She nodded. “We are. I’m just dropping off some paperwork for a doctor who sent me a referral.” Penny turned toward Aiden. “Hey, Aiden. How was your shift?”
“Better now that you’re here.” He winked.
Mathew shot him a look over Penny’s head.
She laughed off the flirtation and turned back to him. It took effort not to frown. He knew she wasn’t interested in Aiden. She hadn’t been interested in dating since college. Whether that had to do with the trauma she’d been through or the fact that she worked as much as he did, he didn’t know. Maybe it was both.
Penny patted him on the chest. “Your shift is over in ten, right? Want to drive over together? Parking on that street is always a mess. Then I can bring you back here for your car.”
“Car?” Aiden cut in. “Man, you need something bigger if you’re living out in the country.”
Mathew ignored him and nodded at Penny. “Sure. Sounds good. Let me wrap this up, and I’ll meet you out there.”
As soon as she was out the door, he turned and poked Aiden in the chest. “Off limits.”
Aiden stumbled back a step and covered his chest with his palm. “Ow.” But the smirk on his face gave him away. He’d only been trying to get a rise out of him, and he knew exactly how to do it.
Mathew should’ve known better. Still, if there was one thing he’d never apologize for, it was looking out for the people he loved.
“I mean it,” Mathew said. “You can be friends, but that’s it.”
“Relax, man. I’m off the market.”
That made Mathew lift his brows. “Really? Who?”
“Ah, ah, ah. I don’t kiss and tell.”
Aiden shrugged and pulled out a chair in front of a computer. “Maybe I’m growing up.”
Mathew snorted and returned his attention to the tablet. “Callahan is ready to be discharged. You can tell him…”
“Oh, he shot out of here like a bronc out of the chute about ten minutes ago.”
Mathew looked up. “Ten minutes ago? That was right after I finished stitching him up. He needed instructions for the wound.”
Aiden spun in his chair with a laugh. “You’ve been here long enough. Do you really think Zeke Callahan would sit through a lecture from another man telling him what to do? He’s worse than your Uncle George, and that’s saying something.”
He was right. Of course he was. They were lucky Zeke had stayed long enough for Mathew to finish the stitches. He blew out a breath. “Fine. Finish the paperwork so he’s discharged from the system, then head out. I think I saw our replacements coming in.”
Aiden nodded. “And this weekend?”
Mathew didn’t answer. He just turned and headed toward the changing room while Aiden’s laughter followed him down the hall.
“Have Jason and Isabelle set a date?”Penny asked as soon as they picked up their drinks. She’d gone with coffee, and Mathew had ordered tea. The last thing he needed was more caffeine when all he wanted was a few good hours of sleep. He had another shift in ten hours.
“How would I know?” Mathew muttered, glancing around the coffee shop. “You’re the girl. Sisters always hear that stuff first.”
She rolled her eyes. “You and Jason are closer. I haven’t heard anything.”
“Not even from Isabelle?”
Penny gave him a pointed look. “The fact that you even know she’s my patient is bad enough. I’m not giving you information from behind closed doors.”
He smirked. “I wouldn’t have known it was behind closed doors if you hadn’t just said that. You two are friends now, right?”
She ignored his question as she leaned back in her chair, both hands wrapped around her cup. “Have you started seeing anyone?”
He blinked. “Since the last time you asked? How long has it been?” He lifted his smartwatch and checked the date. “About two days. New record.”
