CHAPTER 9 #2
“We’re already short-staffed. I’m staying.”
“No. Nurse Ontario offered to cover your shift. You’re going home.”
Beth crossed her arms. “You can’t just order me around.”
“Actually, I can,” Bryce said, meeting her eyes briefly. “We’ll discuss this once I’m done threading a needle through your face.”
“Fine.” Her glare could’ve scorched paint.
Kim walked in, brows lifting. “Oh no, Beth. Stitches?”
Beth gave a weak smile. “Told you Fred had it in for me. I never should’ve told you in front of him that I was thinking of getting a new car.”
“Fred?” Bryce asked, confused. Beth and Kim burst into laughter.
Bryce’s smile faltered as he watched them—watched her. The shock of seeing her bleeding, the inside joke about some mystery man, and the fact they’d barely seen each other since Sunday twisted something in his chest. He wasn’t used to this. An unsettled feeling. The ache of being on the outside.
“Kim, I’m keeping you on. Nurse Stoner is going home.”
Kim raised a brow, amused. Beth looked livid.
“That won’t be necessary, Doctor Jensen,” Beth snapped. “When you said we’d discuss it when you were done, I didn’t realize the discussion was between you and your ego.”
“I meant you and me.” His voice lowered a notch. “But since you won’t be logical, I made the call. You’re sick. You shouldn’t be here.”
“Right. Because only healthy people should be in hospitals.”
“If they’re staff? Yes. Want me to admit you as a patient?”
Kim leaned against the counter, arms folded, clearly enjoying the exchange. “I told him to keep me on, Beth.” Her voice was gentler now. “You look awful. Go home before Fred the Jeep finishes what it started.”
Beth frowned at her words and the way she emphasized her Jeep’s name.
Understanding washed over Bryce.
“You just got back from vacation, and I know you didn’t plan to spend your first days back working a double shift.” Beth argued.
Kim tilted her head with a grin.
“Go home and rest. You can help me unpack when I get off—and maybe let me in on whatever it is I walked in on just now.”
Beth blushed but nodded.
Bryce turned to Beth. “Do you have your keys?”
She patted her pocket. Kim hugged her and sneakily snagged them.
“Don’t let her drive,” Kim said, tossing the keys to Bryce.
Beth’s cry of outrage followed Kim out of the room.
Bryce toyed with the engraved keychain. Trying to think of a way to break the stony silence.
“I didn’t know you two lived together.”
“Yep. Almost six years now.”
“How did you meet?”
“On a mission’s trip. We were housed by the same family in Belize.”
“You’ve been to Belize?”
Bryce blinked in surprise, remembering that he’d mentioned his own trip there the previous Saturday.
“Yes, for a year.”
Beth’s voice was even, but her posture tensed. Still shaken from their earlier argument, she wasn’t sure she wanted to open that door right now.
Luckily, she didn’t have to.
“How’d the lady do? Does she get a sucker for being a good patient?” Eric strolled back into the room, completely oblivious to the tension he had just diffused.
“No.”
“YES.”
Bryce and Beth answered at the same time, drawing a laugh from Eric.
“Nurse Stoner is going home for the day. Can you wait with her until her ride comes?”
“Not a chance, Jensen. These are my only other pair of shoes. You get the honors.”
“You know I can’t. I’m covering as Chief until Dr. Gibson gets back.”
“Boys, I’m still in the room,” Beth interjected. “Don’t talk about me like I’m not here. I can take care of myself.”
“NO!” they said in unison.
“Besides, Dr. Gibson just walked in and was looking for Jensen. I’m sure you’ll be free in no time.” Eric winked at Beth and then added to Bryce, “If you value your shoes, grab a pair of operating room booties from the supply closet, man.”
As Eric left, Beth slid off the table, intent on leaving but immediately swayed. Bryce reached out, catching her by the waist before she could fall.
Without thought, he drew her gently against his chest, steadying her with both hands.
“You okay?” he asked, his voice low, close.
Beth nodded, though she wasn’t sure if the second wave of dizziness came from her injury—or the way his arms felt around her.
He didn’t let go right away. He held her close, cradled against his chest.
Then, with care, he helped her sit back on the table, his hand lingering lightly at her back, before encouraging her to lay down.
“I’ll find Gibson and come back for you. Don’t move, okay? Just lay here and rest.” His voice was husky as he brushed a loose hair from her face.
Beth gave a small nod and closed her eyes. Her thoughts were spinning even faster than the room.
She settled in, letting stillness wrap around her like the heated blanket Bryce draped over her before he left. The throbbing in her head pulsed with each heartbeat, but exhaustion tugged harder.
As her breathing slowed, her thoughts drifted—fragments of the morning tangled with the memory of his arms around her. The way his hand had brushed back her hair, so gently.
In the haze between sleep and pain, she imagined his touch lingering, his fingertips trailing down her cheek. His breath close. He leaned in, his forehead touching hers, lips just inches away—
“Lizzy,” his voice was soft, close, real. It was as though she could feel his touch.
“Wake up, sweetheart. It’s time to go home.”
Beth slowly opened her eyes and blinked up at Bryce, realizing it wasn’t a dream—he really was there.
Flushed from her dream, she accepted his help as she sat up and took the cup of water and pills he offered, swallowing them without asking what they were.
This time, she let him help her off the exam table and steady her until the room stopped spinning.
“You okay?” he asked.
At her nod, he reluctantly released her.
They didn’t speak as they left the ER, the silence stretching comfortably between them.
Bryce matched her slow pace, his hand steady at the small of her back as he guided her down the hallway toward the exit.
Neither of them noticed Crystal standing near the supply closet, paused mid-restock.
Her eyes followed them—watched the way Beth leaned into him, how Bryce kept glancing down like he was afraid she might disappear.
Crystal’s lips curved, but it wasn’t a smile.
Unaware of the eyes on them, they pushed through the doors into the employee lot. Exhaustion cloaked them both—his from the long, sleepless night working a double shift, hers from the dull, throbbing ache in her skull. Every step felt heavy.
When Beth stopped at her Jeep, Bryce said, “We’ll take my car. Do you need anything out of yours?”
Beth didn’t answer. She just leaned over the door, grabbed her makeup bag, and followed him to his silver Jetta. She sank into the passenger seat, buckled her seatbelt, and rested her aching head against the leather headrest.
As he started the engine, Bryce glanced over at her. “I’m sorry if I came across as high-handed and demanding in there.”
He reached over, his touch gentle along her hairline—careful to avoid the small swollen lump beneath the cut.
“No if about it. You did. You were also pushy, rude… and annoyingly right,” she admitted, though her tone didn’t quite match the complaint.
“Fine, I’m sorry for those too—except the part about being right.” Gripping the steering wheel, he looked over at her again. “My heart stopped when I saw blood running down your face.” His tone was softer now, too.
“Like I said before, it wasn’t that big of a deal.” Beth said with a shrug.
“If you don’t think seven stitches is a big deal, I’m afraid to ask what you do think qualifies.”
The rest of the drive passed in silence, with Beth quietly directing him through streets he didn’t know. He’d never been to her place before.
He parked where she told him, got out, and opened her door. The hallway inside was dim and narrow—he frowned. The place didn’t look especially safe.
As she headed for the stairs, he said, “Let’s take the elevator.”
“It’s been broken for about a year now.”
He reluctantly followed her up the stairs. At her door, Beth paused and waited while he retrieved the keys from his pocket. When Bryce tried to insert the key, the door opened.
“It wasn’t shut all the way. Wait here while I check it out,” Bryce said, stepping inside first.
“Don’t worry about it. I probably just didn’t pull it closed. I was in a hurry—especially the second time I left.”
Seeing the look on his face, Beth added, “You’d better get back to the hospital. I’m going to take a shower. Thanks for bringing me home.”
“Actually, since I covered for Gibson, he’s covering my shift. I’m at your disposal.”
“Oh…well, okay. You can stay if you want, but I need to shower. If you’re staying and want coffee, the filters are above the pot and the beans are in the freezer. If not…” she shrugged, “I’ll see you later.”
Beth turned and walked down the hall.