Page 6 of One Night, Two Holidays

The thought flares in my mind like a shooting star, and I press my lips together to keep from accidentally blurting it out. It’s not just her eyes—it’s her wavy dark hair, the fullness of her bottom lip, the way her oversized sweatshirt keeps slipping off one shoulder to reveal a pink bra strap against lightly freckled skin.

Knock it off,I order myself. I’m in her space, and I’d never want to make her feel uncomfortable—partly because I might freeze to death if I go back to my apartment before the power comes back on.

But mostly because, for the first time in months, I think I’m having…fun?

“Hopefully, the airport opens tomorrow, and you can get a flight home,” Nessa says.

If it doesn’t, I’ll probably curl into a fetal position and sob until I’m hoarse,I think.ButI don’t say that, of course. Instead, I tell myself to pull it together, to act like the guy I used to be—pre-residency, pre-burnout, when I still had a personality. When I had at leastsomegame with cute girls.

“Can’t wait to get rid of me?” I say, summoning up a grin.

Her cheeks turn a slight shade of pink. It’s surprisinglyadorable—but I can’t help but wonder what else would make her blush, where else that warmth could blossom. “No, that’s not?—”

“I get it.” I chuckle. “I’m sure the last thing you wanted tonight was to become a shelter for freezing refugees from downstairs.”

She rolls her eyes playfully. “Actually, my roommates and I have been trying to figure out a way to introduce ourselves. To you.”

She’s noticed me, too?That’s…unexpected. Though I couldn’t care less about the roommates; I can’t even remember what they look like.

“Well,” I say, trying to ignore the way my heart picks up a little, “I’ve been trying to figure out a way to introduce myself to you, too.”

“My roommates will be thrilled to hear that.”

Her tone is light, casual. But her eyes say something else, flicking down to my mouth and back to my eyes. The air between us seems to crackle with electricity.

I’m struck by the thought that maybe she’s not just being polite. Maybe she’s not annoyed that I’m here. Maybe she’s even a little bit…glad?

I push past the exhaustion weighing me down, forcing myself to be present. To be fun.

“Not your roommates.” I lean in a little. “Just you.”

Her lips part, surprise flashing across her face. “Oh.”

The word hangs in the air, charged with a feeling I can’t quite define. For a second, it’s like I’m right back in those moments when I’ve noticed her. I can’t pinpoint exactly why, but there’s something about her that captures my attention, makes me want to know more.

Then my phone chimes on the coffee table, shattering the spell. I grab it, hoping for an update on my flight:

O’Hare International Airport will remain with a full ground stop until December 25, 2024, at 3:00 pm. Unfortunately, we expect extensivedelays and/or cancellations. Further information to be posted by 12:00 pm tomorrow. We apologize for the inconvenience.

“Shit,” I mutter.

“What?”

I show her the message, my chest constricting as it hits me that I might not make it home at all. That my four days of vacation might be spent alone in my apartment, riding out this snowstorm, dreading my inevitable return to the hospital. And then it all crashes over me again: the exhaustion, the burnout, the simmering fear that I’m on the wrong path.

“I’m really sorry,” she says softly.

“Me, too.”

After a beat, she straightens up, determination flashing in those wide brown eyes. “Well, I don’t have homemade peppermint hot cocoa, but I have something that might be even better, given the circumstances.”

I raise my eyebrows, intrigued. “What’s that?”

“Wine.”

CHAPTER 6

December 24, 11:10 pm

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