“How about we run away for sushi? We can go to that restaurant that’s a few blocks from here and has incredible lunch specials.”
“I want that.”
She squeezed my shoulder, and as she was walking toward the opposite end of the hall, I noticed the color of her outfit. A super-pretty lavender I’d never seen her wear before. And I knew Maya’s wardrobe as well as I knew my own, since I raided hers at least once a week.
“Hey, are those new scrubs?”
She turned around and laughed. “I was waiting for you to notice. Jordan bought them for me.”
I grinned at my best friend. “Does he need a sister wife? Because I’m available.”
“We’re going to talk about Mike over lunch. Girl, don’t think I forgot.”
My chest tightened as she turned away. I didn’t know how I was going to get out of that, but instead of dwelling on it now, I opened my Instagram app and leaned against the wall while I read Gavin’s message.
Gavin:I found you.
Me:I hope you had to work hard to do that.
Just as I was putting my phone back into my pocket, it vibrated again.
Gavin:Can we upgrade to text? I’d say I earned your number.
Me:I don’t know ... it took you a few days to reach out. I’d say that earned you a couple more days of Instagram DM torture.
Gavin:I was going to message you Friday night.
Me:And describe in detail how blue your balls were?
Gavin:You’re wicked.
Me:I told you, I needed beauty sleep.
Gavin:You still haven’t given me your number.
Me:You still haven’t earned it.
There was another vibration as I was putting my phone in my pocket, but I ignored it, smiling to myself as my hands returned to the keyboard to finish up the patient charting.
“Hey, will you be able to leave in about ten minutes?” Maya asked as she looked over the high bar top where I was sitting behind the computer at the nurses’ station, an oversize wall that separated our area from the hallway.
“Ten minutes is perfect.” I exited out of a chart and pulled up my email. “I just have to finish reading these notes from a doctor and then I’ll be ready.”
“I’m going to check on Bettie one last time. I’ll be back.”
While she took off for Bettie’s room, I skimmed the last few lines of the email the doctor had just sent me, double-checking the medications for our newest intake, and forwarded the scripts to our in-house pharmacy. Once I exited my inbox, I took out my phone for the first time since this morning. I knew there was a message from Gavin waiting for me. I just didn’t realize a few of the other vibrations I’d felt over the last several hours had also been from him.
Gavin:You’re a tough one, Emily. I’d hate to be opposite you on the football field.
Gavin:Maybe that’s where I should take you. Or the ice since Ben taught you how to skate.
Gavin:How about you start with a yes, and I’ll surprise you.
Me:Are you asking me out?
Gavin:It sounds that way, doesn’t it?
Me:You know ... it kinda does.
