Page 20 of Undeniably Enemies

“She’s a mess,” Wren boldly answers. “She and her husband are wrecked.”

Though I try to appear unaffected, she’s the reason I was up all night, and I’m in no mood for her now. “Call in a social worker and offer chaplain services if they’re interested?—”

“Already done,” Wren retorts.

I raise an eyebrow at her, and Daffodil beams a proud smile. “Miss Fritz got here early and was working with the night team on the case.”

Ah. Interesting. At least she’s trying to make up for her blunder yesterday.

“Glad to hear it, Miss Fritz. Keep me updated on her status. Who’s next?”

The next eager beaver to please reports on their patient, and once all of this is done, I head for the kitchen only to be stopped by Callan Barrows, the chief down here. He’s also a good man, an incredible father to Katy, a doting husband to Layla, and I like him a lot. Callan is one of the reasons I chose this ER.

“Hey, man.” He slaps my shoulder. “How’s it going with the new students?”

I glance down the hall, but we’re essentially alone other than people scurrying this way and that as they do their jobs. I turn back to him. “Good for the most part. They haven’t killed anyone yet, so it seems their residents are on top of it.”

He chuckles. “Always a nice start. There’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”

His sober expression has me straightening my spine and giving him my full attention. “What is it?”

“I’m planning to step down as chief.”

That shocks me. “How come?”

He shrugs. “It’s just time. I’m a grandfather now that Katy has Willow, and with her and Bennett’s hours here at the hospital, I want to help out where I can. Layla and I have decided to watch Willow three days a week so she’s not in daycare for such long hours. It had been stressing Katy out, and I can’t have that.”

Katy is a type-1 diabetic and has had some issues with it, so I understand his concern for her health and well-being.

I smile despite this unhappy news. “I think that’s amazing of you and Layla to do.”

He chuckles, his eyes gleaming. “It’s not exactly a hardship. I’d spend every day with that little terror if I could. But with me stepping down, someone has to step up.”

Now my heart starts to thunder. I’ve only been here a year, so I didn’t think I’d be on the shortlist for that, but I’m hoping Callan’s about to change that for me.

“Do you have any candidates in mind?”

He smiles. “I have a few, Jack, but you’re one of them if you’re interested in applying for the role.”

Wow. Color me shocked. “Thank you. Yes, I’m very interested.”

“I thought you might be. Harrison is another one.”

I frown before I can stop it. Harrison Marshall is an incorrigible asshole—on a completely different scale and level from me. He loves nothing more than flirting and fucking his way through med students and interns despite the band on his hand and children at home. He’s no different than my old boss who fucked Tilly, though they did live together for about a year before she caught him fucking someone else. Or so I was told. I tried not to keep track. He’s also good-looking and effusively charming and likable to everyone. Everyone except me. He has been working here since his residency, whereasI’ve only been here a year, so that gives him an advantage over me.

“Anyone else?”

“Caroline already told me she wasn’t interested. The hospital will search for national candidates as well, but we like to promote from within.”

“Well, I’m honored that you thought of me, and I’m sad you’re stepping down, but I think your reason for doing it is about the best there is. I wish you the best with helping out with Willow because that girl is a terror like her mother.”

He laughs. “Thank you. She sure is.”

He slaps my shoulder again. “Go get back to work. I’ll catch you later, and the board will be in touch.”

I give him a wave and continue to the kitchen, needing an extra moment after that. And coffee. I shouldn’t get my hopes up, but hell, it is impossible not to. I wanted to be a trauma surgeon like my father, who used to work in this very hospital for as long as I can remember, and when my hand was sliced open and a nerve was severed, that dream died. The ER is the closest thing to that and doesn’t require the dexterity that a surgeon does.

To be chief…

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