Page 24 of Doctor Hot Mess

“I’ll stay,” I say, straightening. “I can do a double if you assign me to step down. I’ve been following Jane Doe all day, and I’d like to see her through. The idea of leaving her alone all night with no one even knowing she is here…”

Janet arches an eyebrow. “A double shift? You sure, Harper?”

I nod. “Yeah. I don't have anything to do, anyway. And my next shift isn't until Tuesday, so I have plenty of time to rest. I don’t want her waking up confused and scared all night without someone familiar checking in on her.”

Kelly gives me a small, approving smile. “That’s kind of you.”

“It’s nothing,” I say, brushing it off. “That's why I'm here! To pick up the slack.”

Janet scribbles something on her clipboard. “Alright. You’re officially on for step-down tonight. Thanks for stepping up.”

As the group disperses, I grab a fresh cup of coffee and glance back toward Jane Doe’s room. Maybe it’s just the nurse in me, but something about her pulls at me. Until she remembers who she is, I’ll make sure she knows someone’s looking out for her.

NINE

Jonah

Monday, February 16

UAB Hospital

8:03 AM

The Monday morningbustle at the hospital is already in full swing by the time I hit the surgeons’ lounge, coffee in hand. Shep leans against the counter, scrolling through his phone. His scrubs are rumpled like he’s already had a hell of a day—and it’s barely 8 a.m.

“Morning,” I say, dropping into one of the chairs.

“Morning,” he replies, not looking up. “You ready for the shitstorm in Bay Three? Drunk driver versus utility pole. Spoiler alert: the pole won.”

I grunt, sipping my coffee. “Sounds about right for a Monday. Have I ever told you how much I hate drunk drivers?”

"The worst." Shep pockets his phone and grabs his own cup of sludge masquerading as coffee. “You look distracted, though. Something on your mind?”

“Nothing major,” I say, leaning back. But Shep raises an eyebrow, and I know that look means he’s not letting it go. I sigh. “Family shit."

Shep tilts his head, his smirk widening. “Wait—you have a family? Here I thought you just spawned fully formed with a scalpel in hand.”

"Funny, dickhead. My sister showed up on Friday.”

Shep blinks, caught off guard. “Wait, seriously, you have a sister?”

“Yeah.” I take another sip. “Younger. Lila. We’re not super close, so I guess it hasn’t come up.”

“Huh.” He sets his coffee down, crossing his arms. “So, she just showed up out of the blue?”

“Pretty much,” I say, shrugging. “I was waiting at my place when I got off Friday night with a duffel bag and some vague story about needing to crash for a bit. We had breakfast Saturday, then I went to the gym, and she said she had errands. Haven’t seen her since.”

Shep whistles low. “And you’re not worried?”

“Should I be?” I counter, though the question hangs heavier in my chest than I’d like to admit. “This is kind of her thing. She disappears, then pops back up like nothing happened.”

Shep tilts his head, giving me a knowing look. “Sounds like the wild gene runs in the family.”

I snort, shaking my head. “I may play hard, but I can hold down a job, pay my mortgage, and not leave people hanging.”

The words are out before I can stop them, and Shep arches a brow. I immediately regret saying more than I usually do. I never get into family details—hell, I don’t even get into personal details. My life’s an open book when it comes to the surface stuff, but anything deeper? I keep it locked up tight.

“Fair enough,” Shep says, his tone lighter, thankfully letting the moment pass. “But seriously, you gonna check on her?”

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