“Uh-huh.” Crista leaned into Daniel and whispered, “Might want to get the hell out of here before Andrea sees.”
Daniel threw her a grateful grin. “You’re the best.” He glanced at Annika and nodded toward the door, then addressed Crista again. “I’m on shift in two days. See you then.” Daniel gently guided Annika with a small tug of her hand and dismissed Crista with a wave as they walked past her. “Let’s go, kid.”
Once in the car, Annika turned to Daniel. “Are you in trouble?”
“Nah. Crista won’t say anything. Trust me.”
“Who’s Andrea?”
“Oh, she’s the pilot. Kind of a stickler for the rules.”
Alarm flashed across her face. “You sure you’re not in trouble?”
Daniel nodded. “Yes. We got out before Andrea got in. No problem.” He’d be doing Crista’s share of the cleaning for a month, but it was worth it.
Nilay chatted almost the whole car ride, asking question after question. Annika teased her brother, laughing at his antics and excitement, the way only an older sister can. It reminded Daniel of better days with Emma. He didn’t see her as much these days. It was too hard to see her son.
Something inside Annika seemed to have been released, and the professional in Daniel knew it was because she had shared some of her most personal fears with him. It was basic—a medical degree was not necessary to know that talking about the difficult things was a step toward healing.
He just couldn’t do it himself.
But seeing Annika this happy—it was delightful. She had almost completely shed her armor for the moment. A large grin formed almost automatically at the realization that her happiness madehimhappy. And he wasn’t used to any kind of happy. Daniel tried to force his expression into something neutral, so as not to appear ridiculous to her, but he couldn’t stop. Being with Annika made him want to smile.
Huh.
“Hey, Daniel, I know we just met, but could I come as a ride along on the chopper one time? I won’t get in the way—but I’m thinking about med school, and it would be awesome to see what happens,” Nilay said.
“Nilay,” Annika started in her big-sister voice, “I’m sure Daniel has better things—”
“No, actually, it’s fine. We do it from time to time.” Daniel looked at Nilay. “I’ll do you one better. You can come and shadow me at the ER, too.”
“The ER? Seriously?”
“Yes.”
This was the second chance today that he’d had to tell Annika the truth about how he met her—how he’d really met her—and he couldn’t bring himself to do it. It was cowardly and he knew it. But the smile on her face and the unspoken closeness when he caught her eye stirred something within him that he had forgotten was even there. What difference did it makehowthey actually met, when the connection was clearly there now?
“What? Are you serious? That would be beyond—I mean that would be so—I promise I won’t get in the way.”
“Great.” Daniel chuckled at Nilay’s wide-eyed gratitude. “I’ll have some forms for you, and a parent will have to sign off on it.”
“No problem!” Nilay was about busting out of his seat.
“Eyes on the road!” Annika and Daniel spoke together.
ATANNIKA’SREQUEST, Nilay dropped her off at the bar, and Daniel got out, as well. He loitered outside the bar while Annika and her brother said goodbye.
It was properly dark now, a crispness lingering in the air. Not quite winter, but not summer, either. They stood alone in the streetlight, suddenly awkward with each other, and spoke at the same time.
“Listen, about what I told you.”
“You should rest that.”
Daniel smiled. “Sorry, you go.”
Annika met his eyes, bit her bottom lip.Damn.“Just about what I told you... Thank you for listening and for...everything.” She broke his gaze as a flush colored her cheeks. “I’m sorry I fell apart...”
Daniel held up a hand. “Don’t apologize for having feelings.”
