Page 39 of Dirty Play

But I’m heading straight for the deep end, just hoping I survive.

Chapter 15

Gwen

S.O.S.

He’s dickmatizing me again.

Sawyer

Good. That just means he’s coming to his senses.

Cassie

I sense that he’ll be coming in you veryyyyy soon.

Fuck off, you two are no help.

Cassie

*kissy face*

Sawyer

<3 you

Today’s a big day at work and I’m exhausted because I’ve barely slept. I was up until four in the morning because of Cade and his teasing, and I’d already switched to the day shift to be at the hospital for Kennedy’s surgery. I couldn’t turn him down, though. It’s so much easier when he acts like a dick, but when he’s a little flirty, not to mention the way he looked when I swear he was thinking about kissing me… yeah, I’m done for.

But that’s not what I should be thinking about today. Today is about Kennedy. I received a message that we’ll be discussing the plan with her family tonight, and the transplant should take place within the next few days. It feels surreal—like this isn’t actually going to happen. But I can’t think like that, it’s going to happen, some wonderful person got tested and they’re giving Kennedy the gift of life.

I only wish I knew who it was so I could shake their hand.

When I told Cade about her transplant last night, I saw a moment of sadness on his face, and it took everything in me not to tell him that Sawyer told me about Veronica. It’s not my story to share, and I definitely don’t want him to feel like I’ve violated his privacy, but I wish he knew he could talk to me about this. That I would be there for him.

I guess at this moment, I need to let my actions show him. Maybe then he’d believe it.

Grabbing my phone, I take a deep breath before I pull up his name and send a quick text before I chicken out.

Hi. Want to meet me for lunch?

Cade

Is everything okay?

I wait, hoping he’ll answer my question, but when no little dots appear, I know that’s his answer. I start responding but before I can press send I get another response.

Cade

Sorry, yes I would like that.

Is everything okay, though? I guess I’m just surprised you’re asking for more time with me when I thought you already hated me walking you home.

I guess I like it a lot more than I let on.

Now to take a shower and pull myself together.

Today is the kind of day you dream about when working in the PICU. Another patient was able to leave earlier than expected, and we got the official go-ahead to put Kennedy and her donor’s surgery on the schedule. Two days from now, Kennedy will be the proud recipient of a brand-new-to-her kidney.

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