Chapter 10
Lily
I’ve always been a bit of a night owl. The middle of the night was when I would get the most studying done in college, and if anyone tried to wake me up early, they would feel my wrath. My friends liked to get into some crazy situations late at night which made the best stories.
Despite what people may think, it’s not me getting into ridiculous situations. I’m just a victim of circumstances.
But here I am on my third shift of my new job as an ER nurse, and night shift is brutal. Something about when three in the morning hits, my entire brain leaves the building. Of course, it really can’t because I still have an extremely important job to do.
I’m glad this is my last shift for a few days. I’m even more glad that I haven’t run into Parker while at work. Though, unfortunately for me, I have had to hear about him. The firefighter that’s too good looking for his own good is pretty popular around the hospital. Especially with the nurses.
They talk about all the people Parker works with.
I told Sutton that she better watch out with how they talk about her husband, Jameson, too.
She said she’s not worried and never has to be.
She’s right, that man is so down bad for her that I don’t think he notices anyone else.
Like literally, I think he’s blind to faces unless they’re Sutton. It’s disgustingly sweet.
Parker, on the other hand, is a natural flirt. A single natural flirt, so he gets the most attention. I’m sure he’s slept with the majority of my coworkers. Since he turned into a giant man whore after we broke up.
Couldn’t even handle being apart for a month and he’s jumping into bed with someone else. I’m sure he’s had his fun making his rounds around town, and here at the hospital that’s technically not in Amity, but close enough for him.
No one has said they’ve been with him, but I also try to tune out whenever his name is mentioned.
“We have a call coming in,” our charge nurse announces to prepare us all. I’m still in training so I know I’m not going to be heavily involved, but there’s a chance that my luck of not seeing my ex has run out.
The other nurses prep the room they’re going to bring the patient into, and I help where I can. The bay door opens, and I freeze at the sight. The gurney is being pushed in, but that’s not what catches my eye.
The man currently performing CPR on the patient is the one I’ve been hoping to avoid.
Parker is completely focused on the compressions while they wheel the patient to the room we prepped.
The moment that has my brain short circuiting is when he removes one hand to reach into the medical bag on the gurney to grab something.
All while he continues the consistent pattern of compressions one handed.
I’m completely lost in how large his tattooed bicep looks. I swear time freezes while my brain takes mental pictures I’m going to want to keep for a hot minute. I don’t even have time to mentally slap myself for how hot this is because it’s taking all my effort to not call out, “Smash!”
I know it’s not the time or place.
Or person.
Fuck, focus, Lily.
I lose sight of him and take the opportunity to busy myself with literally anything else I can find. Trying not to think about how red my cheeks are, and how hot I feel all over.
One of the other nurses is going to take over the compressions, and he’s going to have to walk out. I’m going to make sure to be somewhere that is out of his eyesight to avoid an interaction. The last thing I need is to cause a scene at my new job because Parker drives me crazy.
The positive to a hospital is that there’s always something I can do. Or at least pretend to do.
“Hey, Lil.”
Shit. Maybe if I don’t move he won’t be able to see me. I can blend into the wall or something.
“You’re not a lizard, you can’t camouflage yourself.” I hear the humor in his voice, and I wonder for a second if I said that out loud, but then I remember who he is. And I remember how in tune he always was with me.
And how annoying that is right now.
I steel my spine, turning around with my eyes narrowed.
Though, I have to hold back my reaction to how hot he looks right now.
The straps from his bunker pants are off his shoulders, somehow making his muscled chest and arms appear even bigger.
He has a baseball cap backwards on his head, pushing his brown hair back.
He’s too good looking, and the worst part is that he knows it.
“Don’t you need to go back to the fire station? ”
“I do, but we need a med refill first.”
“Send Jameson in. He can get them from us.”
“No chance.”
“What do you need?” I grumble reluctantly.
The list is short, and I don’t believe he actually needed to get these medications now, but of course he wants any excuse to bother me.
“Thanks, Lil. I think I’m going to enjoy getting to see you around here.” He winks and I scowl.
“Is there anywhere I won’t see you? You’re always at my house, now my work. Where can I get away from you?”
“I’d say in your sleep, but we both know you dream of me.” He smiles. I want to slap him and pull him into me at the same time.
But I can’t. I have a boyfriend, and that would be wrong.
Plus, this is Parker, and I’m mad at him. I think. Right now it’s a little hard to remember why because all I can think about is how strong he looked doing one handed CPR and is standing here like a walking wet dream.
“Go away,” I grumble, looking down so I don’t have to see the way his blue eyes are staring me down, making me lose the little bit of sense I have left.
“I’ll see you soon.” He chuckles and I wave him away without raising my eyes.
I know he’s gone when one of the other nurses, I think her name is Jane, saddles up next to me. “Looks like you caught the attention of the hottest bachelor at the Amity Fire Department.”
“Unfortunately, I’ve had his attention for a long time,” I mumble without thinking.
I look at her and she’s clearly just waiting for me to continue.
“Long story, maybe another time. I don’t want to ruffle the feathers of any of his conquests here,” I scoff.
“Many have tried, I don’t know how many have succeeded.” She shrugs.
“He’s not picky. I’m sure they’ve all succeeded.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure. Everything is not always what it seems,” she says ominously.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure my man whore of an ex-boyfriend is exactly what he seems.”
She just continues to slide away, and I shake my head on a laugh.
This is the first night I don’t struggle with the 3:00 a.m. crash because my mind is playing the sight of Parker on a constant loop.
Even as I try to distract myself by thinking of anything else, I can’t shake the thoughts away.
I know I just need to get home, see Aaron, and sleep for seven to ten business days.
Maybe that would erase Parker from my memories.
I thought that would be the case after years apart, but all it took was one look at him in his element and I feel like any progress I made has been erased. Being around him all the time has not helped, and I have a feeling it’s only going to get worse.