16. Addie
ADDIE
A ddie leaned back in her seat, staring at the space on her desk where her phone had been just moments ago. She’d turned down Giselle’s coffee invitation that afternoon, even though she’d wanted to say yes.
She hadn’t felt a pull toward anyone like this in years, and it had come with an intensity she hadn’t been prepared for, leaving her battling between her growing attraction and the need to stay cautious, for her own sake and Sophie’s.
The kisses were one thing—brief, undeniable moments that deepened a connection Addie didn’t quite know how to name. But a coffee date? That felt different. The idea of letting herself feel more than desire stirred a hesitation that even her quiet yearning for Giselle couldn’t quell.
Picking up her phone again, she quickly dialed Alex and requested a pick-up. She gathered her things, her mind lingering on those glances she’d shared with Giselle, the brief touches, the way Giselle’s face softened when she thought no one was watching.
A part of Addie wanted to know where this could lead, but another part held back. She couldn’t risk bringing someone so close to her, not unless she knew she could trust them.
Soon enough, her car pulled up and she slipped into the backseat, sinking into the soft leather. Alex nodded in the rearview mirror. “Heading home, ma’am?”
“Yes, thank you,” she replied.
As they drove through the city, Addie’s thoughts wandered back to Sophie, to the quiet mornings spent at the breakfast table, the laughter filling the kitchen when Sophie recounted her school stories, her animated hands waving as she described every detail.
Addie couldn’t afford to risk Sophie’s happiness for something she wasn’t certain of. Sophie had never seen her in a relationship with someone. And as much as Addie wanted to explore what was happening with Giselle, she didn’t want Sophie to get attached to someone who was just going to leave.
The car pulled up in front of her house and she stepped out, nodding a quick thanks to Alex. She unlocked the door and stepped inside, the quiet of her home wrapping around her as she shut the door.
She kicked off her shoes by the entryway, crossing through the hallway with a faint, lingering ache in her chest.
It was still early afternoon; Sophie would be at school for another hour. For a moment, Addie hesitated in the hallway, the pull of her thoughts still caught between what was and what might be. Finally, she pushed herself forward and stepped into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.
Addie turned on the shower and stepped into the warm stream as she let the day’s events wash over her. The memory of Giselle, the coffee invitation she’d turned down, and those quiet, unexpected moments between them ran through her mind, as vivid as if they’d just happened seconds ago.
She closed her eyes, allowing herself to recall every detail of their encounters. There was something in the way Giselle’s gaze lingered that made Addie feel seen in a way she hadn’t in so long.
A part of her wished she’d accepted that coffee invitation. Being with Giselle—whether in the middle of a hectic surgery or an unexpected conversation—left her with a sense of calm, a subtle warmth.
She’d resisted the idea of falling for anyone, especially with Sophie in her life. But with Giselle, it felt harder and harder to convince herself that wasn’t exactly what she wanted.
She sighed, stepping out of the shower and wrapping herself in a towel. She caught her reflection briefly in the mirror and gave herself a small, resigned smile before heading to the bedroom to get dressed.
As she made her way to the living room, Addie heard the sound of a car pulling up outside. She glanced through the window and saw Alex arriving with Sophie in the backseat .
Opening the front door, she stepped outside as Sophie got out of the car and ran to her with a wide grin.
“Mom!” Sophie’s laughter was contagious as her arms wrapped around Addie in a quick hug.
“Hey, sweetheart. How was your day?”
“Good! Natalie and I played together all afternoon,” Sophie said, her words rushing out with excitement.
Addie chuckled, listening to Sophie’s stories as they headed inside together. The evening passed in a comforting blur of homework, dinner, and bedtime routines, though Giselle’s image lingered in Addie’s mind and a quiet anticipation settled in. Tomorrow , she thought. I’ll see her tomorrow.
The next morning came quickly, and Addie watched as Alex pulled up to drop Sophie off at school before taking her to the hospital. As she walked through the familiar hallways, her gaze instinctively searched for any sign of Giselle, but there was nothing.
Settling into her office, she went over her schedule, noting with a slight disappointment that she wasn’t paired with Giselle that day. She clicked through the patient charts, skimming details and preparing herself for the cases ahead, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the other surgeon.
A sudden voice interrupted her. “Giselle isn’t in today,” Madeline said, pausing by Addie’s desk with a knowing smile.
Addie glanced up, her heart sinking slightly at the news. “Oh,” she replied, keeping her tone casual.
“You know, I heard a few things,” Madeline added, leaning in conspiratorially. “Did you know Giselle’s parents are big-time doctors? She practically grew up in hospitals, or so they say. That’s part of why she transferred here.”
Addie forced a smile, not wanting to indulge in the gossip. “Thanks, Madeline, but I’d rather focus on the surgery today.”
Madeline raised an eyebrow, her grin unfazed. “Fair enough, though if you ever want to know more, you know where to find me.” She gave Addie a playful wink before walking off, leaving Addie with her conflicted thoughts .
In truth, she was curious. She wanted to know everything about Giselle—why she’d come here, what made her so guarded, and if there was something real between them or if it was just a fleeting connection. But the professionalism she’d promised herself to maintain kept her silent.
She shifted her attention back to the charts in front of her, even as her thoughts lingered on Giselle.
“Good morning.”
Addie turned, her heart giving a small leap as she heard Giselle’s voice behind her. There she was, calm and composed as always, with an unexpected warmth in her eyes.
“Giselle,” Addie managed, keeping her excitement in check. “I didn’t think you’d be in today.”
Giselle stepped closer, a slight smile tugging at her lips. “I was away for a bit, but I’m back now. You were talking about a case?”
Addie nodded, pulling the chart from her desk as she began to explain the details. “Yes, it’s a complex one—a high-risk surgery with a few variables we’re still not sure about. The patient’s vitals have been unstable. ”
Madeline reappeared in the hallway, observing them with a knowing grin. “Well, aren’t we looking cozy this morning?” she teased, her gaze flicking between Addie and Giselle.
Addie forced a polite smile. “Madeline, if you’d excuse us, we have work to do.”
Madeline raised her hands in mock surrender, smirking. “Alright, alright. Don’t mind me.” She shot Giselle a playful wink before walking away, leaving them alone.
Giselle cleared her throat, her gaze returning to the chart. “Let’s ignore her. You were talking about the surgery?”
“Yes, right,” Addie said, relieved to refocus on the task. “I thought about adjusting the plan. We could improve the stability if we monitor the vitals closely, but it’s risky.”
Giselle nodded thoughtfully as she studied the notes. “You’re right. The adjustments could work, but we’ll have to be careful.”
Addie glanced at Giselle, warmth spreading in her chest at the concentration on her face.
It was these moments, the quiet focus they shared, that made her wonder if there was more here than she’d first thought.
She was drawn to Giselle, no doubt about it, but that’s not where their connection ended.
As their hands brushed over the chart, Addie felt a jolt of electricity. She glanced up, meeting Giselle’s gaze. There was a flicker of something in her eyes—an invitation, perhaps, or a shared understanding.
“Addie.” Giselle’s voice was barely a whisper, but the softness in it held Addie’s attention.
Addie’s heart raced, her pulse quickening as she leaned in. Giselle closed the distance, their lips meeting in a gentle, unspoken promise. The kiss was soft, lingering just enough to leave an impression.
Giselle pulled back, her gaze steady, though her expression held a hint of reluctance.
“Let’s get on with the surgery,” Addie said.
“Right.”
The rest of Addie’s day felt like it stretched far longer than usual.
After the surgery, the high-intensity focus the procedure demanded left her needing a moment to breathe, collect herself, and reset. Once she finished scrubbing out, she made her way to the cafeteria for a much-needed break.
The faint scent of coffee drifted through the air, comforting in its familiarity, as she ordered a simple meal, needing something to ground herself after the flurry of medical procedures.
She found an empty seat near Sarah and a few other nurses she recognized. They were deep in conversation, but as she joined them their voices quieted, their eyes darting between her and the door as if anticipating something.
Addie took a steady breath, ignoring the side glances. She was here for a quiet meal, and she wasn’t about to let cafeteria gossip disrupt that.
She hadn’t even taken her first bite when the door opened and Giselle walked in, scanning the room briefly before heading to the coffee station.
Addie’s eyes lifted instinctively, their gazes meeting, and for a brief moment, Giselle’s usual stoic expression softened into a small smile as she nodded in Addie’s direction. It was subtle, almost reserved, but Addie caught it, and something inside her warmed.
Then, just as quickly, Giselle took her coffee and exited the cafeteria without another look back.
Sarah glanced at Addie with a smirk, though she didn’t say a word. Addie raised an eyebrow. “Alright. What’s that look for?”
Sarah shrugged, trying to hold back a grin. “Nothing, really. She’s just beautiful, that’s all.”
Addie fought to keep her expression remain neutral, though her stomach flipped slightly. “Is that all?” she asked. She could sense the curiosity radiating off of Sarah and the other nurses.
Sarah’s smirk didn’t waver. “Okay, okay. Maybe there’s a little more to it.” She leaned in. “It’s just that—well, don’t tell me you haven’t noticed that the whole hospital’s been watching this. The ice queen is finally warming up to someone. To you .” Her eyes sparkled, almost teasingly.
Addie’s face softened, but she shook her head.
“Let’s not call her that,” she said simply, aware of how that label had never quite fit Giselle, even if others seemed convinced it did. The nickname didn’t capture her in the slightest, and it felt wrong to hear it.
Sarah looked genuinely taken aback, and the other nurses quickly murmured their apologies. “Fair point, Addie,” Sarah said, glancing down. “I didn’t mean anything by it. But honestly, it’s Phoenix Ridge.”
“Phoenix Ridge?” Addie repeated, not sure where this was going.
“Yeah, this place…I don’t know, it’s like it has this way of bringing people together.
My parents, for one.” She gave her a small smile.
“They met here, and now they’ve been together for twenty years.
They had nothing before they met. My mom…
she’d just gone through a rough time, and they bumped into each other randomly at the bar on Highland.
They both say it was like magic, you know? ”
Addie blinked, slightly taken aback. It sounded enough like her own moms’ story that it shifted something in her understanding of Phoenix Ridge. She hadn’t thought much about the town’s reputation, or this supposed “magic” it held for others.
Sarah’s eyes held a soft warmth as she continued, “Look, I’m not saying everyone believes it. But Phoenix Ridge? It’s different. It brings people together.”
Addie gave a small chuckle. “I don’t know about magic, Sarah. I just know we’re here to do our work and help people.”
Sarah shrugged, but there was a knowing look in her eyes, as if she didn’t quite believe Addie’s attempt to brush it off.
“Sure, if you say so.”
Addie offered a polite smile, excusing herself as she took her tray and stood, trying to ignore the nagging feeling Sarah’s words left behind.
She didn’t believe in magic, but the way she felt around Giselle—the quiet exchanges, the moments of warmth that contradicted every story she’d heard about Giselle’s icy persona—stirred something she couldn’t quite dismiss.
Addie sighed. She’d figure this out, somehow.