Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 42745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 142(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 142(@300wpm)
I take a few deep breaths, grab my coat, and walk out of my office.
By the time I step into the operating room, I’ve pushed everything down where it belongs. Thankfully, I’ve done this so many times that the procedure has become routine.
For almost two hours, I get to be exactly what everyone in that room expects me to be. Calm and controlled. It isn’t until I’m out of surgery and heading toward the cafeteria that everything comes rushing back.
Aria.
I pull my phone from my pocket and turn it on, hoping there’s a text, a missed call, anything from her, but there’s nothing. I type out a message anyway.
Hey. I’m just thinking of you. Love you.
I stare at the screen for a few seconds after I send it, hoping she’ll answer. When she doesn’t, I shove the phone back into my pocket and head into the cafeteria.
I’ll grab sandwiches for both of us and bring lunch to her office.. She might not want to see me, and I probably deserve that, but I need to try.
I know I can’t fix us, but I have to know she’s okay.
I’m paying for two sandwiches when Nurse Jenner appears beside me and reaches for one.
“Oh, thanks,” she says, smiling as she takes it. “That’ll save us some time. Do you want to meet down here or in your office?”
I stare at her for half a second before it hits me.
Fuck. I forgot I agreed to talk to her about the continuing education programs.
The sandwich was for Aria. Everything in me wants to take it back and tell Miss Jenner this can wait, but the chief of medicine has been pushing hard for participation. More nurses in the program means more funding, and we need that.
Still, there’s no way in hell I’m taking this conversation to my office. “Here is fine.”
I gesture toward a table in the center of the cafeteria, but she points to one near the edge. “It’ll be quieter over there.”
I shake my head and sit down at the table I chose. “This is good.”
Her smile slips for a second before she sits across from me.
I pull a notepad from my coat pocket and click my pen. “All right. There are a few options. Which programs are you considering?”
Miss Jenner takes her time unwrapping the sandwich and fixing her plate. She takes a bite, then laughs softly like I said something funny. I didn’t. She glances around the cafeteria before she starts talking about the programs. I try to listen, but sitting here with her is the last thing I want to be doing. I want to be with my wife.
Miss Jenner lists the pros and cons of each option, and I jot down notes while forcing myself to eat. If I can get her to commit, maybe she’ll convince some of the other nurses to do the same. Then the chief might finally get off my back, and the hospital will have enough staff that I won’t always be the one getting called in or staying late.
My phone sits beside my tray with the screen up, and I glance at it again.
Still nothing.
Then I look at the message I sent and see that Aria read it.
My stomach drops. She saw the text and didn’t respond. I’m losing my wife.
CHAPTER 4
ARIA
I walk to the desk and hand Cathy a file folder. “Can you please file these for me?”
Cathy looks up at me with wide eyes. “Of course.” Then she elbows the woman standing beside her. “Tell her.”
I look between the two of them, already knowing I’m not going to like this.
Cathy has worked with me for two years, and somewhere along the way, she became more than just someone I work with. She’s my friend. Rachel is new. She’s only been here a few weeks, but she’s always been nice.
Right now, she looks like she wishes she was anywhere else.
“Okay,” I say, leaning against the counter. “What is it? What do you have to tell me?”
Cathy nudges Rachel again. “Tell her.”
Rachel lets out a breath and twists her hands together. “I was just coming back from the cafeteria, and I, uh… I saw your husband.”
I stare at her, waiting for her to finish.
Everyone in this hospital knows Dr. Penn Brody. He’s one of the best surgeons here, and people know he works too much. I’ve never talked to Rachel about Penn, but obviously she knows I’m his wife.
“Right,” I say, trying to keep my voice light. “He works here, so it makes sense that he’d be eating in the cafeteria.”
He sent me a text a little while ago, and I still haven’t answered. I’m not even sure what I would say to him.
Cathy gives Rachel another look, and my stomach tightens. “Okay. What is it?”
Rachel clears her throat. “I’m not trying to start anything, but he’s eating with Nicole Jenner. I know I’m new here, but I’ve already heard about her reputation. I just thought…” She looks at Cathy and then back at me. “We thought you would want to know.”