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“You didn’t take a job in Toronto to help pay off your loan?”

“No.” She studied me. “And I just discovered a few days ago that my student loan was paid off. I was confused since I didn’t pay it. When I inquired, all I was told was it was paid in full with a scholarship from an anonymous donor.” She pulled her hand away. “Do you know anything about that, Matthew?”

I returned her frank gaze with one of my own. “I don’t have that kind of cash, Maddy. You know that. And I wouldn’t do that without your permission even if I wanted to.”

She blew out a breath. “I think it was an error. No doubt it will get sorted out.”

“But you came home anyway? Planning on paying the loan instead of staying in Toronto?”

She nodded, shifting her feet. “I was homesick.”

I inched closer, wanting to ask her if the town was the only thing she was homesick for. If she still missed me the way I missed her. If we could go somewhere and talk. But a loud voice interrupted us.

“Hey, VanRyan! I’ve been looking for you everywhere. You’re late!”

Inwardly, I groaned at the interruption. Daisy appeared, looking annoyed. “You were supposed to meet me twenty minutes ago.” She slipped her arm through mine. “Buy me a latte with extra whip and I’ll forgive you.” Then she noticed how close Maddy and I were standing. “Hi. I’m Daisy.” She paused. “Am I interrupting?”

Maddy’s face paled, her eyes growing wide. “No. Old friends saying hi. And I’m late, so I need to go. Nice to see you, Matthew.”

She turned and hurried away before I could stop her. Daisy looked at my stricken expression, then at Maddy’s retreating figure.

“Oh. The ghost,” she murmured. “Come to life.”

I stared after Maddy, wanting to rush after her. Beg her to talk to me. But I couldn’t. I rubbed my aching head. “Not a ghost if I can help it.”

She squeezed my arm. “Eep, how exciting. Let me help.”

“I think you scared her away,” I teased.

“Probably the hair. It scares a lot of people.”

I chuckled, then winced, rubbing my temples.

“Another headache?”

“Yeah.”

“Have you talked to someone about them?”

“It’s stress, Daisy.”

“And your exhaustion?”

I regarded her with fondness. “I spent months without proper sleep or a normal schedule. Treating tons of sick people constantly. Then I came home and immediately started back at the hospital. It’s an adjustment. I feel better this week. By next week, I’ll be fine. I’m wearing a mask around patients as a precaution.”

She rolled her eyes. “Physician, heal thyself,” she muttered, then ordered her god-awful sweet coffee. I got a regular cup, needing the caffeine to stay awake.

We took our drinks, and she headed to the back of the hospital. “Let’s go,” she urged me. “We need to figure out how to win your girl back.”

I followed because I had the feeling I needed all the help I could get.

Maddy

I hurried away as quickly as possible.

Matthew.

Matthew was here. He was back from wherever he had been and was working in the hospital again. He would be six floors below me every day.