Page 77 of Doctor Hot Mess

“Uh-huh,” I say, tossing the ball in the air and sending a quick, slicing serve his way.

He lunges, his broad frame cutting across the court with surprising speed, but the ball ricochets off the edge of his racket and flies into the net.

“That’s game!” I call, grinning as I bounce toward him on the balls of my feet.

Jonah lets out an exaggerated groan, leaning on his racket for dramatic effect. “You’re ruthless.”

“Just better,” I counter as I walk up to the net. He leans in and kisses me sweetly.

Then, he pulls back, shakes his head, and offers his hand. “Fine. You win. But I demand a rematch.”

“Anytime,” I say, smirking as we shake on it. His hand is warm, his grip firm, and there’s a flicker of something playful in his eyes that makes my chest tighten.

We head to the bench and gather our gear. The sound of distant laughter from another court blends with the rhythmic thud of tennis balls. Jonah grabs his water bottle and takes a long drink before draping a towel around his neck.

“Lunch?” he asks, his tone casual as he looks over at me.

“Absolutely. I’m starving,” I reply, zipping my racket into its case. "You better make sure you haven't missed anyone since you're on call."

"Checking now."

I reach for my bag and grab my phone, too. I pull it out absentmindedly, fingering through all of the spam email. But an email subject stops me cold:Nurse Trek Staffing Agency.

My pulse quickens as I open the email, scanning the words.

“Congratulations! We’re thrilled to offer you a six-month assignment at Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. This rare opportunity offers competitive pay, housing, and the chance to work in one of the most sought-after destinations for travel nurses.”

The words blur slightly as my thoughts race. Hawaii. One of the top spots for travel nursing. It's a dream assignment I’ve been chasing for years.

But six months? And I’d have to start on April 5th—an entire month before my contract at UAB is supposed to end. Nurse Trek placed me here, so surely they know I'm here until May 3rd.

“Everything okay?” Jonah’s voice breaks through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present.

I blink, quickly locking my phone and slipping it back into my bag. “Yeah,” I say, forcing a smile. “Just a bunch of junk emails.”

He raises an eyebrow, curious but not pressing. “That's the best kind. Then you don't have to do anything except delete them. It's the business ones you have to watch out for.”

“No business on Saturday,” I lie, slinging my bag over my shoulder. “Unless, of course, you're on call,” I say with a laugh, trying to move him and my brain out of my email inbox.

Jonah nods, seemingly satisfied, and gestures toward the parking lot. “Beat you to the car. There’s a burger place down the street that has the best fries in Birmingham. I owe you for that beatdown on the court.”

“Damn right you do,” I say, falling into step beside him.

As we walk, my mind lingers on the email. The significance of what it could mean and the conversations it would entail threaten to consume me.

This was what I've wanted since I started this job almost two years ago. Without a doubt, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

But now, with the question of what this is with Jonah, the thought of being halfway across the world complicates this. The last time we discussed this, we weren't putting any parameters on it beyond the beginning of May. This may accelerate that by a month and force our hand to put a label on it.

For now, though, I keep the news to myself, letting the sun and Jonah’s easy company distract me from how I will tackle this beast.

Sunday,March 15

Harper’s Pool House

9:54 AM

I movearound my living room, tossing stray throw pillows back onto the couch and gathering empty cups from last night. My head’s a mess, and keeping my hands busy cleaning feels like the only way to organize my thoughts, even for a few minutes.

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