Nilay bounded out of the small room, leaving Daniel alone with Crista and her grin.
“What?” Better to get this over with. Crista wasn’t going to let it be.
“What’s going on with you? You’ve got the little brother here, you’re making him very happy—clearly you did her stitches here.”
Daniel shrugged. “Yeah, so?”
“So, why do you look so miserable? Usually a girlfriend is a good thing. God knows you haven’t had one in years.”
“She’s not my girlfriend.”
“Well, usually people don’t entertain the siblings of one-night stands...”
“She’s not a one-night stand.” He growled. But now he was envisioning her in his bed. Not that it wasn’t a regular recurring dream of his.
Crista widened her eyes and tilted her head. “So what is she?”
Daniel sighed and dropped onto his bed before looking up at Crista. “Nothing. She’s nothing.”
Crista shook her head. “Lie to me all you want. But don’t lie to yourself. She’s something. I saw you two the other day. That girl has a thing for you, and you definitely have something for her.” She jabbed her thumb in the direction Nilay had gone in.
Daniel shrugged. “I fucked it up.”
Crista rolled her eyes. “That just makes you a normal male. Fix it. You actually looked happy with her.” She moved closer to him and forced him to look her in the eye. “You deserve some happy.”
Did he, though? If it came at someone else’s expense? Before he could respond, an alarm sounded, and both he and Crista sprang into action, quickly gathering their bags.
“Nilay!” Daniel called. “We gotta go.”
The teenager was at his side in an instant. Daniel handed him an extra helmet. “Put this on. Let’s go.” He hesitated a moment. “You sure you’re okay with seeing trauma?”
“I’m sure.”
If Nilay was in any way nervous, he hid it well. Daniel nodded and headed for the chopper, donning his own helmet and securing it while he communicated with the pilot. The chopper’s blades were already spinning when he arrived. He and Crista made sure Nilay was securely fastened in the chopper before securing themselves and going down the checklist with Andrea.
Andrea’s voice was clear in his ear. “Walk around.”
“Complete.”
Andrea again. “Steps and skids.”
“Are clear.”
“Seat belts and doors.”
“All secure.”
“Drugs, blood, medical equipment.”
“All on board.”
“Cell phones, pagers, radios.”
“All on board.”
“Stretcher.”
“Secured.”
