Eli turns to me, ignoring Jude completely. “You’re going to love watching the girls take him down a peg every thirty seconds. It’s truly an art form.”
I laugh, and Jude rolls his eyes. “I’ll let you get to it.”
I head out of the locker room, smiling, but the grin and the good feelings that have been building in me evaporate as my phone rings. It’s Hunter, and as soon as I say hello he says, “Lauren’s lawyer asked for the hearing date to be moved up. It’s tomorrow at noon.”
And just like that, everything feels dark again.
25
Sadie
The shift is going painlessly. We’re not slammed with patients, and everything is manageable. I’m working with Shelda again, whom I adore, and I’m floating on a post-orgasm high.
For the first time in a long time, I chose me. Griffin fills a void in my life, brings me joy. And like my dad said, it already feels way better to know I’ve made the decision to be with Griffin for as long as I can, regardless of how long that is. And to be there for him and let him be there for me.
Dad was napping when I got home from Griffin’s, so I couldn’t thank him for his advice, but I decide I’ll call him on my break. As soon as I walk into the nurses’ lounge, I pull my phone out of the pocket of my scrubs to dial our home number, but I see a text from Griffin and open it instead.
Hunter just called. Somehow Lauren’s lawyer got the court date bumped up to tomorrow.
My heart plummets. He may find out tomorrow. I just took a chance at happiness and I might already be getting shot down.
Deep breath, Sadie. Think positive. Or don’t think at all and just work. Whatever happens, crying about it now isn’t going to change it.
I eat my lunch, but I don’t really taste it. As I’m finishing my turkey sandwich, Griffin texts again.
No matter what happens. Even if I end up in NYC, I am not letting you go. Long distance sucks, but it’s better than losing you.
I wish he were right, but I look at Winnie and Ty, and I think it’s a fate worse than death. Maybe we would be different….
I throw out the rest of my sandwich and start to text him back, but the lounge door bursts open and little Shelda is standing there huffing like she ran a marathon. She puts a hand to her chest dramatically. “Oh, sweet baby Jesus, I am not a sprinter.”
“Is something wrong? Did we get a rush of patients?” I ask, standing up. “A car wreck?”
She shakes her head. “Only one new patient. A suspected drug overdose.”
That’s tragic but not unheard of or worthy of sprinting through the hospital to get me. She struggles to stabilize her breathing, and when she manages it she explains. And it makes my heart clench in fear. “That little girl. The adorable one that belongs to your stud muffin? She’s here.”
“What?” She’s mistaken. It’s another kid who looks like Charlie. Why would Charlie be here in the middle of the night and Griffin doesn’t know? She’s got to be wrong.
“Came in with her mama, who is here for the overdose guy,” Shelda explains. “I know it’s her, Sadie. I even said hello to her and she remembered me.”
“Oh, God, no.” My pulse is racing, and my blood feels cold. “I have to tell Griffin.”
“You can’t,” she argues. “Privacy policy.”
My heart plummets so fast I almost gasp. “Shelda, I have to tell him.”
She looks at the clock. “That’s why you’re sick.”
“What?”
“There’s enough of us on and it’s been a slow night, so I’ve decided, as head nurse, that you should go home and take care of that cough of yours instead of working through it.” She drops her voice to a stage whisper, even though no one else is in the room. “If you walk through the ER lobby and see her as a citizen and not an on-duty nurse, you can call him.”
I look at the clock. It’s almost twelve-thirty in the morning. The game is over and he’s home, and I know he’s up because he just texted me. I rush over and hug Shelda. “Thank you.”
“You’re most welcome.” Shelda pats my back. “Now get that kiddo with her hot little daddy. Clearly Mommy is making some questionable life choices. Also, she’s a bit of a bitch. She yelled at me when I told her she couldn’t be in the room while they work on the patient.”
Shelda leaves, and I clock out and change into my street clothes so fast that my dress is on inside out, but I don’t care. I grab my purse out of my locker and almost run to the waiting room. Seconds before I push open the swinging doors, I take a moment to compose myself so I can look relaxed. I walk into the waiting room, my eyes sweeping the whole area instantly. Charlie is on one of the chairs in the corner playing with the zipper on the jacket she’s wearing over her pajamas.
