Page 31 of Make Your Save

“What the hell am I going to do without you here?”

I snort, pulling the cupcake away from my mouth as I chew the bite I took and swallow it. “Probably the same thing you did before I came here.”

Cole rolls his eyes. “Well, yeah, but that was pretty fucking boring.”

Janet cuts her eyes at Cole, making sure he notices her disapproval at him swearing. He gives her a sweet smile before walking over to the table to get a drink. It’s my last shift at Aston Medical Center and Cole got the entire unit on board to throw me a little goodbye party.

It’s bittersweet, really. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to stay here forever, but I’m also excited for what comes after this. I know I have the next few months of helping Rowan out and then it’s on to the next assignment. I can only hope the people there are as welcoming as they have been here.

I’ve made friends here in Aston and I hate the thought of having to leave.

“What can I do to convince you to stay?”

I tilt my head to the side, looking at Cole. “They told me they’re only going to be hiring internally untilfurther notice. Tell someone to hire me and I promise I’ll stay.”

“Maybe your nannying gig turns into something full-time,” he suggests, wagging his eyebrows at me. He winks at me for good measure and I know exactly what he’s hinting at. There’s no place in my life for a man and a baby, especially not my ex’s brother. I’ll stay and help Rowan, but it can’t be anything more than that.

It’s just a temporary arrangement.

I give him the middle finger, laughing as Janet now directs her scowl at me. An apologetic smile lifts my lips, but she still doesn’t look pleased as she exits the room, leaving Cole and me together.

He lets out an exaggerated sigh. “You’re really going to leave me alone with her?” He gives me a pitiful look. “She hates me.”

“I think she hates everyone.”

Cole walks over to me, throwing his arm around my shoulders. “She probably hasn’t had a healthy dose of vitamin D in a long time.”

Whipping my head to the side, my eyes slice to his as I try to give him a scolding look but instead my face cracks, laughter bubbling in my throat as I shake my head at him. He’s absolutely ridiculous and that’s exactly why we’re friends. “Sex doesn’t solve everyone’s problems, Cole.”

“Maybe not, but you know what they say.” He gives me a sheepish grin and a shrug. “An orgasm a day keeps the shitty feelings away.”

My eyebrows pinch. “You totally just made that up.”

Cole laughs, pulling me toward the nurses’ station with him. “Oh, totally.”

After a relatively normal shift, I stop by to clock out one last time and head out to the parking lot to where my car is. Cole offered to wait for me, but I told him to go ahead. It’s his and Damien’s anniversary tonight and they had plans for dinner. We’re already getting out of here a little later than planned, so I don’t want to keep him from going to celebrate.

I head over to Rowan’s house, feeling a heaviness weighing on my chest. It’s weird to think I won’t be going back to Aston Medical Center for another shift. Being a nurse is a thankless job, honestly, but that place was one of the best I’ve worked at thus far. The staff was amazing, the facility was top of the line, and working with babies has always been my dream job.

It’s not easy to find nursing contracts for a specific field, so it just felt like this one was meant to be. But as always...all good things have to come to an end. This job was just another step in my journey and even though there is a part of me that’s upset, I’m excited for what’s to come after this.

I walk up to the front door of Rowan’s house, lifting my hand to knock on the door, when it’s pulled open before I even get the chance. A soft gasp escapes me and a gentle smile lifts my lips as I meet Rowan’s gaze. His deep blue eyes land on me and I take a moment to soak up the sight of him.

He’s wearing a plain dark gray hooded sweatshirt and black joggers and there’s a tiny baby tucked in along his left arm.

“Hey,” he says softly, his voice tender and warm as he smiles back at me. “I didn’t mean to surprise you. I saw your headlights when you pulled in.” He moves out of the way, holding the door open for me. “Come in.”

It feels weird not just coming inside and making myself at home after the significant amount of time I’ve spent here lately.

“How was your last day?” Rowan asks as he shuts the door behind me.

I kick my shoes off, turning around to face him and Lucy. “It was bittersweet. I’m not sure I was ready to say goodbye to them, but I’m excited to spend the next few months helping you out and then whatever comes after that.”

Rowan falls silent, shifting his weight on his feet as an awkwardness fills the air surrounding us. “I’m sure they’ll miss having you there.”

“Yep.” I awkwardly pop thepsound at the tail end of the word as I shove my hands into the back pockets of my scrubs.

He doesn’t speak and I count three solid heartbeats in my chest as his eyes slowly travel across my face, moving from my left eye, across my nose, down to my lips, and back to my right eye. “I have something for you.”

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