Page 41 of One Night

As she talks, I'm already halfway to the bathroom, hurrying to get ready. With my mind consumed with Dylan, I totally forgot I had this meeting with Liza. She's a nurse at the hospital where I'm trying to get an internship.

I met Liza through Kira, who knows her because of Austin. Liza's sister, Ivy, is dating Jake Wheeler, Austin's older brother. Last week, Kira and I met Austin and his three brothers at a bar for drinks. His brothers' girlfriends were there and all us girls started talking, and Ivy mentioned her sister, Liza, worked at the hospital where I had just applied for this internship. She gave me Liza's number and that led to today's meeting.

"Liza?" I ask, when I see her sitting at a table by the window. Ivy showed me her picture so I knew what she looked like.

She stands up and smiles. "Amber. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too." We both sit down. "Thanks for doing this. I'll try to be quick. I don't want to take up too much of your Saturday."

"Don't worry about it. I'm not in any hurry. So Ivy said you want to know more about the hospital?"

"Yeah. I applied for three internships for the spring semester. If I'm lucky enough to get more than one offer, I'll have to make a decision so I'm trying to get more information about each place."

"Well, I think you'd really like working at the hospital. I've only worked there since last summer but so far I really like it."

"You work on the children's floor, right?"

"I do. It's sad to work with sick kids, but it's also really fun. The kids have such a great attitude that sometimes it's hard to believe they're sick. Did Donna tell you about the holiday fundraiser?"

Donna is the woman I'd be working for if I got the internship. She's head of the corporate communications department which handles all the marketing, communications, and event planning for the hospital, including fundraisers. The holiday fundraiser is to raise money for the children's cancer unit.

"She mentioned it during my interview. She said anyone's welcome to help, even if we don't end up getting the internship."

"Are you going to do it? You'd get paid, and it's a really fun event."

"I told her to sign me up. I just need to let my manager at the restaurant know."

I never quit my restaurant job from last summer. The tips are good and I'm able to have flexible hours. I only work when they need someone to fill in, which isn't very often.

"So what do you want to know?" Liza asks.

"Let me grab us some drinks before we start. What would you like?"

"Caramel machiatto." She gets her wallet out.

I wave it away. "It's on me."

After I get our drinks, we sit and talk for over an hour, not just about the hospital but other stuff. Liza's fun and easy to talk to. I already feel like she's a friend. Before I leave, we make plans to go out again.

Back at my apartment, I change clothes and get ready for work. I'm going to be a horrible waitress today. I'm completely distracted, wondering if Dylan got my letter and if he'll write me back.

On my way to my car, I stop at the mailbox. There's a letter inside from the hospital. I rip it open and smile when I see the first line.

We're happy to inform you you've been chosen as an intern for the spring semester.

The letter goes on to give details about the holiday fundraiser, saying that if I want to, I could start next week, helping with the marketing and promotion of the event. I get out my phone and email Donna to tell her I'm excited about the job and would be happy to start next week. Out of all internships I applied for, the hospital was my first choice and Liza just convinced me I made the right decision.

So at least my career is on track. Now if I could just figure out my love life.

Chapter Eleven

Amber

"Too early," I moan, fumbling to turn off my alarm. It's Sunday and I forgot to turn my alarm off last night. I hit the button, silencing it, but five minutes later it goes off again.

"Fine, I'll get up," I say to the alarm, too awake to fall back asleep. I'll have to take a nap later. My mind's awake but my body is exhausted from work yesterday. There was a convention downtown so the restaurant was busy from the time I got there to the time I left. I even missed one of my breaks, but I made out big on tips. It's the most I've ever made in one shift.

I go to the kitchen to make coffee, but first stop and check the front door for a letter. I know it's too soon to get one, but I still check. Vandyl performed last night so Dylan probably didn't get home until two or three in the morning. It's just after eight now so I'm sure he's asleep. Maybe he won't write back for a few days, or a week. The wait is killing me. I want to hear from him again.

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