Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Sloan
Past
My dream career has always been to become a nurse practitioner. My mother had a similar dream but never followed through because the men in our family held her back.
Over the last several years I have studied tirelessly, put in the clinical hours, worked extra shifts and overtime so I could apply to multiple NP programs. I have been waiting for an acceptance letter for what feels like forever and the moment’s finally here.
I send up a quick prayer to the universe hoping I’m accepted but I feel two sets of eyes boring into me as I open one of my letters.
“Soooo…” Kailey and Maria look at me with hearts in their eyes.
“Soooo…” I offer, pretending I have no idea what they want to talk about.
I close the envelope and hide it.
“Girl! Spill,” they squeal.
“Spill what exactly?” I smirk, trying to contain my giggles.
“Oh my gosh. Seriously. Don’t make us beg,” Kailey demands excitedly.
“Spill the tea about your date with Silver Daddy,” Maria almost yells at me.
“Okay. Okay,” I say with a chuckle. “It was fine.”
“Just. Fine?” They both give me side-eye.
I burst into a fit of giggles.
“Okay, it was better than fine.” I smirk.
“Dr. McAllister picked me up at my house. He opened the car door for me and even buckled my seat belt. James took me to Guilia for dinner and it was fantastic. The affogato gelato was out of this world. I had always wanted to go there,” I sigh in bliss.
I can still taste the cinnamon on my tongue.
“Ooooh, so it’s James now, is it?” Kailey smirks at me, giving me googly eyes.
“Ha-ha. Do you want all the details or not?”
“Go on…” Maria pushes.
“The whole time his entire focus was on me. I swear he was staring at me like he would prefer to eat me over the dessert. James asked me so many questions about myself. I’m so used to being the one asking all the questions.
It was nice to feel like someone was actually interested in getting to know me for once. ” I smile at the thought..
James made me feel so important. So heard. My skin tingled where his eyes roamed my body throughout the night.
“Soooo, has the celibacy finally come to an end?” Kailey asks with glee in her eyes.
“Not yet. He kissed me good night. His lips were so soft. He was a really good kisser but right as it started to pick up steam he pulled away. James said he didn’t want to move too quickly. He said and I quote, ‘I want to take my time with you.’ He was a total gentleman,” I say sweetly.
“I honestly thought he wasn’t interested after that but he sent me a dozen gorgeous, white roses to my house this morning.” I smile, thinking about how gorgeous the bouquet was. The vase holding the roses is so intricately designed.
“Ahhhh. How romantic. From where?” Maria swoons.
“I’m not sure. They were just on my front porch in a beautiful vase with a card,” I say, smiling softly.
“I don’t want to get my hopes up, but I think I’d like it if he invited me on a second date,” I sigh, contentedly.
“To breaking your streak of a lackluster love life,” Kailey hollers, lifting her iced coffee in the air.
“Ha-ha. I am still going to get my masters. That’s still my first priority,” I say chuckling.
“Here’s to living vicariously through you,” Maria adds, lifting hers in the air.
We all raise our iced coffees and cheer.
“Here’s to living!”
“Miss Archer. Ladies, what are we cheers-ing to this morning?” Dr. McAllister startles us, when he pokes his head into the nurses’ station.
“Just to having a good Monday,” I chirp. Hoping I’m not blushing as hard as I feel like I am.
“Cheers to that. Have a nice day, ladies,” James offers.
“Hey, Dr. McAllister, thank you.” I smile at him.
“Of course, Miss Archer.” Hes winks at me and walks out of the nurses’ station.
“He…” Maria begins to say, fanning herself.
“Is soooo dreamy,” Kailey finishes Maria’s sentence, swooning.
“Ha-ha. He is attractive, you guys.” I laugh at their shenanigans.
“Cheers to Silver Daddy!” they both yell out, causing all of us to burst out giggling.
“You guys kill me. Every. Time. We almost got busted.” My giggle turns into cackling.
“Soooo what were we opening?” Kailey eyes me skeptically and rips the envelope from under my keyboard. And I let her, because I’m so nervous I feel like I’m going to be sick.
Kailey and Maria stand in front me, as I sit in my chair. Kailey pulls the letter out of the envelope so slowly. Torturing me. I hold my breath as I wait for her to read it. I stare at her, trying to read her face first.
“You got into Harvard, Reese’s Pieces!” Kailey and Maria scream in unison pulling me out of my chair into a hug.
I got in! My heart is so full.