Page 59 of Starting Back
“I assure you, you do not.” I squeezed the back of my neck. “I never expected to see you in my town, never mind in the hospital where I work. I’d managed to…”
I rubbed at the space between my brows, taking slow breaths to bring down the uptick in my pulse.
“I managed to compartmentalize my time in Florida, I guess. And now that you’re here” —I sucked in a deep breath and let it drain from my lungs —"I can’t do that.”
“I never wanted you to do that.” His voice was soft, his gaze so fixed on me he barely blinked.
“We have a patient. This is not the time or the place.” I stepped to the door and reached for the knob, when he grabbed my wrist, squeezing gently until I peered up at him.
“When is your next break?”
“In about an hour, maybe.”
His eyes searched mine, expectant and desperate. My boring night suddenly became more than I knew how to deal with.
“I think mine is in an hour too, but I’ll ask to make it whenever yours is.”
“Demanding on your first day.” I lifted a brow, hating how complicated this already was between us when it had been so beautifully simple in another time and place.
“My first day won’t be worth shit if I don’t talk to you. I’ll wheel the patient in, and I’ll see you in an hour.”
He opened the door, pressing it open and holding out his arm until I headed out.
When Nicole said she thought things would change for me, I’d had no idea they were about to implode.
TWENTY-TWO
LEO
Iwheeled the patient into the ultrasound room, leaving once he was set up, my gaze falling on Kristina punching on the computer keys before I closed the door.
I’d had every intention of contacting her, but everything had moved so damn fast. Once we all decided that the assisted living facility would be the best choice for my aunt and uncle, I put in my notice and prepared to move back up here. My captain helped me get a transfer to the station close enough to where my aunt and uncle would be, and once that all went through, I came up to stay with Gabe until I found an apartment.
The station was small, and I finally had enough time in my schedule to apply for a per diem nursing job. Things fell into place easier and quicker than I’d anticipated.
While my uncle still had a long road ahead of him, he was progressing well, according to his doctors. My aunt’s symptoms hadn’t worsened much since I’d been back, so we were hopeful her new therapy regimen was working too.
Now that it all seemed permanent, I was finally going to let Kristina know I was close. I’d apologize for the radio silence since the day she’d gotten home, and I’d ask to see her again.
It had been the perfect plan before it’d all gone to shit.
“So, you’re Leo,” Buck said, regarding me with narrowed eyes as we finished updating charts.
“Yes, I think we established that when I started shadowing you tonight. But I’m guessing Kristina told you about meeting a Leo a few months ago.”
“She did.” Buck chuckled, still scrutinizing me. “That trip was good for her. She came back with a much different attitude.”
I nodded, taking a little pride in how our time together had been good for her.Hadbeen good, until she saw me again and couldn’t get away fast enough.
I’d come back with an entirely different attitude myself, grumbly and miserable until I finally gave my life a little direction.
While I knew she lived in this state, I had no idea that new direction would lead me straight back to her.
“I think she mentioned you too once, now that I think about it.”
“I’m her oldest friend, I should hope she mentioned me.” Buck smiled and shook his head. “We all told her to contact you and give it a shot. She’s been on all these shitty dates because she won’t give anyone else a chance.”
“As her oldest friend, won’t she be pissed at you for telling me that?” I asked, smothering the wide smile that wanted to rip across my mouth. Even though I hated the idea of her going on dates, despite how it was none of my business, I loved knowing that they didn’t go anywhere—and that her feelings for me may’ve had something to do with that.
