Elizabeth.
I’m working under another female attending here. I keep comparing her to Myers.
When I’m walking home, I read the texts she sent me, deleting replies time and again. When I’m trying to sleep, I can’t for long. Not until exhaustion forces me to.
I planned to impress Oberhan but I’ve begun to realize that it’s not his opinion I care about.
“When are people going to realize you can’t climb into a boat, feet flailing that close to the motor?” Pinkett asks.
Rivera rolls her eyes and takes his hand, surprising me. “Sometimes I wish we could post cautionary tales on social media rather than just stuff that pumps up our hospital.”
“You guys are dating?” I motion to their hands.
“Uh huh,” Pinkett chuckles, teasing me, “If you’d have come out with us earlier, you’d have known that.”
I point back to the hospital. “They don’t mind?”
“No.” He glances to Rivera. “We don’t bring problems to work, so what’s the problem, right?”
She accepts a kiss he leans to give as they walk.
“God, that’d be nice,” I mutter.
Cindy pries, “What would be, Caden?” her glance to Arya not sly in the least.
I’m too interested in the subject not to answer, “Finding someone at work. With the hours we do, it’d be great if you didn’t have to be away from them all the time. Probably could have a happier relationship. What, Bowers?”
He laughs, caught in the act of showing shock. “I hate to say it, but that coming from you.” He shrugs. “Didn’t expect it.”
“You look like a player, is what he’s saying,” Rivera teases me, eyes shining.
While holding the strap of my bag I look around the shops. “I come from a family that works at having happy marriages. Guess I’m not opposed to the idea.”
Arya offers, “Everyone wants to find somebody. To act like they don’t is just…an act.”
Nods of agreement as we walk up to Sweetwater Tavern, its patio sprinkled with brown umbrellas.
Inside is a large space, three-quarters of it a dining room of red-stained wooden tables and brown leather booths and chairs around square columns of stones where on each side hangs a television screen. Pick the type of sports you want to watch because they’re showing them all.
The place is jumping tonight as we sidle up to a long bar that matches the decor, three bartenders in black t-shirts with ‘Sweetwater’ in white ink across their chests.
“What’re you having?” Bowers asks the group.
As they discuss it, I see Gwendolyn Partridge walk in, talking to someone. A man appears and she reaches for his hand. Must be her husband.
“Caden, what beer do you want?”
“Huh?” Looking at Bowers I give a distracted, “Pilsner. Order me the best one. Still learning what you have here.”
“Oh, I know what you need!” He turns around, but I don’t hear his order because I’ve glanced back to Dr. Partridge and my chest implodes at the sight of who just walked in behind the couple.
Elizabeth Myers.
CHAPTER 36
C ADEN
M y mouth slackens and I’m frozen as I watch her beautiful eyes slide a wary glance around the tavern. She’s stunning in a twilight-blue dress that hugs her in all the right places as she tucks softly-curled hair behind her ear and frowns.
“Caden?” Arya says. “Here’s your beer.”
I glance to her, take the glass, mutter, “What? Oh, thanks,” and look at Elizabeth again.
Shit. She spotted me. Not just spotted but saw Arya hand me this, and she’s staring at us like we’re together. Arya is a beautiful girl by anyone’s standards.
Elizabeth’s sexy-as-fuck heels hurry after her friend. My stunned gaze follows, and I lock eyes with Dr. Partridge. She dips her chin to whisper something to her husband, who looks my way, too.
“Fuck,” I mutter, turning to my group. I’m the object of everyone’s curiosity, turns out. “Hey.”
Bowers, the ballsiest among them, jogs his chin. “What’s up with Partridge and her friend? You know her?”
Everyone’s waiting, beers and conversation suspended. Rivera is on a stool with Pinkett’s hand on her back. The others are standing in an imperfect circle.
“I know her, yeah.” Taking a sip, I can’t help but glance over to see where they went. “Atlanta trauma surgeon. Just didn’t expect to see her here. How’s the food? French fries any good?”
They offer up items as Bowers reaches for a menu left farther up the bar. “You using this?” The customers shake their heads as he swipes it. “You’ve gotta try the burgers, Caden.”
“I’m going vegetarian.”
His eyebrows jump.
But Cindy offers, “I went Vegan last year. After all the gore we see, I just couldn’t.”
I tell her, “Same reason. Open enough chests and all you can think is about how to take better care of your arteries.”
Arya smiles, “They’ve got a great veggie burger. I’m not a vegetarian but sometimes I get it because it tastes so good.”
“Done.” I take a sip as Pinkett motions to the bartender that we want to order food.
“Their wings are incredible,” Bowers mutters as Rivera checks out the menu next. “You’re missing out, Caden.”
Staring at the booth Myers occupied with her friends, I think to myself that he’s right. “Excuse me.”
My heart is pounding as I weave through more college students than aren’t. Voices are loud, music is louder.
All I can hear is my pulse.
Dr. Partridge is sitting on the left, inside the booth. She spots me first, upper vertebras lengthening as she whispers a warning to the table. Her husband, on the aisle beside her, glances over but Myers, across from them and on my right, lifts a glass to her lips, staring at Partridge with the same I’m-going-to-pretend-he’s-not-coming posture that she had at Digby’s. It was hilarious then.
Tonight, not so much.
I plant myself at the end of their table. “Partridge,” I nod in greeting. “This your husband, I presume?”
“Yes, this is David Partridge. Honey, this is Dr. Cocker, our newest addition.”
He twists to hold out his hand, an average-looking man with warm eyes and a firm grip. I like him instantly
