Andrew: Pizza = piece of

Lauren: OMG you can’t explain yourself

Andrew: I’m in the presence of pun greatness. I can’t help it if I doughnut belong here.

Lauren: You’re kiwing me

Andrew: You butter back off, friend

Lauren: Do you really wanna taco ‘bout this?

Andrew: I felt that one from my head tomatoes

Lauren: That was a good one. Lettuce celebrate.

Andrew: I’m just trying to ketchup

Lauren: Berry good work

Lauren: Wait, I want to take that one back. I can do better.

Andrew: No take-backs

Andrew: I win

Lauren: You win?

Andrew: The first ever Andrew-Lauren Pun War.

Lauren: You should know I took it easy on you. You’re a newbie.

Andrew: We’ll call this round one, then.

Lauren: To be continued…

…

“What are you doing for Thanksgiving next week?” Emma swiveled in a half circle and twirled a strand of dark hair around one finger. It was Friday afternoon and the clinic was quiet. Lauren and Dr. Stanford had just seen their last patient of the day, and Emma had one left to see. Kiara had taken the week off to travel home to California, her brand-new fiancé in tow.

“Nothing.”

Emma made a face. “Nothing?”

“I don’t mind spending it alone. It’s not worth it to travel home for just the day,” Lauren said. She didn’t mention that she didn’t particularly want to go home. When she’d finally called her dad back, she’d caved and agreed to work as a fill-in pharmacist for two days at his store around Christmas. One trip to Oklahoma was enough. “I’m expected at Children’s Hospital that Saturday, and I ended up picking up a pharmacy shift Thanksgiving morning at the adult hospital. It’s not like I’m just going to sit at home all day.” She leaned forward and took a bite of the pumpkin pie Mr. Jones, a long-time patient, had brought that morning. It was sweet, moist, and had the perfect amount of spice. Lauren sighed with appreciation.

A frown lingered on Emma’s face. “Why don’t you come to my parents’ house when you get off? My mom loves you. We don’t have traditional Thanksgiving food for dinner, but she’s making a killer banh xeo. And bun rieu.”

“That’s really nice of you.” Lauren smiled, flattered at the invitation when she’d spent countless holidays alone. “Can I see how I feel after my shift? I might be in the mood to just crash and watch this new documentary in my queue.”

Emma rolled her eyes. “You’re such a nerd.”

Lauren had no argument.

One of the medical assistants walked into the room with a chart and handed it to Emma.

“Hey, could you do me a favor while I see this last patient?” Emma asked.

“Sure.”