When I reach him, he kisses me. I was expecting it. At some point, without me really realizing, it became ordinary. No less thrilling, but normal. Each stretch of time we spend together is bookended by a kiss—one at the start and one at the end. I hate how much I love it.

It turns into more than a hello peck. I haven’t seen him in two days, and it’s worrying how long a stretch of time that feels like. I thought routines took weeks—months—to form, not days. But he already feels like a permanent piece of my life here rather than a temporary one. My life revolves around work and spending time with him.

I tug Gray’s bottom lip between my teeth. He responds by sliding a hand down my back to squeeze my butt.

I start laughing, which effectively ends our kiss. “Are you seriously feeling me up in a hospital?”

“We’re not in a hospital,” he counters. “We’re outside. I’m feeling you up on a sidewalk.”

I roll my eyes as he pulls the overnight bag off my shoulder and tosses it in the backseat of his car.

“Get much sleep?”

“None,” I admit as I climb in the passenger side, yawning at the reminder of my long night. “I had four patients code.”

“Did they pull through?”

“All but one.”

Gray gives me a long, searching look from the driver’s side. “If you don’t want to—”

“I want to go,” I assure him.

I could have not slept in days, and I’d still insist on going wherever it is that we’re headed. Part of it is curiosity. We know Emmett’s and Sloane’s schedules. Sneaking around in each other’s places hasn’t been much of an issue. We don’t need to go on a trip to have sex. But still, Gray brought it up, asking if I was free this weekend. I’m pretty sure there’s more to the story, especially since he’s been less than forthcoming with details, but I haven’t pushed. I haven’t told him I had to trade three shifts to get today and tomorrow off either. Sloane thinks I’m on call again tonight. I’m not sure what Gray told Emmett about his absence.

“Okay.” The car engine rumbles, and we start moving, weaving through the hospital’s crowded parking lot.

“So…are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

Gray glances at me, then back at the road. “Beaufort.”

“Really?”

I figured it wouldn’t be far since we’re only spending one night. I assumed not far would consist of a short drive up or down the coast to one of the many small towns gearing up to be flooded with tourists in the coming months. Not a boat ride.