That was the question, wasn’t it? Jerica gave Ann a long look before she gave in. “Because I want to talk to her.”
“Do you like her?”
Jerica gave a very small nod as an answer. “I think I do. I want to get to know her better, that much is for sure. I’ve never had a patient quite like her.”
Ann grinned. “Then give her another call in a few days if she doesn’t answer this one. She’s got a lot going on, Jerica. Give her some time to settle into maybe wanting to think about a relationship. You don’t even know if she’s single.”
“Don’t you think if she was with someone that they would have shown up at the hospital?”
“Were you with her the entire time?” Ann raised an eyebrow in her direction.
“No.”
“Exactly. You weren’t there twenty-four seven, so you don’t know if they visited and left.”
“Her best friend was with her more than anyone. I don’t think she’s dating someone.”
Ann pursed her lips. “Are you sure she’s a lesbian?”
“Pretty sure.” Jerica flushed at that memory. “She almost asked me once, but I think she chickened out.”
Sighing, Ann put her hand against the window. “Call her, because if I have to listen to you do this for the next few months, I’m going to hurl.”
Chuckling, Jerica shook her head. “Fine, I’ll try to call her again if she doesn’t call me back.”
“Thank you.” Ann tapped the window. “I’m off to work. See you around.”
“Bye.” Jerica waited for Ann to be clear of her vehicle before she backed out of the parking space and headed to her small apartment.
After she changed, she drove to Pete’s to meet up with June and some of the other queer women she knew. She stared down at her phone again before she got out of the car and decided to take the chance Ann suggested she did. She dialed Bridget’s number again.
It was the same thing. Hanging up before leaving a message, Jerica switched and sent Bridget a text, reading it over three times before she hit the send button.
Hi. It’s Jerica. Your friend gave me your number. I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately and wanted to make sure you were doing okay. If you’d like to talk, just give me a call or text.
It felt so odd and formal in some ways, but she had no idea what to say. The conversation she wanted to have with Bridget would be far better to try over a phone call than text, but since Bridget likely didn’t know her number, that might be the reason she hadn’t answered. Or she could be lying in bed in so much pain from all her injuries that it was impossible to answer.
Beyond that last text, she wasn’t going to try and contact Bridget again. She didn’t want to be labeled the crazy stalker nurse. Shoving her phone in her pocket, Jerica looked at Pete’s before getting out of her car. She was going to have some fun and relax and try to push the phone calls and text out of her mind. She wanted to focus on her friends, not on this growing crush she seemed to be harboring.
* * *
It was the end of her work week when Jerica stepped out to the front of the waiting area in the ER. Immediately, she stopped. Bridget sat with her leg propped up in a wheelchair, Eli right behind her pushing her toward the front desk. Bridget looked so forlorn and lost, and Eli looked absolutely determined. She’d seen those looks many times.
Cocking her head, Jerica stood against the front desk and eyed Bridget head to toe. She did look decently well, which was good. Her color was coming back from all that blood loss in ways it hadn’t while she’d been in the hospital. She didn’t have that ashen look to her anymore.
Attempting to turn her nursing brain off, Jerica plastered a smile on her lips and waited for them to walk by. Eli saw her right away, eyes lighting up. She stopped the wheelchair right in front of Jerica. Chuckling, Jerica saw it for what it was. Eli liked this little flirting relationship they were doing, and she was trying to make it easier for Bridget to join in.
“In for a check up?” Jerica planted a smile on her lips.
Bridget’s chin jerked up, those beautiful blue eyes lighting on Jerica’s face, and her lips quirking upward into a smile as soon as she realized who was talking. Jerica had been right, Bridget wasn’t paying a lick of attention outside of the residual pain she was still feeling. Eli, surprisingly, didn’t answer for Bridget.
“I am,” Bridget’s voice was far firmer and stronger than when she’d been admitted. It felt so good to hear what she must sound like in full force. She’d been so close to death, and Jerica wasn’t sure if Bridget realized that.
“I hope it goes well.” Jerica crossed her arms, leaning against the front counter, eyeing Bridget like she had all the time in the world. She didn’t, but she wanted to spend the time with Bridget that she could. Perhaps this was the way to her heart instead of phone calls and text messages.
“I’ll be right back,” Eli said and walked away.
Bridget tossed an annoyed glance over her shoulder, but Eli missed it as her back was already turned. Jerica raised her eyebrows. “Guess she had something to do.”