Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Iwake up with a headache that makes me want to crack my skull in half. Or maybe it’s already cracked in half with how it’s pounding.
By the time I fell asleep last night, my mind had volleyed the thought of two men back and forth more times than I should probably admit.
I kept thinking about Liam and how sweet he’d been.
On paper, he’s a catch. Heck, in person he’s a catch too.
There should be more attraction to him on my part, but I can’t help but to feel closed off to the idea of him.
He’d texted me shortly after parting ways to make sure I got home safely. The gesture was sweet, and not completely unexpected considering how he immediately sprung into action with the drink situation earlier.
We’d texted for a while before he finally ended the conversation, needing to wake up early for his conference.
Once my phone was plugged in, I turned over on my side and began to stew in silence.
Memories of how Lincoln stared at me when he saw me with Liam—the unreadable look on his face. Was it a look of indifference? Or annoyance?
Logically, I know Lincoln feels nothing for me. He tolerates me, at best. I’m the woman he can’t seem to shake at work, or in his personal life. And despite my attraction to him, and my preference for driving him insane while at the hospital, I know that’s where our relationship—friendship—ends.
At times, the word friendship can be interpreted in different manners, too.
Not really friends.
Best friends.
Friends with benefits.
God, I wish.
We’re hardly friends at all.
It took a while before my brain settled down and I was able to fall asleep, and now that I’m awake, headache in tow, my thoughts have picked up right where they left off.
Patting my nightstand until my fingers reach my phone, I pull it off the charger and squint to look at it, pulling up Zee’s contact to do some recon.
Gen: Caroling was fun. What’d everyone think of Liam?
My bed shakes as Pebbles rolls over, her long limbs sticking straight in the air as she settles on her back.
LOVED him! Miller and I both agree you need to date him.
I know better than to ask what Lincoln thinks of him, but it crosses my mind. Luckily, I don’t need to.
It seemed like Lincoln’s date didn’t go as well as yours did. Ashlee had the personality of a sardine. He was in a pissy mood the second we were ready to carol.
Interesting…
I can’t date him, he lives in Northern California.
So there’s these really great methods of transportation called airplanes…
I’m not a long distance kind of gal.
We stop texting, but I know it won’t be the end of our conversation.
Forcing myself to get out of bed, I pad over to my window, pushing open the curtains. The sky is dark despite it being mid-morning, storm clouds covering every square inch of blue. Spinning on my heel, I walk back over and pick up my phone, toggling over to the weather app.
One hundred percent chance of rain, and is that…snow?
That can’t be right.
In disbelief, I open a different weather app on my phone, convinced the first one is wrong, but sure enough, small little snowflakes illustrate this app as well.
I’ll believe it when I see it.
With a stretch, I throw my phone back onto my bed, accidentally hitting Pebbles in the paw when I do. She groans in protest.
“Sorry, Princess Pebbles, I didn’t mean to!” The baby voice is thick as I look at my dog from across the room, my lower lip worried as though she completely understands my words and mannerisms. Nevertheless, my apology seems to work, and she makes herself comfortable again.
When I’m dressed in my favorite pair of yoga pants and oversized Christmas sweatshirt, with fuzzy socks tugged up to my knees and my hair piled on top of my head in a messy bun, I leave the room with only one ambition: coffee.
The rest of my apartment is cool, and I shiver, making a pit stop to crank up the heater before finally indulging in a steaming hot cup of Christmas cheer. The gingerbread creamer today has me moaning a happy hum as I take a sip and melt onto my couch.
It’s too quiet in my house as I sit, looking out the window again and taking in my view of San Diego.
I love living here. There’s so much to do year-round, and so many opportunities at every turn.
For a fleeting moment, I’d thought about leaving—uprooting myself, and starting over somewhere fresh, especially when I finished nursing school—but I couldn’t picture myself anywhere else.
My mug is almost empty when my phone starts beeping repeatedly from my bedroom, notifications dinging as my phone receives text after text.
Part of me wants to ignore it and stay unplugged for a little longer, but a sinking feeling in my gut spurs me to stand.
I’ve barely made it back through the threshold of my bedroom when the phone begins to ring.
The name of the hospital’s chief, Rebecca Grady, flashes across my screen.
This can’t be good.
Doctor Grady only calls when there’s a staffing emergency, especially when she knows it’s someone's day off.
“Hey, Chief!” I keep my tone chipper, hoping my instincts are off and I’m not being called in.
She could be calling about anything—a paperwork error, a question…
wanting recommendations for a book. The sky’s the limit, honestly, but I know I’m too optimistic.
I should be preparing myself for the worst-case scenario.
No more days off for me.
“Hey, Genesis,” she greets bleakly. I resist the urge to sigh.
“I’m going to need you to be on call from now until when your shift starts tomorrow.
You know I wouldn’t request this unless it was necessary, but with the winter storm rolling in, I want us to be all hands on deck and prepared for anything.
It’s been a long time since snow’s been forecasted for San Diego. ”
“Do you actually think we’ll get snow?” It’s been decades, so naturally, I find it hard to believe.
“Hard to tell, but I’ve been watching all the weather reports and checking the apps and they all say the same. Regardless, the rain should be hitting within the hour, and you know people in California are awful at driving in the rain. We’re going to need the extra manpower.”
“You’re right about that. I completely understand.
” Although as I say the words, my heart sinks.
I’m supposed to have family dinner tonight, and I haven’t had the chance to see my whole family in weeks.
I really don’t want to miss it, or be called out halfway, but I know when it comes to my job, I have to pay my dues and earn seniority.
“Thanks, Gen. I knew I could count on you. Try to enjoy your day, just keep your phone on you.”
“Will do! And let’s hope for the sun!”
She laughs, then hangs up without another word.
Groaning, I sink back down onto my bed and let my eyes shut. Ten minutes to sit, then I’ll prepare everything I need for work, so I’m ready to go if I get called in. Last time this happened, I had to be there within an hour.
Let’s hope that doesn't happen again.
“Why the hell do you always look like you just stepped off Santa's sleigh?” Lincoln eyes me with a look of distaste as I fly out of the elevator. He’s standing at the nurses’ station, talking to Olivia, a nurse who’s around my age.
I’m in my scrub pants, but still rocking my light up holiday sweater after realizing I forgot the long-sleeve shirt I like to layer under my scrub top.
Thankfully, I keep a few extra in my locker at work, which is where I’m heading now.
Breezing past him, I shout from over my shoulder, “I don’t need your sass right now, Doctor Stokes. I’ve got a mom at nine centimeters waiting for another nurse.”
The nurses’ locker room is empty when I push my way through the heavy door, but I notice the sound of it shutting takes a few seconds longer than it should.
Ignoring the footsteps behind me as they draw closer, I enter my combination, disengaging the lock quickly and easily locating my white long-sleeve.
The exasperated huff behind me lets me know exactly who’s followed me in here. “It’s unprofessional for patients to see you in plain clothes.”
“I thought my clothes were too festive? Now they’re plain?” I quip, slamming the locker closed. Spinning the lock, I quirk a brow. “Are you going to just stand here while I change, or?”
Lincoln sends me a glare. “First off, I’m a doctor. You don’t have anything I haven’t seen before, Genesis—”
I feign a gasp. “Nurse Nikolaou, Doctor. I thought we were keeping things professional.”
“Nurse Nikolaou,” he repeats through gritted teeth. “Second, don’t flatter yourself.”
Turning, he faces the lockers opposite of mine, folding his arms over his chest.
I silently chuckle and pull my sweater overhead. He doesn’t need to know I have a tank top underneath.
Tugging the long-sleeve on, followed by my scrub top, I dress quickly, then lean against the lockers. “Was there something you needed, Doctor?”
He sneaks a glance—well, a glare—over his shoulder at me. When he sees I’m dressed, he rolls his eyes and faces me again. “Yeah, I...” His voice trails off and another crease divots between his brows. “You know what? Never mind.”
“Aw, Lincoln, don’t get all flustered!” I call out to him as he hustles away.
But he surprises me by stopping, although he doesn’t turn around.
And I’m not sure why I’m compelled to keep poking the bear, but I do.
“I think you just need a little holiday cheer in your life. Want me to go get you a sweater?”
My heart rate increases as I wait for his response, but it doesn’t come. Instead, he shakes his head and leaves me standing in the locker room alone.
Ten minutes later, I’m brushing sweaty tendrils of golden-hued hair off my patient's forehead with one hand, while she squeezes the life out of my other. “You’ve got this, Mama! Breathe through it. Doctor Newhall should be here any second.”
Incoherent cries fly from her as she squeezes her eyes shut. “I need to push!”
I send a nervous glance to a nurse with far more experience than me. She nods once. Turning my attention back to the patient, I gently squeeze her hand. “Okay, let’s have a baby then! I want you to push when I tell you to. Are you ready?”
Adrenaline courses through my veins, excitement overtaking me. Although I’m not entirely sure what area I want to specialize in, I’m never disappointed when the floater pool brings me up to labor and delivery.
With another squeeze of the mom's hand, I count backward from three and settle in to help bring a little miracle into the world.