Page 68 of Deprivation

“Hi.”

I sit down at the computer to finish up some notes, as I really don’t want to stay late tonight.

“How are you?” he asks sheepishly.Good, you better tread carefully with me from now on, buddy.

“Fine.”Just stay focused on the computer, Kat.

“Hey, Kat, how late are you here?” Jake asks from around the corner.

“Just another hour or so. I’m covering for Eve. Are you working overnight tonight?”

“Yeah. No one else could do it. I just got here and have a girl who wants her nose piercing out. She can’t remove it. Would you mind doing it? A patient just came by ambulance who looks like they need a blood transfusion. She’s so pale I can practically see through her.”

“I got it.” I smile.

“Hey, Nick. Sorry we couldn’t get together last night. Melanie had something going on, and I had to stay home with the kids. Hope you still enjoyed your birthday. I owe you a beer.”

“Hey, man. No big deal. It was last minute, anyway. Yeah, we’ll catch up some time,” he replies.

I take another sip from my steaming cup of English Breakfast before taking off my lab coat and heading toward Jake’s patient. I stop briefly by Nick’s chair and try to rein in my animosity. Heck, he’d been texting me, well who he thought was me, on his special day. Thinking of him drunk and alone on his birthday makes me feel a little more sympathetic toward him. “Hey, Happy Birthday. If I’d known, I would’ve gotten you something,” I tease.

Looking up at me with a wide smile, he answers. “You did.”

Considering his statement, I quickly reflect back on last evening. Maybe the fact he thought we were flirting via text after all of the ugliness of late had salvaged his evening. This makes my heart smile that his relationship with me actually means something. Maybe he truly is sorry for the way he treated me. This must’ve been what he meant when he said he’d work hard to try to make me forget.

I place my hand on his right shoulder, reassuring him I understand what he means. Before I can step away, he covers my hand with his. God, there’s that damn spark again.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Present Day

Kat

I bounce out the front door toward the car, wanting to run a few errands before heading to work. I can’t remember a morning this great. I took Matth… I mean, Dr. Miller’s advice and not only avoided alcohol last evening, but only took a half of a sleeping pill. There wasn’t the pull toward slumber as with the whole pill, but I awoke without night terrors, feeling refreshed. What’s more I was wearing the clothes I had on when I went to bed.I actually snapped a selfie when I got in the bed, for God’s sake.

Having nothing particular to accomplish with these errands other than to see what it’s like to enjoy a beautiful morning full of energy, I drive into town. Ah, I’ll enjoy a leisurely breakfast, stop by the bookstore, and then head to work. Maybe the newest Fiona Cole book is out. Lord, if I buy that, I’ll never get to sleep. Once I start, I can’t put the thing down. Driving toward my favorite little café, I park in an almost empty lot and practically skip to the door. Is this how normal people feel every day?

After being seated in Belleview Café’s back corner, I ponder how things have changed. Not only have I gotten the best night’s sleep I’ve had in years, I relish the fact that I’m no longer on the outs with someone I have to see at work so often. I didn’t realize the tension that had created.

“Here’s your coffee. Are you ready to order?” the kind waitress asks.

“Yes, can I just have a toasted bagel with cream cheese and a yogurt?” I just can’t do the egg white omelet thing. I’ll dance off my calories the next time I’m out or start making a morning run happen more often. Plus, if my shift in the ER tonight is like those of late, I won’t be eating much the rest of the day, anyway.

“Sure, dear, that shouldn’t take long at all.” She smiles and walks toward the kitchen.

I trail back to my last shift in the ER. Having a string of days off, I haven’t been to work since the princess shift I covered for Eve. Who knew that would end so well? Not only had it been a pleasant work day all around, but I feel like I managed to get things back on track with Dr. Barnes. This makes returning to work so much less edgy. I haven’t heard from him since then, underlining those texts were most likely the product of a drunken evening. Maybe he’d had a few too many with his buddies for his birthday. I definitely prefer that thought to him being drunk and alone. I won’t bring it up for fear it would embarrass him and knock us back a few notches. I like that we’ve put IT behind us, and I’m in no way going backward. I need to move on, thinking of him in a professional manner. To try and show him the same respect I would any other attending I need to consult.The respect ofnotpicturing him naked all the damn time.

* * *

I walk through the ER doors and note the usual chaos. I head to ‘my breezeway’ and put down my things before heading to the back to grab my lab coat. I barely make it two steps before Bobbi Greer approaches.She will not ruin this day. She will not ruin this day.

“Hey, Kat. Can you come see the girl in room thirty-seven? She’s a special kind of crazy and I thought of you.”

What exactly is she trying to say?“Thanks?” I respond. “I’m just going to grab my lab coat and I’ll be right there.”

“You probably won’t need that for this girl,” she answers smiling with an almost sinister look on her face.

“What the hell are you getting me into here, Bobbi?”

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