Page 170 of What are the Risks
“Fine. I’ll text you when I leave the hospital.”
“Are you coming back here first?”
“Nah. I’ll meet you there in case I’m running late.”
That wasn’t going to work with my plan.
“How about I drop you off at work and pick you up later? I need a coffee now anyway.”
She frowned. “A coffee at this time? Shouldn’t you try and get some sleep.”
“I’ll nap later.” I playfully smacked her ass. “I’m way too worked up after that.”
EPILOGUE
A good spot for Warren
Ruby
Ryker was right on time picking me up from work, but as usual, I was the one holding us up. While walking out the doors thirty minutes after my shift ended might’ve seemed late to him, in healthcare, that was almost considered early.
Finally catching sight of me crossing the road, he sprang from his car and hurried around to the passenger side.
The SUV he drove nowadays was a bougie upgrade of the one he’d had in college. It was the kind of car you’d expect a professional athlete to drive – something I often forgot Ryker was.
To me, he would always be the same guy I’d been flinging socks at the ceiling fan with since we were kids.
Opening my door, he kissed my cheek. “You look nice.”
For the first time in a long time, I’d put effort in after my shift. I’d showered and switched my scrubs for a knit dress and heeled boots, brushed out my curled ponytail so that my hair fell over my shoulders, and applied just enough makeup to hide the unwanted under-eye bags and add some colour to my lashes and cheeks.
I kissed him back. “So do you.”
He wasn’t dressed in anything fancy, just something other than Seattle athletic gear. Ryker always looked good to me, whether insweats, slacks, nothing but boxers, or his pregame fits – which Tori had now been styling for the past twelve months.
After initially going with a stylist his agent recommended, Ryker ended that relationship during his rookie year and hired Tori instead.
She and Brady had been travelling back and forth after college, weighing which of their hometowns to move back to. But secretly wanting something fresh, away from their families, Ryker had suggested Seattle and offered Tori a job to sweeten the deal.
I loved having Tori and Brady around, especially when Ryker was away. I’d made friends with other partners on the team, as well as a few girls from work, but there was something comforting about having someone familiar nearby.
After shutting my door and jogging back to his side, Ryker pulled away from the curb. “How was your cab-whatever?”
“It went well. The patient will live.”
While Ryker always politely asked about my job and my day – and had even started learning the terminology – I knew it made him squeamish, so I saved the gory details for Bri. Nobody appreciated them like she did.
Each time a position opened at Tacoma Hospital that I thought she’d be great for, I’d print screen the job ad and send it to her.
I missed her, and Jaz and Daisy too.
Jaz was back in her hometown working as a middle school teacher, and last I heard from Daisy, she was sunbaking on a beach in Bali.
I’d taken for granted being able to stroll into the kitchen and find them all in the one place. While we still spoke most days, group chats weren’t the same.
In good traffic, mine and Ryker’s new place was a thirty minute drive from the hospital. It was a slightly longer commute than what I had now, but it would be worth it.
Unlike our current apartment, which we’d outgrown, this place almost felt too big. When we were first shown the plans, I’d thought it was completely over the top. But next to all the other recently built houses in the new estate, it fit right in.
