Fly Bye by C.W. Farnsworth

Author:C.W. Farnsworth [Farnsworth, C.W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-04-18T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

I sign my name with a flourish and hand the chart to Haley, the nurse on shift tonight. “Here’s the discharge paperwork for Hopkins in 409.”

She nods and takes the binder from me. “I’ll get it all entered into the system.”

I give her a tired smile, which she mirrors. “Thank you.”

“Have a good night. Or morning rather.”

The reminder increases the ache of exhaustion. “You too.”

I head toward the elevator. The doors open to reveal it’s empty, which is a rarity, even at this hour. I press the button for the bottom floor that houses the resident locker rooms and lean back against a poster detailing STD symptoms, closing my eyes. The doors slide closed, then ding open a minute later.

A low male laugh sounds. “Long night?”

I crack my eyes open to see Ben standing before me. “Long night,” I confirm.

He yawns as he steps inside the elevator with me. “Me too. Neuro was nuts.” He presses the button to close the doors. I’ve always wondered if anyone actually did that. “Hey, you grew up here, right?”

“Yeah.”

“You ever been to Frosted before?”

I laugh. “Been? I’d make my brother stop there every morning on the way to school. Best doughnuts I’ve ever had.”

Ben smiles. He’s got a clean-cut, all-American look to him. Not bland, just straightforward. But his smile is lopsided and a little crooked. It adds more character to his face.

“Yeah, I agree. There was a doughnut place right across the street from my apartment in California. I thought theirs was the best there is…but now, I’m reconsidering.”

“You’re from California?”

“No, I grew up in Cincinnati. I ended up on the West Coast for undergrad and then medical school.”

The doors ding open. I take a step forward, only to realize we’re on the second floor, not the ground level.

Rose is standing there, yawning. She perks up when she sees me and Ben. “Hey, guys.”

I arch a brow as she steps inside. “You’re taking the elevator down one floor?”

“Don’t judge, Collins. I had to drop something off in the lab. You had the same long-ass night I did. Did you get any sleep?”

I shake my head. “None.”

Rose yawns again. “Same. I told Ellie and Sara I’d get brunch with them. Of course, they didn’t get a single code last night.” Another yawn. “You guys are both welcome to come. There will be coffee.”

“I’m gonna grab a doughnut and a nap,” Ben answers. “My brother is coming into town tonight, and he’ll want to go out.”

“Is this brother cute and single?” Rose asks, unashamed.

Ben laughs and shakes his head.

Rose makes a face, then looks at me. “Evie?”

“Uh, I can’t. I’ve got plans.”

“With the hunky soldier?”

“He’s not a soldier, but yes.”

“Are things serious between you two?”

“No. We’re just…no.”

“Uh-huh.” Rose gives me a look but doesn’t say anything else.

When she pressed me for details after Gray showed up in the cafeteria last week, I told her we went to high school together, but I didn’t delve into the brother’s best friend, next-door neighbor, chief’s son of it all.

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