“I don’t know about that,” Daniel said. “What if the next prize is cupcakes from that place that sells out within the first hour every day?”

“Oh, if that’s the case I’m willing to fight you for it.”

He bumped her shoulder with his. “How about we share?”

Her eyes dropped to his mouth, the corners of hers curving up in the most enchanting of smiles.

“Deal.”

*  *  *

Samiah thought she’d be on time for once, but true to form, she was the last one to arrive for the weekly meet-up with Taylor and London. At least she had a good excuse this time. Because London had only a couple of hours between shifts, they’d decided to meet near the hospital where she worked. Dealing with Austin rush-hour traffic—something Samiah normally avoided at all cost—would make anyone late. And in need of a drink.

“I swear I tried to get here on time,” Samiah said, placing her purse with the others on the lone empty chair. “Did you all order already?”

“I had to,” London said. “I need to be back at the hospital by seven.”

“I thought you had two hours before your next shift started. Did a surgery get moved up or something?” Taylor asked.

She shook her head. “The only time I perform surgeries at night is if they come through the emergency room. I need to head back early because I’m meeting with a couple of the other doctors before my shift starts. We’re having a powwow about some bullshit going on at the hospital.”

The bite in London’s tone was so unlike her. “So, that sounds serious,” Samiah said. “Is it?”

“It has the potential to be.” She dipped a fried eggplant into marinara sauce and swirled it around, but then set it back on the plate uneaten. “It has taken me longer than it should have to recognize that bureaucracy and red tape can literally kill people. And there are some who just don’t care. The bottom line means more, regardless of how much it adversely affects patients. I just…” She shook her head. “This is not what I signed up for. I became a doctor to help people. To help children.”

In the short time she’d known her, Samiah had already become accustomed to London’s mordant, sometimes dark sense of humor. Case in point, last week, when she shared that she’d lost a patient. Despite her obvious pain, she’d managed to smile through it, and by the time dessert rolled around she’d had them all laughing to the point that they drew stares.

But this London? This was the first time she’d seen this London.