Page 13 of Forever Offsides

Rhett: You never texted me back. I waited a week.

Me: What are you talking about? This is the first time you’ve texted.

Rhett: Nope. I texted you hi right before you got in the Uber.

Me: *Eye roll emoji* That doesn’t count.

Rhett: Fine. Let me try again. Hi.

I snicker as I read his texts, a light, giddy feeling taking residence in my belly. I lean against the wall by the side of the OR, and I can already feel my smile. It’s annoying me. He hadn’t texted me and I told myself I was fine with it. That it was better if I didn’t get to know him.

I haven’t told anyone about him yet. Not about our night. Nothing.

If I do, then there’ll be questions. Commentary. Deep analysis and follow-up. Telling your girlfriends about a guy is like going into surgery. You have to be strategic and plan out your approach, otherwise you’ll be fucked before you make the first slice and stuck in a bloody mess you now have to clean up.

Me: Hi.

Rhett: *Eye roll emoji* So generic.

A laugh bursts from me.

Me: Clever left the building about eight hours ago. I’m on hour sixteen of twenty-four.

Rhett: Ouch. That’s rough. Glad I’m not your patient at hour twenty-three. What kind of doctor are you?

Me: Too personal.

Rhett. Ugh. Fine. I know you’re good at it, but do you like it?

Me: Are you talking about sex or being a doctor?

Rhett: Ah, I see we’re picking up where we left off. No complaints from me, by the way. But how about you answer for both?

Me: Yes, and yes.

Rhett: I have to go, but I’m going to leave you with this question. What’s your favorite thing outside of the hospital to do?

Me: Snowboarding. Particularly half-pipe. And spending time with my friends. I’m lucky enough to call my brothers that too. What’s your answer?

I lock my phone and slip it into my pocket. I likely shouldn’t have asked him. I know it won’t go anywhere I want it to. I’m trying to take this as slowly as humanly possible without getting overly excited. The fact that I get butterflies every time I think about him or his name pops up on my screen is both thrilling and terrifying. But for now, I’m taking it as it rolls and not putting stock into anything.

Four Hours Later

Rhett: I run a charity I won’t tell you about because it’ll give too much of me away and we’re not doing that. It’s for underprivileged kids and considering I grew up the opposite, giving back and paying it forward makes me insanely happy. If I’m not working, I’m doing this charity.

Me: Did you read that in the How to Make a Girl Swoon handbook?

Rhett: Nope. It was posted on the stalker’s manifesto webpage. JK. In all seriousness, that’s real. The charity is in my parents’ name because I started the foundation after they died about five years ago in a car accident.

Me: I’m so sorry. That’s awful. But I think it’s amazing you started a charity to help kids.

Rhett: They did a lot to help people whenever they could. What time is it there?

Me: About three a.m.

Rhett: And why are you still awake? I honestly just realized it’s after one here. Don’t you get to sleep on these long shifts?

Me: Sometimes I get to sleep. Sometimes it’s an hour or two. I’m on the roof of my hospital waiting for a helicopter. The trauma surgeons are on their way up, but I came up a few minutes early to get a breather. It’s beautiful up here. Cold, but the city is everywhere, and it’s so cool.