Page 61 of One Night

Amber and I take our seats. I gaze into her eyes and a smile creeps up her cheeks before she averts her eyes back to Donna.

"Is there a password for the computer?" Amber asks.

"Yes," Donna says. "But you'll need to create a new one just for yourself. The instructions are in the drawer. Once you log in, you'll find a spreadsheet with all of the vendors who have donated items for the silent auction. I need you two to split up the list and confirm with each vendor that they're still willing to donate that item. Since you only have a couple hours left here today, that should take up your time until you leave. If you have questions, just let me know."

"Got it," I tell her. "Thanks."

Once she's gone, I wake up my computer screen and set my password. Amber does the same, then we look across the desks at each other. It's going to be hard to work with her right across from me. I'll want to keep staring at her because she's gorgeous, and watching her trying to hide that smile that keeps sliding up her cheeks is both funny and sweet. She's doing all she can to remain professional and pretend we're just acquaintances, but so far her attempts aren't working too well.

"Do you want the first half of the list or the last?" Amber asks.

"I'll take the last." I scroll down the screen and find the first number. Before I pick up the phone I lean back in my chair and stretch, my legs extending under the desk until they brush against hers.

"Stop it," she whispers.

"What?" I ask innocently. "I'm just stretching. I went running this morning and my legs are tightening up."

"You run?"

"A few times a week. Do you?"

"I used to but I don't anymore. I try to go to the gym on campus but I'm usually too busy to make it there."

When we had coffee yesterday, Amber told me about all the stuff she's involved in. Clubs, activities, volunteer work. I don't know when she has time to sleep.

"Maybe you should cut back on some of your activities," I say.

"Maybe, although I wouldn't know what to do if I had free time."

"Spend it with me?"

"Shh," she says, glancing around to see if anyone heard. She picks up the phone. "We need to get these calls made."

We both start calling people on our lists. Two hours later, I've only reached half the business owners.

"So I guess I'll see you later," Amber says, putting on her coat. It's a little after five and two of the full-time workers have already left. Donna is still in her office with the door closed but she came out a few minutes ago, telling us we could leave and finish the list later this week.

"I'll walk you out." I pull on my jacket as we leave the office.

"So when are you working again?" Amber asks.

"Wednesday afternoon. How about you?"

"Same." She stops briefly and moves to the side to let a guy in a wheelchair go by. I stop as well, then we continue walking.

"And Friday morning?" I ask.

"Yeah."

"So Donna gave us the same schedule. That explains why she said I'd be working closely with the other intern." I glance at Amber. "It's kind of odd, isn't it?"

"What's odd?"

"You're trying to keep us apart and yet somehow we keep being brought back together. First your roommate ends up dating my friend, and now we end up with the same internship. Same hospital. Same department. Same hours."

She shakes her head. "It's not that unusual."

I turn and hold her arm, stopping her. "You don't find that odd?"