Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 67982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“Why would you put your life in such danger for a country that means nothing to you?” I ask Aiden. I know that sounds like a selfish and attacking question, but I just can’t quite comprehend it.
Aiden gives me a knowing smile. “Honestly, Josie…the danger is part of the appeal. I mean, I want to practice medicine and save lives, but I just couldn’t imagine at that point in my life doing it in a modern hospital setting. The danger sort of made me feel alive.”
What I really want to say to Aiden is that’s a stupid fucking reason for taking a job. It’s also a stupid fucking reason for leaving your girlfriend of three years, and this is the first I’ve heard about his apparent hard-on for danger. But I don’t say those things because none of it matters right now. He went and did his thing and I moved on.
So I just give him an interested smile. “That’s really incredible. Good for you.”
After Aiden takes a bite of salad, he says, “But I’m actually a bit burned out from that way of life. Going to take a break from the organization and try to figure out some things.”
“Like what?”
“Like I don’t know if I want to go back or if I want to work in a hospital or maybe in a private practice setting.”
“Oh, well…It’s a good thing you’re taking some time off then to consider your options.”
Aiden grins at me and then pops a cherry tomato into his mouth. After he chews and swallows he says, “Actually, I just signed a three-month contract to work here at Raleigh Memorial. Thought I’d see what it was like to actually practice medicine with good equipment and the most current technology. Kevin’s going to let me crash at his place.”
“Awesome,” I say cheerily, but every fiber of my body is rebelling against this notion. I mean, why come back here? He could have gone up north near his family. And why this hospital? Why reconnect with me?
“So, how have you been, Josie Bug?” he says with rapt attention as he puts his fork down. I control the outward cringe over his use of a nickname he’d given me early in our relationship and that I once adored. It sounds so very wrong now. “How’s practicing here at Raleigh Memorial?”
I put on the brightest smile I can manage, calling upon my true love of what I do to shine through. “I love it here. The work is interesting and fulfilling. The people here are great. I’m going to be content here for a long time, I think.”
“That’s awesome,” Aiden exclaims. “I’ve only ever wanted you to be happy.”
Yeah, Aiden? Then why the hell did you leave me?
“Well, I am,” I say with confidence. “Very happy.”
And I realize…I am. All of these feelings of bitterness that he’s been causing to rise up within me have only to do with past hurt, and have nothing to do with my present. Which includes one mighty fine hockey player who I have the hots for and who has them right back for me.
Aiden fiddles around with his salad, takes a few bites, and I make busy on my sandwich, checking the time periodically.
“So, Josie,” Aiden says, and it’s a prelude to a question that he’s nervous about. I can just tell. “Do you, um…think maybe…I could take you out for dinner one night?”
After placing my sandwich on my plate, I wipe my mouth and toss my napkin down. “Thank you for the offer, Aiden, but I can’t. I’m involved with someone.”
“Reed,” he says knowingly, and that’s not a huge leap to make. Most would.
“Yes,” I say with a fond smile. “It’s new and it’s casual, but it’s also exclusive.”
“How casual?” Aiden asks.
I give him a chiding look. “Forget about the casual. Focus on when I told you it’s exclusive.”
“So pretty damn new and casual,” he says with confidently. “Based on what you just said.”
“But exclusive,” I remind him for the third time.
Aiden chuckles and holds his hands up in surrender. “Okay, how about this? We’re friends. So maybe we can have the occasional lunch here in the cafeteria, or we can all go out for beers after shift the way we did in the old days.”
I analyze every inflection and nuance in that statement, and it sounds casual and sincere. I can’t detect a single ulterior motive, and his eyes look at me with clear honesty. One thing about Aiden, he never played games.
“We’ve got a history, Josie. I know it didn’t end well, but I know we can be friends again,” he says.
I peer at him just a bit harder, and still I see only genuineness in his expression. Aiden was never a good liar, almost honest to a fault sometimes.
“Okay,” I finally say with a small smile. “Sure…why can’t we be friends?”