I chuckled at myself. Wouldn’t Dylan be so proud of me—I was branching out beyond medicine. At least in my thoughts.
As the show ended and I turned off my TV, I found myself wanting to ask Emma some questions. I grabbed my phone and glanced down, before realizing I didn’t have her number. It seemed strange that I couldn’t just call or text her after sharing in the movie she’d recommended. Odd how I felt this connection to her now. I guessed that was what shared interests did for people. At least I’d have something to talk to her about now other than work.
Monday morning started with rounds on my patients in the TICU. My step was lighter, easier. The weight that normally made me feel like I was on a hamster wheel was gone. Each time I moved from one room to another, I searched the hallway for a head of curly blond hair.
I finally got to the nurses’ station—hopefully without looking like I was aiming for it all along—and found Emma with her head down, reading a screen. Just seeing her brought a feeling of warmth to my heart and an unbidden smile to my lips.
She was deep in conversation with the charge nurse. I didn’t want to interrupt her or draw attention to the fact that I was about to burst with questions. I stopped at the counter to chart my rounds, keeping an eye on the two women. They had a lot to discuss, and I slowed down my fingers, typing slower. Nurse Cummings had to leave at some point, right?
The longer it took to talk to Emma, the faster my heart raced. My tongue grew heavy, and I had to clear my throat several times to make sure my vocal cords still worked. Sweat gathered at the back of my waistband. I should just go. There would be other opportunities to talk to Emma. We worked in the same department, so it wasn’t like we wouldn’t see each other. But I couldn’t peel myself away from my spot at the counter. I’d waited all Saturday and Sunday to talk to her.
Just when my hopes were about to jump off a cliff, Emma rounded the counter and stood at the door to the supply closet, which happened to be right next to me. “Hi.”
I was flustered by her sudden appearance that I blurted out the first thought that came to my mind. “So, man-eating lions?” I lifted one eyebrow in question.
Her cheeks blushed, and I kicked myself for probably sounding like a condescending jerk. Maybe I’d talk to Dylan about tone and inflection—he had to have some pointers for me, because I obviously couldn’t handle speaking by myself.
“You watched it this weekend, huh?” She scanned her badge to unlock the door and started gathering supplies. She moved easily, which was probably because she took time outside of work to take care of herself. Being a nurse was physically demanding, and yet her inner gracefulness made it look easy.
“Yes, and it is definitely not what I expected. I thought it would be about a lion tamer or something.”
Emma chuckled. “Yeah, that’s kind of the opposite of what happened.”
“So what about those lions is so fascinating to you?” I asked out of curiosity.Knowing what made this woman tick seemed to be the answer to my own big questions.
“I don’t know.” She tucked an errant curl behind her ear. I studied it, wondering if it was as soft as it appeared. “I guess I get curious about why animals—or people, for that matter—do what they do. Like, what is the science behind the behavior change?Why did those lions switch from their regular diet to one that eventually got them killed?” Then she added with a small glint in her eye that had me holding my breath, “Or why does one of the most talented cardiac surgeons in the city keep to himself so much?”
I couldn’t help but smile back at her. She was prodding me, trying to figure me out. And unlike in Dylan’s office, where I felt forced under a microscope, I didn’t mind Emma’s questions at all. Heck, I had a tablet full of them for her too. “Maybe you should conduct a study to find the answer.”
Her eyes rounded slightly, as if she couldn’t believe that I’d teased her back. I liked that I surprised her, because in truth, it surprised me too. I didn’t have to ponder over why I did it. Besides being beautiful on the outside, Emma was a safe harbor. She was genuine and forgiving, optimistic but realistic about life. I trusted her in a way that I’d not trusted a woman before.
I looked around to make sure we were alone before asking, “Do you have time this week to go to the museum?”
“Sure, next Friday morning?” She turned, her arms full of supplies and her eyes full of light.She wants to go with me.The understanding was like a shot of adrenaline.
“I can meet you at the front entrance at 9 a.m.” She stepped back, and I closed the door for her, making sure it locked.
“Sounds like adeal,” I said, trying to act casual.
Her grin widened. “Deal. I’ll see you later.”
“Yeah,” was my brilliant reply. Because I probably would see her later, though now that we’d made plans for the weekend, I had no idea what to say to her.
Small talk, I told myself.Keep it light.
The truth was that I had never been more excited for the work week to be over.
For the first time in my life, I was excited for my weekend plans.
Chapter Eleven
Emma
Friday morning at 9 a.m. came around, and I found myself standing outside the Field Museum doors with a stomach full of butterflies.
I didn’t like how excited I was about this little field trip. I’d been up since 6 a.m. trying to figure out what to wear and how to do my hair. It was a good thing Becca was a sound sleeper, or she would have called me out on primping for a meeting with Dr. Mitchell. I knew this wasn’t a date. I’d been the one to clarify the fact—and now I wished I hadn’t.
But I didn’t want to think about that too much. Dr. Mitchell was different this week. Easier to be around. His newfound relaxed state drew me in. Could his gruffness really have been because he didn’t know where he fit in around the hospital?
