Page 2 of Fractured

Kat: Sorry for the last-minute notice. I’m not feeling well. Can you find someone to cover tomorrow or use the on-call? I don’t think I can make it to work.

2:45 p.m.

Jake Harris

Jake: Hey, sorry to hear that, Kat. You got the flu?

2:55 p.m.

Jake Harris

Jake: Sure, Kit Kat. Just feel better. Let me or Mel know if you need anything.

Wow, that was almost too easy. As the teapot begins to whistle, I stand to grab a steaming cup of calming jasmine infusion and walk toward my bedroom. I mentally decide a hot soak before making my to-do list will be helpful. I need to get all these tears out once and for all. Then I can focus on how to get my damn life back on track.

Stepping into the hot, sudsy tub, I slide down so the water envelopes my shoulders like the hug I so desperately need. Lying my head back on the cushion, I inhale the eucalyptus bath salts encompassing me. Once I leave this calming environment, I need to start plotting a daily routine I can adhere to. This may prove difficult given my rotating shifts in the ER, but it’s a start. Anything to feel relatively normal. In PA school, I started my day with meditation and yoga. Looking back, I’m not sure why I’d stopped but suspect my crazy night terrors and constant lack of sleep had something to do with it. I should return to running in the morning, outside when I’m able, or on my treadmill when the weather is poor. Switching to decaf coffee and tea would probably help. Since there’s nowhere I need to be for the next few days, the caffeine boost shouldn’t be necessary. Picturing the state of my pantry and refrigerator, I cringe. Add hitting the grocery store and stocking up on healthy food to the to-do list. My eating has been crap lately due to my crazy work schedule.

Reflecting on my haphazard nighttime habits, going to bed at a decent time each evening is a must. Maybe I’ll force myself to listen to calming, relaxing music before bed—no more angry rock, as much as I love it. This could work. We recommend this sleep hygiene routine for patients in the ER that suffer from insomnia. Why have I never considered it myself?

Lastly, I need to find a Nanny cam.Where the hell do I find one of those? Amazon maybe?Ugh.What on earth has happened to my life?Okay, don’t go there, Kat.Trying to return my mind to somewhere soothing, I take another deep inhalation in this tranquil space and try to picture happy thoughts. I attempt to visualize running through wet multicolored leaves on a cool, fall morning. I picture the warm, engaging smile of my last meal delivery client of the day, who reminds me of my dear gran. My mind shifts to thoughts of laughing at my crazy niece and nephew’s ridiculous texts to Nick…Nick.

My skin instantly overheats and my heart rate picks up as I picture the hypnotic hazel eyes of the man who stars in my fantasies. Recalling how his hot, soft mouth felt against my lips in the Target has my entire body buzzing. I long to feel his searing lips and tongue trail from my mouth into the hollow of my throat. As I contemplate the sensation of his wanton, open mouth kisses along my skin, I find my nipples have tightened to sharp points. Swollen and pulsating, my groin now fights for attention. Attempting to relieve the ache, I start to trail my hand down toward my belly when I hear a buzz from my phone. Turning to locate the rude device, I realize I’ve left the pesky thing too far to reach safely from where I’m submerged. Time to end this pleasant diversion. I stop the self-indulgent replay of the sexy orthopedist giving me the hottest kiss of my life in the shampoo aisle, stand, and exit the bath.

Padding dry and slipping on my thick, white terry robe, I wander into the bedroom with my phone to read the incoming message. I hope Jake isn’t writing back to let me know no one can cover tomorrow. I need this time off. Sitting at the edge of my bed, I open the text.

3:35 p.m.

Mark Snow

Mark: “How are you, Kat?”

Chapter Two

Nick

Entering the emergency room, I look around with a sense of purpose. I’m here to see a post-op patient who’s having continued pain. I suspect they’re simply in need of more pain medication, as this patient was using large quantities before their surgery and has likely built up a tolerance. I try to ignore the urge to walk to each nurses’ station to see if there’s any sign of Kat. I haven’t seen or heard from her since playing tonsil hockey in the Target aisle two days ago.Class act, Nick, class act.

“Hi, Dr. Barnes.” I hear a feminine voice greet, looking toward the closest nurse I see. I recognize her as the cute, curly-haired brunette Kat appears to be friends with. She and the other nurse, Jessica, are the two I usually find giggling at her side when I’m here. She must be able to read my questioning look. “I’m Meghan.” She says each syllable slowly, like speaking to a toddler.

“Oh, hi, Meghan. Sorry. I’m still trying to learn names.”

“It’s okay, Dr. Barnes. You have more important things to remember, I’m sure,” she replies with a teasing gleam in her eye. I walk behind the nurses’ station to log into a computer and locate my patient. “Are you here to see Miss Browning?”

“Yes, actually. Do you know her room number?”

“She’s in room twenty-two. She’s my patient. She’s been asking for a lot of pain medicine since she’s been here,” Meghan says, confirming my suspicion.

“I was worried about that. I think she may need help recovering from this surgery. I’ll try to get her into a chronic pain clinic. Thanks for assisting her until I could get here.”

Standing, I see Jake from the corner of my eye. He’s looking down at his phone, facial features tenser than I’m accustomed to in this normally easy-going guy. As I approach, I realize he’s so deep in thought he hasn’t noticed me standing beside him. “Hey, man, what’s up? You look like you’re contemplating the meaning of life.”

“Ah, it’s not me. It’s Kat. I’m kind of worried about her.”

This has my hackles standing firm. Not sure why I feel so protective of this girl who won’t give me the time of day. I try to casually push on. “What’s going on? She okay?”

“She called out sick. It’s just not like her.”

Guess that halts my need to speed walk through the department. “Well, everyone gets sick once in a while. What’s the big deal?”

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