Maybe it’s a full moon.
I gathered my things after a longer-than-expected shift at the hospital. The ER had been full and wild with everything from the flu to gunshots to a finger dangling by an inch of skin. Everyone’s craziness, plus the call-offs by a couple of nurses, equaled a very long shift for me.
Regardless, the ER was what I loved. It was fast-paced, ever-changing, and you had to stay on your toes. I had been thinking about Dr. Manning’s job offer. It would give me predictability in my schedule and an easier patient base. But when I imagined myself working in an office from nine-to-five, dealing with routine flu shots and diabetes checks, I was bored out of my mind. I knew I couldn’t take the offer. I just had to tell him.
I picked up my bag and walked out of the nurse’s locker room andinto the lounge we shared with the doctors. Connor walked in right after me. His face looked heavy, bags under his eyes.
“Hi, Dr. Manning,” I said, stepping out of his way.
“Hi, Kari. Your shift ending?”
“A couple of hours later than it was supposed to, but yeah, I’m heading out.” I swallowed. “When can we talk about... what we talked about the other day?” There was no one else in the room, but it still felt wrong to discuss it openly.
He closed his eyes briefly. “Whenever you would like. Did you decide?”
“I did. I’m honored that you would trust me enough to ask me to work with you, but I really can’t. The ER is where I belong. My heart and soul is here.”
“I understand. I want you to know that if you ever change your mind, the offer stands.”
“I appreciate that.”
“I don’t mean to pry, but are you okay, Dr. Manning? You seem exhausted.”
He forced a smile. “I am exhausted, actually. My mother was just diagnosed with lupus. I’m heading back to Salt Lake City for a couple of days to make sure her care is in order. I leave tomorrow.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Me, too.” His face fell. “I’ll let you get out of here. I just came in to check on a few patients and then I’m off as well.”
I nodded, unsure what to say and made my way out to my car. The trip home was uneventful and faster than normal. The sky was dark. The city seemed peaceful and I tried to let the peace settle into my system. I always used the car ride home from work to detox from the events of the day, to try to rationalize the things I saw, the feelings I couldn’t allow myself to feel while on the clock.
I pulled into the driveway and next to Max’s truck. I walked in through the garage and into the kitchen. Max was standing over the sink, washing a plate.
“Hey,” I said, closing the door behind me.
He turned to look at me, the corners of his lips meeting his eyes. “There’s my girl. How was work?”
I tossed my bags on the table. “Crazy. This guy came in tonight with a steel ring around his penis.”
He dried off his hands on a towel as he walked towards me. “You’re kiddin’ me?”
“Could I make this up? Apparently he saw something about cock rings and thought he’d do one better.”
Max laughed. “How’d you get that off?”
“I didn’t. I had to tend to the gunshot wounds in the next room. I’ve never been more excited to stop someone’s bleeding,” I laughed, shaking my head.
Max wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me against him. “Hungry? I made you a chicken breast on the grill and stuck it in the fridge.”
“That sounds really good. But what I really want is a shower and to go to bed.”
He leaned down, his breath hot on my cheek. “I want to do both of those things with you.”
“Let’s go,” I whispered back.
Max opened his mouth to respond, but his ringing cell phone caught his attention. “Let me grab that. It’s probably Cane. He’s been wild all day. I can’t wait for Jada to have this baby so he can settle the hell down.”
Max held the phone to his ear. “Hello?”
