CHAPTER 2
The Las Vegas airport buzzed with movement as the sounds of slot machines mingled with the noise of the crowd—a fitting backdrop to the chaos still swirling in Beth’s mind.
She tugged her carry-on behind her, trailing just a few steps behind Bryce and their co-worker, Dr. Eric Sheppard, as they made their way through security.
The medical conference had been informative—at least, the parts she attended. It was supposed to be a quick professional getaway: she would learn a few things, earn some continuing education credits, and maybe enjoy a few dinners out. But clearly, Vegas had other plans.
Only two nurses from Penrose Hospital had been selected to attend, which left more than a few people disappointed—and at least one person outright furious. Crystal had taken the exclusion personally. Her passive-aggressive jabs during shift changes had been impossible to miss.
Beth had quietly dreaded the idea that Bryce and Crystal might be a thing. He seemed… decent beneath the cocky exterior. Crystal, on the other hand, could be outright mean when things didn’t go her way.
Finding out there wasn’t anything real between them shouldn’t have mattered—but it did.
The other nurse chosen—Sharon, from pediatrics—had brought her husband and made it clear she wasn’t up for group outings. That left Beth with the guys. Harmless, she’d told herself at the time.
Now, she could barely look at them without her stomach flipping.
Once inside airport security, Beth left her bag with Bryce and Eric and slipped away to find some peace and quiet to call her mom. While there wasn’t a quiet corner in the Harry Reid International Airport, there was peace in distancing herself from Bryce.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Mama.”
“Hi, honey! Are you home from the medical convention already?”
“Not yet. We just got to the airport and have a bit before our flight leaves. Will you and Daddy be around tonight, or does he have a night class?”
“Your dad’s not teaching any night classes at the university this semester, but your sister called. She wants us to meet her new boyfriend.”
“Who is Lynn dating now? Last week when I talked to her, she had sworn off men for the next year—at least.”
“Yes, yes, she told us that too, but you know how she is. Do you want to come with us? We’re meeting them in Castle Rock. It’s halfway so none of us have to drive too far.”
“No, if Lynn wanted me there, she would’ve called. It’s not like she’s shy about telling us what she wants. If it’s not too late, can I come by after you get home?”
“Of course. I’ll call you when we leave the restaurant. Are you okay?”
“I have something I want to talk to you both about... but I want to do it in person. I’m not sure how to explain it, or how you’ll react. I just need to talk it through with you.”
“I’ll have coffee and dessert waiting. You know your father and I are here to help however we can.”
“I know. Thanks, Mama.”
“I’ll be praying you find the words. I love you.”
“Love you too. Bye.”
Beth ended the call and leaned against the wall, pressing her fingers into the back of her neck.
Everything hurt—her head, her heart, her pride.
She drew in a shaky breath, her long frame sagging under the weight of it all.
At five-foot-ten, she usually carried herself with the posture of a runner—shoulders back, always in motion.
But today, even standing still felt like too much.
A few strands of her raven hair slipped forward as she tilted her head, trying to stretch out the tension. Her golden skin tone looked washed out in the hallway light, and the faint circles under her sapphire eyes betrayed the kind of night she wasn’t ready to admit she’d had.
Nothing felt settled. Every movement was too loud, too bright, too fast.
She pressed her palms flat against the cool wall and closed her eyes, trying to breathe through the chaos clawing at her chest.
She hadn’t even told her mom—not yet. But just hearing her voice had nearly cracked something open inside.
How do I explain this? How do I confess to the people who raised me to be steady, faithful, thoughtful—that I tossed all of it aside in one tequila-soaked night?
By the window, Bryce and Eric were talking. They were close enough that she could watch them, but far enough that she couldn’t hear a word. She hugged her arms around herself, fingers digging into her sides. They’d agreed that Bryce would try to gauge how much Eric remembered. Hopefully, not much.
Beth didn’t want to join them. She didn’t want to be here at all. Her muscles ached, her head throbbed, and her body hurt in unfamiliar places. She felt like a guest in her own body, as if her soul hadn’t caught up yet with whatever she had done.
You’re okay. You just need to get through today.
The phrase came on repeat, quiet and mechanical and something to hold onto.
Her mom had said she’d pray. Beth should too. Yet the words felt stuck in her head, like she couldn’t quite reach them. She believed God was in control, but right now, He felt so far away.
Still, she knew if she didn’t hold it together—if she didn’t smile and keep her voice steady—Eric would notice. Questions were not something she could handle. Not today.
With a quiet breath, she pushed off the wall and walked toward them. Bryce glanced at her, something unreadable flickering in his eyes before he slipped away, heading toward the restroom. “You looked a little upset over there. Everything okay?” Eric asked, as Beth sat across from him.
“Oh, that? Just family stuff. My sister’s dating someone new and we don’t know anything about him.”
Beth latched on to the only part of the conversation with her mom that she could share without lying. It wasn’t the whole truth, but it was true enough—and it explained why she might look upset without opening the door to everything she was really feeling.
“I didn’t know you had a sister. Older or younger?”
“Younger. By five years.”
“So how old does that make her—if you don’t mind me asking? I guess I just realized how little I know about you after two years of working together.”
“Three years,” Beth corrected, breaking into a smile for the first time all day.
“Three? Well, that proves my point.”
“It’s because you’re a doctor,” she teased. “Isn’t it part of the doctor code to flirt with all the nurses while never making time for personal conversations?”
Bryce rejoined them just in time to catch that last line. Eric grinned and leaned in. “This sounds fascinating. Please, Nurse Stoner, do elaborate.”
“Being a doctor is exactly why you don’t know anything about me.
If you were another nurse—or even a hospital staff member—you’d spend more time talking to nurses than asking them out or giving them orders.
It’s part of the code: minimal conversation, maximum charm.
That’s why you know diddly squat about Elizabeth Jean Stoner. ”
She leaned back, feigning smugness, and pretended to file her nails. It was nice finding comfort in acting normal.
Eric laughed. “You’re on to something. They should include that in the Hippocratic Oath: flirt with all female staff—nurses, medics, receptionists, even valet drivers. Think of the possibilities!”
He stood, smoothing his shirt with exaggerated flair.
“Speaking of possibilities—check out the blonde at the coffee kiosk. I’ll be back before you miss me.”
Tossing them a grin, he strolled off like he didn’t have a care in the world.
Beth laughed despite herself.
“While you were on the phone,” Bryce said, leaning closer, “Eric apologized for ditching us last night. Apparently, he had a great time with a blonde. He doesn’t know anything because he left before our nuptials.”
Beth exhaled, her shoulders sagging. “That’s good news.”
Yet, somehow, it didn’t feel good. The words rang hollow in her own ears, dragging her right back to this morning. Her stomach clenched.
Around them, the airport was full—families, business travelers, announcements blaring overhead—but it all faded into white noise. Sitting there with Bryce, she felt utterly exposed.
She wasn’t alone in the literal sense, but emotionally she might as well have been the only person on the planet.
She wrapped her arms tighter around herself.
Being with Bryce felt like sitting across from a walking, breathing reminder of one giant mistake.
The worst part? He didn’t look guilty. He looked calm, maybe even concerned, for her.
The weight of that, of everything, made her skin itch with discomfort as she avoided looking at him.
“Lizzy, if you won’t even look at me, people are going to get suspicious.”
Her eyes flicked to his and then away again. She still didn’t pick up on the nickname he’d been calling her all day.
“You’re right, but I’m still too embarrassed. Besides, we aren’t on rotation together until next week. I’ll get it together by then.”
“You don’t have anything to be emba—”
“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN COURTESY BOARDING FOR FLIGHT 791 WITH NONSTOP SERVICE TO DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. WITH CONTINUING SERVICE TO COLORADO SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. PASSENGERS TRAVELING WITH SMALL CHILDREN OR NEEDING EXTRA TIME MAY NOW BOARD.”
“Time to go!” Beth grabbed her bag and hurried toward the gate. Bryce didn’t stop her. She didn’t know that during check-in he had given up his first-class ticket to ensure he’d be seated next to her on the flight.
He waited until pre-boarding finished and Eric returned to grab his things. When the gate agent called for first class, Eric turned to Bryce with a puzzled look.
“Aren’t you boarding now?”
Bryce shook his head casually. “I’m on the waitlist. Go ahead—I’ll see you on the plane.”
Eric shrugged and moved forward, still looking mildly confused. Bryce stayed put, calm on the outside, even though his mind was reeling.