“Before you came along I was the one writing them.” Emma’s eyes went wide. “I don’t want that job back, okay? Finish your rotations and come back. Don’t leave us for good.”

“I’m trying not to.”

“Any updates on a job opening?”

Lauren shook her head. “Dr. Hawthorne said there’s a budget meeting in late November, and he’ll propose adding a third full-time clinical pharmacist. If they approve the position, I can apply for it.”

Emma frowned. “Can’t they just grandfather you in?”

“I guess not. But there aren’t that many oncology specialists running around, so hopefully I won’t have much competition.”

“You’d better be right. Intelligence aside, I doubt we’d find another pharmacist who’ll drop bad puns all day to keep us laughing. It’s gotta be you.”

Lauren laughed and took a drink of her beer. “Laughter is the best medicine.”

When the server returned with Emma’s drink, Emma made a show of scoping out the room. “Any cute guys here tonight?”

It was on the tip of Lauren’s tongue to say she’d seen one before Emma arrived. “I’m not sure.”

Emma rotated on her seat, tapping her chin as she went. “What am I looking for? What’s your type?”

“I don’t really have one.”

“That’s not helpful.” Emma paused. “Actually, maybe it is. Any guy is fair game?”

“Emma, what are you doing? I don’t want you to find me a guy.”

“Too bad.”

Lauren shook her head. “What about you? Has one even seen your newest additions, yet?”

“I got them for me, not for men.” Emma shimmied her shoulders, and Lauren couldn’t stop her eyes from dropping to the ample cleavage on display.

“So you say. But you sure were eager for me to bring my coffee shop guy to work a few weeks ago.”

What would Emma think if she knew that guy was Andrew? The “hot patient” who all the women in the clinic now fawned over? Anyone who had a hand in his care would remember him.

Emma waved a hand in the air and made a sound of dismissal. “I was kidding. Besides, I’m not the one who hasn’t gone on a date in two years. Gotta prioritize, here.”

Lauren grimaced. “You make me sound like such a loser. I’m focused on my career.”

“And now that you’re this close”—Emma held up her thumb and forefinger a centimeter apart—“to locking down a job here, it’s time to get back out there.”

“I haven’t gotten an offer yet,” Lauren reminded her. She went back to the original point. “Besides, I’m perfectly content with my life right now. I’m doing just fine on my own. What do I need a man for?”