“Dr. Rosenberg,” I interrupted. “I really don’t think we should be—”

“I understand,” he said with a wink. That move would have made me giddy once. Now it made me want to cringe. “But guys talk. I consider you a friend. We’ve worked together almost two years now, and … I just don’t want to see you get hurt. Josh Avery has built quite the reputation in his short time here. Just … be careful. I care about you.”

I realized my mouth was hanging open, and I snapped it shut. Dr. Rosenberg had always been on a friendlier basis with me than the other nurses, but this didn’t feel friendly. “Thank you,” I said. I blinked and righted my posture as Deb joined us.

Dr. Rosenberg checked his watch. “Oops. I forgot a meeting. Enjoy your chicken, Hamata.” He stood, gathered his things, and left us alone.

Deb swallowed, clearly unsettled.

“What?” I asked.

“Ever notice that you’re the only nurse he calls by your first name?”

“Yeah? So?”

“Never mind,” she said, taking a bite. “It’s just that,” she continued with a mouthful, “he really seems to be interested in your new friendship with Josh, and he’s been chatty since your accident, and when you were brought in he …” She hesitated, and I raised my eyebrows. “He might have excused himself from the exam room because he was too upset.”

“Too upset? Are you serious?”

“He’s been weird. I think he’s realized he has feelings for you, and now you’re dating Josh.”

I rolled my eyes and sat back in my chair. “You are way off, Hamata. No reason to make things up for the sake of drama.”

She seemed hurt. “You know me better than that.”

“Maybe the accident did make him realize we’re good friends and close colleagues, and now that he knows I’m talking to Josh, he’s concerned. And he should be. Josh does have a reputation. Dr. Rosenberg has teenage daughters, Deb. He watches out for me. I think it’s nice.”

“You have him on a pedestal, and he’s going to fall on his ass and break your naïve little heart. But at least it will be amusing.”

A few more nurses and an MRI tech came in, and Deb shoved the last two bites of her lunch into her mouth. “Break’s over. Back to work.”

“Don’t share your theory with anyone, okay? Apparently, there is already talk about me.”

“That offends me, Avery. Seriously,” she said, walking out.

I stood alone, fidgeting. I’d never made Deb mad before. I didn’t know it was possible.

She popped her head back in. “Just kidding. I’m glad you said something. I was gonna tell everyone that Doc Rose wants to put you in stirrups and bang you until you scream Papa.”

“Hate you,” I said, following her out.

The rest of the day dragged on. Josh and Quinn brought a patient in once, but the moment Josh and I were both free to talk, he got another call.

He kissed me on the cheek before he left, starting a fury of chatter from the other nurses. The moment Ashton got wind of it, she was immediately too far inside my personal space.

Just after I finished giving report, she was twirling her hair, trying so hard to be casual. “So,” she said, a Cheshire grin on her face. “You and Josh.”

“No,” I replied.

“No? So it’s not true? He didn’t kiss you?”

“No,” I said again.

She sighed, relieved. “That’s good because, you know, we’ve been talking for several months, and I’d hate for you to have my sloppy seconds, if you know what I mean.”

“I mean no, I’m not discussing personal matters with you. And, I hate to break this to you, Ashton,” I said, scribbling on a chart. I slammed it shut and looked at her. “You were sloppy seconds. Every nurse in Philly who’s slept with Josh Avery is sloppy seconds.”

She puffed up and pursed her lips, her chubby cheeks reddening. “If you like him, I’m sorry. Josh is Josh. He is charismatic by nature, and it comes across as flirty. But we’ve been talking since he came here. You don’t have to be a jealous bitch about it.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Watch yourself, Ashton. You’re at work.”

“I’m your superior.”

“You still can’t call me a bitch at work.”

The ER doors slid open with a whoosh, and Ashton’s expression changed.

“Josh!” she said with a flustered smile, rocking back on her heels.

“Hey, Ashton.” He smiled down at me. “You ready?”

“Yeah, just let me finish up this last chart,” I said, pulling a large brown folder.

“Um …” Ashton began, fidgeting with her hair. “What’s going on?”

Josh didn’t flinch. “I’m taking Avery out tonight.”

Ashton blinked, her face taut. “What the hell do you mean you’re taking Avery out tonight? We were just talking about going out last night.”

Josh sighed. “No, you were talking about going out. I told you no.”

“You didn’t tell me about Avery,” she whined.

“Wow, this is getting too Days of Our Lives in here,” I said, shutting the chart. I looked at Josh. “Can we go?”

“Yep,” he said, putting his hand on the small of my back as we walked toward the locker room.

He stopped just outside while I went in to retrieve my purse and wash my hands. When I came out, Ashton was standing in front of him, tears in her eyes.

“Really?” I said to Josh.

“Carissa, I don’t know how more clearly to say it. I’ve been saying it for four months.”

“Saying what? I don’t understand.”

“It happened once. If I’d known you couldn’t let it go, it wouldn’t have happened at all. I’m just going to say this one last time: I’m not interested in a relationship with you. Please stop contacting me.”

Ashton puffed out her chest again, taken aback. Her mouth trembled, and then she glared at me before stomping off.

Josh raised his eyebrows and then formed his mouth in an O shape before blowing out. “She’s different.”

“Sounds like you broke her heart.”

“I told her before we went to her place—which is filthy and smells like baba ganoush, by the way—that I wasn’t looking for a relationship. She said she wasn’t, either.”

“No one has accused Ashton of being rational.”

“You’re rational, and sensible, and selective … I kind of like that about you.”

I chuckled. “That sounds so boring.”

“Definitely not boring,” he said, opening the passenger side door.

He drove us to an apartment building just three blocks from mine. When he shut off the engine, I reached for the lever but hesitated. “Is this your place?” I asked.

“It is. I just need to grab my wallet. I was in a hurry.” He flashed what I was sure was his most charming grin, and then he pushed out of the car and jogged around to my side, opening my door. “You don’t have to come in if it makes you uncomfortable.”

“Does your apartment smell like baba ganoush?” I asked.

He laughed. “No.”

He took my hand and held it until we reached the front stoop, seeming disappointed to let go. He started to use his key, but the door swung open.

“Oh!” a woman said. She wasn’t much younger than me, with a dirty blonde bob and thick glasses.

“Good timing,” Josh said.

“Who’s this?” she said, stepping aside so we could walk in.

“This,” Josh said, gesturing to me proudly, “is Avery Jacobs.”

“Nurse?” Cinda asked, pushing up her glasses.

Josh chuckled, looking down for a second. “Yes, she’s a nurse.”

Cinda nodded. “Nice to meet you. Your fur baby has been checked on thrice, walked, played with, and I’m sorry to report, he barfed in your kitchen.”

Josh made a face. “What did you feed him?”

“I cannot confirm nor deny that I am now out of Cajun-style deli meat.”

“Cinda, I told you he can’t handle that shit.”

She suppressed a giggle. “But he loves it so much! You can’t even tell. I bleached your entire floor and ventilated your apartment. I also did your dishes, because … gross.”