Page 7 of Forget Me Not

I love my job, but it can be exhausting, especially while I’m still in my residency. It’s also the only place in my life where I can’t plan everything from start to finish. Which is something I have a tendency to do.

Especially working in the ER, you have no idea who will walk in or who you will have to treat. It could range from a simple stomachache to a life-threatening condition. But no matter what’s thrown your way, you have to be able to respond calmly and efficiently.

Every person who walks through the automatic glass doors is a surprise, and the ER is the only place where I enjoy surprises. Actually, forget enjoying them, it’s the only place I allow them.

Today is Thursday and I’m currently working an eight-hour shift from five p.m. to one a.m. The ER has been busy since I got here, and I’ve barely had a second to stop and breathe. Not even an hour into my shift I’m called to the trauma bay to help out with an incoming MVC.

The patient has been touch and go since he came in, but after repeated attempts at resuscitation, he doesn’t make it. That alone seems like a precursor for how this shift is going to go.

It’s nine p.m. right now and things have finally calmed down within the last hour. I’m savoring the last of my cup of coffee before I head to my next patient, that’s until a large body steps into my view.

“Dr. Hart.” My coworker, Ryan, smiles down at me. It’s not what he says, it’s the way he says it that makes me uncomfortable. Saying my name to get my attention is not an issue, but the flirty tone he uses as he says it makes me want out of this conversation before it’s even started.

Ryan is essentially a gold-star player. He’s a third-year resident and seems to be interested in anything and everything with a pair of tits. Unfortunately, he’s also incredibly charming, so he doesn’t normally have to try too hard to get what he wants.

Well, that was before he gave two of the nurses, who happened to be good friends, chlamydia. It was an entire nightmare with HR, but since it was consensual, there wasn’t much that could be done. Women around the hospital are not his biggest fans now. That doesn’t stop him from trying though, especially with me.

Ryan has been trying to get me to go out with him since my very first week working here. My answer has never wavered from no, but the man is nothing if not persistent. He claims that “I’m different from the rest” when I call him on his shit. Says he wants to date me and that he genuinely likes me.

I don’t believe it for a second. He likes me because I’m unattainable. He enjoys the chase. I can’t fault him for it, most people do.

“Ryan,” I respond. “What can I do for you?”

“Do I have to need something to come say hello to my favorite girl?” He smiles widely as I roll my eyes. “I feel like I’ve hardly seen you lately. Have you been hiding from me?”

“No, I haven’t been hiding from you, Ryan.” The lie rolls off my tongue, knowing full well that I have definitely been avoiding him. At some point, telling someone no repeatedly becomes tiring. “I’ve just been busy.”

“Well, if you’re so busy at work then we have to make time to hang out after work.” He must see the answer on my face before he’s even finished talking because he keeps going. “Come on, Lo. It’s been over a year, when are you finally going to let me take you out?”

It doesn’t seem to matter how many times I tell the guy that I’m not interested, he just can’t seem to get the idea that someone may not be in love with him through his thick skull.

“I’ve told you before, Ryan. I’m just not interested.” I try to keep the annoyance out of my tone. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve really got to get to my patient.”

“You’ll change your mind eventually, Lo. And when you do, I’ll be right here waiting for you.” I scoff at the idea of Ryan waiting for anyone. The man who claims to have real feelings for me was dating one of the newer nurses just last week. I walk away without another word, making my way over to the next patient.

“Hello, I’m Dr. Hart. I’ll be your physician tod—” I stop midword as my eyes lift to meet ones I recognize sitting on the patient bed in front of me. Those piercing blue eyes that I can’t seem to get out of my head now look at me with a new sense of fascination. Something I don’t recognize passes over his features, but it’s gone before I have a chance to decipher what it is.

The look of shock must be evident on my face, and he looks at me expectantly, waiting for me to continue. I school my features and force myself back into professional mode. “How are you doing today, Mr.…” I let the words trail off for him to fill in the blank.

“Pierce. Kade Pierce.” He smirks. “Dr. Hart, huh?” he says. “How many times have you been made fun of for that one?” His tone of voice and the hint of a smile pulling at his lips makes it seem as though he’s amused, yet there’s something about the stiffness in his posture that makes me think otherwise. But then again, if he’s a control freak like me, he may just be naturally uptight.

I know he’s baiting me, and I should let it go. It’s what I would do in any other situation. But there’s something soinfuriating about letting him have the upper hand. My mouth is moving before my brain has a second to catch up.

“And what do you do for a living, Mr. Pierce?” I blurt out. He looks at me silently, never letting his attention leave mine. For a second, I don’t think he’s going to answer, but then his expression changes and he almost looks… impressed?

“I’m a tattoo artist,” he casually says. I can’t help the bark of laughter that leaves me. The amusement returns tenfold to his face and this time he actually does smile. A full-blown smile showcasing luscious lips surrounding perfect white teeth. The man is droolworthy when he’s scowling, but when he smiles, it’s something else. It’s hard to look away.

“You do realize that your entire job is drawing with a machine thatpiercesink into people’s skin for a living, right?” I say as I get my laughter under control.

“And you’re a doctor whose last name sounds the same as one of the vital organs in our body,” he replies, shaking his head at the thought.

“What a pair we are,” I say, and then immediately want to take it back. “Not that we’re a pair or anything,” I hurry to correct myself. If the smile on his face and the burning I feel creeping up my neck is anything to go by, I’m sure I look like a tomato right about now.

He crosses his arms across his chest, choosing not to say anything, and it’s only when I see his bandaged hand that I realize what a massive idiot I am. This man is a patient and I’m supposed to be a doctor. Here he is, bleeding, waiting to be treated, while I’m making fun of his job and last name.Fucking embarrassing is what it is.

I’ve treated attractive men before. There have even been times when they’ll try to cross the line, flirting with me or asking for my number. I have never entertained any of the advances or once lost my sense of professionalism when treating a patient.How is it that only five minutes with him has me breaking all my rules?

I clear my throat and school my features. “I see that you’re here for a laceration to the hand. Could you go over what happened with me, please?”

---