She bursts into laughter and clamps a hand over her mouth. “You’re gonna get me in trouble.”

“No, you’ll do that all on your own.”

We look around for the supervisor on shift, but luckily, she’s nowhere to be seen.

After checking the night nurse’s notes on my patients, I click out and grab a pen to write down the room numbers I’m in charge of today. The ICU has no available rooms, which means I’ll be running around since we’re so full.

I’m tempted to text Kane and ask how he’s doing. I usually do that every morning before my shift starts, but today feels different. I honestly don’t know what I’d say to him after all that happened yesterday. I know he’s waiting for me to make a decision, and until I do, I don’t want things to be awkward. Though I’m afraid they already will be. I decide against texting him until I figure out what the hell I’m going to do.

“Okay, you gotta tell me what’s goin’ on. I’m dyin’ over here,” Abbie blurts out as I stay lost in my head.

“Then it’s a good thing we’re in a hospital. Could see if Dr. Tall and Handsome could give you a private exam?”

“Hardy har har. He’d be disappointed in my pancake ass. So spill it, girl.”

We pull out charts, and as we write, I start explaining. I tell her every detail of my date with Knox, down to what we ate for dinner, how he taught me how to throw an axe, and how many drinks I shouldn’t have had. Before I get to the kissing game, we have to visit with the doctors. She groans when I stop.

“I swear I’ll fill you in later,” I say, grabbing everything I need.

“And until then, my brain is gonna make up a million different scenarios.”

I roll my eyes with a smile. “Your version will probably be better than what actually happened.”

“The queen of teasing!” she whisper-hisses so no one overhears. By now, more doctors and nurses have flooded in, which means all privacy has gone out the window.

“Not the first time I’ve been called that,” I admit, then meet up with Dr. Bernard, a cardiologist overseeing a few patients in the ICU.

Every day I come to work, I’m reminded why I love my job so much. On top of it being very rewarding, helping people and taking care of them is one of my greatest passions, and I know I’m making a difference.