I drop the messy top into the laundry basket to be cleaned later. Thank God for the laundry service at our hospital. “God, I cannot wait for a night to myself.”
Derek has a late practice with the kids who want to try out for the team, Missy has Troy this afternoon, and Lydia is having a sleepover with one of her friends from school. With my mom going out with her friends, it’s one of the rare times I’m all alone.
“We could always go grab dinner after our shift,” Jameson says. “Gunnar has a work dinner tonight.”
“Jameson, I love you, but I am going to pick up dinner on my way home and go to bed early.”
He bursts out laughing. “That’s how you plan on spending your big night alone? Dinner and going to bed early?”
I nod. “Ask me if I feel any shame about it.”
“Do you?” He quirks a perfectly manicured brow at me as he disappears for a brief moment as I pull a new scrub top on.
“Not one bit. I want to eat in bed, maybe watch a baking show or two, and sleep all night.”
Jameson waggles his head back and forth. “Okay, maybe that does sound like a good night. Maybe I’ll do that too.”
“See?” I point at him. “You make fun of me, but it’s going to be the perfect night.”
“And no boyfriend is going to be attending this evening with you?”
I shake my head. “Derek has a late practice with the kids who want to try out for the team this summer. I’ll see him Sunday.”
“You’re blushing,” Jameson oh-so-helpfully points out. “Why are you blushing?”
“I am not!”
“You so are. Spill. You were so worried about things before and now they’re good?”
I try to cover my face, but he doesn’t let me. “We talked about things the other day. We’re good.”
“You are?”
I nod. “Yes. I told him what I was feeling and we had a conversation.”
“Bless our hearts. Look at the two of us being adults in real relationships.”
I laugh at Jameson’s flair for the dramatic. “What a novel concept, I know.”
“I’m happy for you. Derek is a great guy and he is perfect for you.”
This time, I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks because I know it’s true. I love Derek more than anyone, and it felt good to voice my fears to him.
“Jameson. Patient in room three. Called in by someone because he was left in a car.” Linda walks into the room with a chart in her hand.
“Oh shit,” I hear him mutter. “Are they okay?”
“EMT said he’s alert and responsive, but scared.”
“Got it.” Taking the metal clipboard from Linda, Jameson walks out the door as I make to follow him.
She stops me as I’m almost out the door. “Got a minute, Sutton?”
“Sure. Is everything okay?” I ask.
“It’s fine. Sorry to bug you on your break, but I wanted to talk to you about your future here.”
“My future?” I swallow around a ball of nerves that’s suddenly made itself known. “Am I getting fired?”
