Nice. Smooth.
I don’t look back to see if Heather heard. I walk at a frantic pace to my Jeep, hoping no more women will appear out of thin air and proposition me. Definitely not something I’ve ever thought before. I make it to my old Jeep, throw my bag in the back seat, and then slide into the passenger seat and lock the doors behind me. I’m not sure what was happening in that hospital, but clearly everyone has lost their minds.
Leaning my head back against the headrest, I debate calling an Uber because I know driving this drowsy is not safe. I pry my eyes open enough to request a ride and then sink back against the seat again, preparing to doze until it arrives.
TAP. TAP. TAP.
My eyes fly open, and I shoot up so fast I give myself whiplash. Something snaps angrily in my neck. That, however, is the least of my worries right now. No, instead, I rub the now sore spot in my neck while turning to look at Dr. Susan Landry, one of the other doctors who works in the same practice as me.
Feeling safe that it’s not another nurse about to come on to me, I roll the window down.
She chuckles, eyeing the dark rings under my eyes. “You look terrible.”
“Thank you for noticing. I feel terrible too.”
I like Susan. She’s an amazing doctor, and we’ve always had a great working relationship. There’s no nonsense between us. We never see each other outside of work, and we keep everything professional. It’s just how I like it.
“Although apparently the nurses in there didn’t get the memo that I look terrible. I got asked out twice in five minutes.” I rub my neck. “It was the weirdest thing. I blame it on the full moon that sent all my patients into labor.”
“Really? Because I blame it on the fact that when your sister came and had lunch with you in the cafeteria last week, she went on and on about how single you are and how you need to find yourself a girlfriend and settle down.”
I groan inwardly and curse my sister and her good intentions. “But how does anyone know about that?”
“Gossip travels fast within those hospital walls, and one of the nurses was sitting behind you guys. Apparently, the whole nurses lounge knew by one o’clock.”
Well this is bad. The whole staff being alerted to my singleness is something I wanted to avoid. It’s why I’ve always been vague about my personal life. “Well, I guess it’s fine. I’ll just have to be firm about my rule.”
“What rule?” she asks while tightening her raven ponytail.
“I don’t date colleagues.”
Her eyebrows rise. “Ever?” Something about the way her voice goes up an octave alarms me.
“Yeah…it’s just something I do to keep everything professional at work.”
Her smile goes nervous, which is strange because I’ve never seen it do that before. “Well, then I guess I shouldn’t toss my hat in the ring like I was planning to.” She tries to cover up her embarrassment with a soft chuckle, but it doesn’t work. I can still see how vulnerable she is, and I am absolutely too tired to deal with this gracefully. My eyeballs feel like they’ve been doused with pepper spray.
“Oh—you were going to…ask me out?” Now I’m worried my policy won’t be enough. What if Susan is offended I won’t bend my rule for her? Will our working relationship become awkward?
She shrugs a little, her smile quirking hopefully. “Yeah, to the fundraiser gala. I was thinking since we get along so well, and we’re both single—”
“I’m not,” I blurt, before I have the chance to stop myself.
Her brows crinkle together. “You’re not?”
“Nope. I actually already have a date to the gala.” I don’t. “My girlfriend.” Don’t have one of those either.
Susan looks understandably confused. “But you told your sister you were single…”
“Only because she doesn’t know about it yet. It’s new. I’m dating her best friend, and I know she won’t like it.” DREW STOP. “We’re serious though.” I can feel my brain shaking its metaphorical head at me. You tired, tired fool.
“Okay, but then…why didn’t you say that at first? Why mention your rule?”
Goodness, Susan. So many questions.
“I forgot I was in a relationship. Like I said, it’s new. And…I’m sleep-deprived.” There, that last part is real at least.
“Gotcha,” Susan says, like she still doesn’t fully believe me. “Well, I’m looking forward to meeting her at the fundraiser.” Why do her w