any of your business.” Rapidly, she snapped the file closed. It made Dr. Moreno flinch.
Oh, these two had history. Logan only hoped Dr. Moreno wasn’t the reason Brooke was eating bread and Oreos last night. But the inkling in his gut told him he was one hundred percent the guilty party.
“Can I talk to you for a minute outside, Dr. O’Connor?” Dr. Moreno asked.
“Nope.” Then Brooke strode across the room over to Dylan’s bedside completely ignoring Dr. Moreno’s request. “I’m Dr. O’Connor, a pediatrician here. I understand you had your appendix taken out,” she smiled warmly.
Dr. Moreno shuffled his feet then let out an audible huff. “Dylan, I’ll be sending a nurse in again in twenty minutes to check your vitals.”
“Thanks,” Dylan’s mom replied.
Brooke kept her back to him. Dr. Moreno rolled his eyes then left. With Dr. Moreno gone, Logan noticed how Brooke’s shoulders loosened.
Logan didn’t really need to stay, but he wanted to talk to Brooke again. This time he hoped to get her number. He lingered.
“So, I heard your appendix was giving you some trouble.” She smiled as she patted Dylan’s arm.
“I’ll say,” he replied. “I thought my stomachache was from all the popcorn I ate at the movies last night. I don’t think I’ll ever eat popcorn again.”
“Ever?” Brooke tsked. “Now, that’s just not right. What other food can you pour a stick of butter over and eat to your heart’s content?”
“None?” Dylan offered.
“Bingo.” Brooke made a few notes on his patient file. “I hope this experience won’t ruin an entire food for you. It’s the best part of going to the movies. Promise me, you’ll at least try to eat popcorn one more time. For me?” She flashed a brilliant smile.
Dylan shrugged. “Ok, I promise.”
