Page 14 of Doctor Second Chance

“Let’s just say he isn’t my type.”

Whatever that means. Oh, my God, why did I say that? Shut the fuck up, Elle!

He offers a genuine smile that reaches his eyes. "Thank goodness," he says. "He seemed like a bit of a prick."

I can't help but laugh again. "He is," I agree. "A pompous, self-important prick."

“So, anyway, I’m going to let you get some rest. Thought letting you know that might allow you to rest easier.”

“I appreciate it, Shep. Goodnight.”

Well, that was strange and disarming. How can I hate a guy that is that handsome and thoughtful?

FOUR

Shep

1:49 am

I ease into the soft leather seat of my Audi, the weight of the day settling into my bones. The dashboard clock blinks 2:47 AM. I still haven’t changed my dash clock to spring forward for Daylight Savings.

My mind drifts to Elizabeth, the brave 15-year-old who is the reason I had to come in tonight. It seems like a lifetime ago that I performed her surgery. Her vitals are stable, and her prognosis is good. I call that a good night’s work.

As I pull out of the hospital parking lot, my thoughts inevitably circle back to Elle. Seeing her after all these years... it's like a ghost materialized. I can’t shake the image of her that is flashing in my mind on repeat. Our brief interactions have conjured a flood of memories I've spent a decade trying to suppress.

Our college days come roaring back—her laugh echoing across the quad, stolen kisses between classes, the shag contest we drove out for in St. Augustine, the way her eyes lit up when she talked about her dreams. We were so good together so in love.

I grip the steering wheel tighter, forcing myself back to the present. My life is complicated enough without dredging up old heartache. Being a father to Opie is a full-time job on top of my already demanding career. Between emergency surgeries and t-ball games, there's barely time to breathe. The last thing I need is to let my mind wander back to another lifetime.

Most of the women I spend time with want something more, but I’m never in it for more than the night. I’m a single dad and a workaholic. That combination doesn’t leave a lot of time for anything more, not to mention that I have no desire for a relationship.

And yet... seeing Elle today stirred something that is an anomaly. A spark of possibility, a dangerous "what if." I shake my head, trying to dislodge the thought. It's been a decade. We're different people now. We both have our lives in different states.

Hell, for all I know, she is married.

After the initial cold stare from her, it felt like I chiseled through some of her icy wall. I can tell she still hates me. But she was somewhat confined due to the circumstances, and I took advantage of the opportunity to somehow make amends.

I feel like we have so much to catch up on, and my curiosity to know more about her is winning out over my practical brain, which is telling me I should stay as far away as possible.

The draw to her is still there for me. Perhaps it’s just the newness of seeing her after so long. It doesn’t hurt that she is drop-dead gorgeous, even in the hospital setting. Her laugh still gives me a giddy shiver.

Or maybe it’s guilt that I didn’t do more back in the day. Perhaps this is my chance to at least forge a friendship by making things up to her, whatever that means.

2:01 am

I unlock the front door, trying to be as quiet as possible. The living room is bathed in the soft glow of a single lamp down the hall. Cason's curled up on the couch, textbook open on her lap. She stirs as I enter.

"Hey, Dr. Duncan," she whispers, rubbing her eyes. "Rough night?"

I nod, dropping my keys quietly on the side table. "Thanks for saving me at the last minute and staying late. How was Opie?"

“Quiet as a mouse. I checked on him after I got here, but he didn’t stir.”

A wave of gratitude washes over me. Cason's been a godsend since Opie was born. She started as a bright-eyed college senior, and now she's juggling her master's in education while still being the most dependable nanny I could ask for.

"You're a lifesaver, Cason. Seriously."

She grins, gathering her things. "It's my pleasure. I love working for you and Ari. You guys rock the co-parent thing, and Opie is the best kid because of it.”

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