Page 18 of Dr. Attending

I cock my head, trying to figure out why she’s being so cryptic. “Because what?”

Morgan’s eyes dart around, like she’s searching for something to distract her. Her attention lands on our waiter who is walking toward us with the shots she promised she didn’t order.

“Because . . . you’re about to be very hungover.”

Chapter 6

Caroline

Ihightail it out of the medical school and toss my headphones in for the five-minute walk to my apartment. There isn’t a cloud in the sky this afternoon, and the warm blaze of the late summer sun on the back of my neck makes me wish that I didn’t just spend the past four hours of my life in a freezing lecture hall. It also makes me wish I didn’t have to spend the next eight hours in the car.

Fortunately, I’ll have something to occupy my mind because Morgan sent me an audiobook recommendation: a medical romance between an ER nurse and an orthopedic surgeon.

I was slightly skeptical because it sounds eerily similar to her own love story, and as soon as I read the blurb, I actually questioned if she’s been moonlighting as a romance author. But I told her I would give it a shot, especially since she said it has kink exploration.

What can I say? I like what I like.

Glancing down at my phone, I see a text from my brother. He’s probably wondering where the hell I am, considering I should be on the road by now. I didn’t expect the exam to take the entire time, so I’m already behind schedule. At this rate, I doubt I’ll make it up to the lake until midnight because holiday weekend traffic in Atlanta is a beast.

Call me when you’re out of your exam.

I stop in my tracks as I read the message, feeling my heart jump into my throat because it suddenly occurs to me that the last time he asked me to call him was the day that Mom died.

A cold sweat breaks out on the back of my neck, and my hand starts to tremble as I select his contact and press the dial button. The phone feels slippery in my grip as I try to steady my breathing, but the panic won’t let go because I’m terrified of what he’s going to say when he answers.

“P,” I state as soon as the call connects. “What’s wrong?”

Parker lets out an easygoing laugh like he didn’t just scare the shit out of me. “Why would something be wrong? Can I not call my sister?”

The crosswalk signal starts to blink in front of me, and I focus on the slow rhythmic beat to steady my racing pulse.

Everything is okay.

I am okay.

“Caroline?”

“Yeah,” I reply as I walk toward one of the benches at the bus stop.

I need to sit down because I’m feeling dizzy now that the adrenaline coursing through my body has started to subside. Well, that, and the fact that I’ve barely eaten anything all day.

“Sorry. What were you saying?”

“I wasn’t saying anything.”

I let out a long exhale as I sit down, trying to calm down. I don’t know why his message triggered such a visceral response in me, but it’s probably just exhaustion from being up all night studying.

“Is everything okay?” he prods, his tone softening.

“I was . . . I was just thinking about Mom.”

I pause for a second because we don’t talk about her often. That’s not because we don’t miss her, but it’s just easier for us to sweep our emotions under the rug and put on a stoic face.

“You scared me.”

“Shit,” Parker grunts as understanding hits him. “I didn’t even think about that. I’m so sorry.”

“No worries.” I force a smile to my lips even though he can’t see me, standing from the bench with a huff of air because I’m finally starting to feel better. “Next time just give me a heads up before you decide to do something crazy like learn how to communicate.”

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