Page 118 of What are the Risks
He texted back an excited GIF and followed it up with a message.
Ryker: Booking my flight now.
*
Dr. Spring hummed as she washed her hands in the sink beside me. She’d just finished her last surgery for the day, which meant I had too.
I’d planned on going home after my shift to shower and change, but we were running behind. Looks like I’d be heading straight to the airport to pick up Ryker, rocking dirty hair and scrubs.
Fantastic. Way to set the mood, Ruby.
“Have you given any further thought about Dr. Jefferson’s graduate program?” Dr. Spring asked.
I nervously wrung my hands beneath the warm spray. “Do you really think I’d have a chance?”
“Of course. Dr. Jefferson and I went to medical school together. I have a lot of influence with him.”
My eyebrows lowered. “I wouldn’t want the job because of preferential–”
“No,” Dr. Spring interjected, chuckling. “What I meant is that he values my opinion. All the candidates will come with a recommendation.”
“Oh. Right.”
I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about the graduate program. The main thing stopping me from applying was the distance. It was somehow both a pro and a con. As courageous as I wanted to be, over two thousand miles from home was longer than I’d ever pictured.
“I did my residency in Seattle,” Dr. Spring said. “The music scene’s great, and sports options aren’t lacking if that’s what you’re into. I caught an NFL playoff game while I was living there, and apparently there’s an NHL team now as well.”
That piqued my interest – the football part at least. While the odds of Ryker getting drafted to the same state where I accepted a graduate position were slimmer than slim, at least Seattle had football. Fingers crossed whichever team he was drafted to had a game scheduled there next year... assuming I got the job.
Dr. Spring shook her hands dry. “Take the next two days to think it over. Talk to your parents, friends, your boyfriend, and we’ll touch base again next week.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
High school Ruby
Ryker
The moment I walked through the sliding glass doors, the unfamiliar city and airport felt a lot more like home.
With one ankle crossed over the other, Ruby leaned against her car, waiting patiently. She was still dressed in her uniform, a set of blue scrubs and a pair of white Crocs, with her hair tied in a messy ponytail and her glasses resting on her nose.
After a quick traffic check, I jogged across the street, cutting off a cab speeding up the ramp. Nothing – not even a freight truck – was stopping me from getting to her.
She grinned as I dropped my bag on the sidewalk, but just as I closed in on her, she pulled back.
“I haven’t showered since my shift, Wheels.”
“Don’t fucking care,” I growled. “It’s like you don’t even know me, Rubz. I’ve been hanging for this all week. Don’t make me wait a second longer.”
She didn’t fight it this time when I pulled her into me. When our lips met, a relieved sigh escaped her. I knew exactly how she felt – I was right there with her.
I’d missed this... actually, I’d just missedherin general.
Kissing her was like sliding into bed after a long day. With freshly washed bedding. And the sheets toasty warm from the sun. And thefan circling at the perfect pace. And no alarm set for the following morning. In other words... one of the best feelings in the world.
“Are you hungry?” she checked, resting her palms against my chest. “Because I am. There’s a good burger place on the way home, or there are healthier options if you want to be boring.”
I chuckled as I reached for my bag. “A burger sounds great.”
