Page 115 of In My Hockey Era
I take a sip of my beer, stalling for a second before answering.“I swapped it with someone.”
He quirks a brow.“Why?”
I set my glass down, pressing my lips together for a moment before exhaling slowly.“Because I needed a night off.And because… I’m making some changes.”
His gaze sharpens, attention fully locked on me now.“What kind of changes?”
I hesitate for a beat, then I square my shoulders and just say it.“I talked to my supervisor today.I told her I need to set some better boundaries about work—no more extra shifts, no more picking up every last open slot on the schedule.I’ve been burning the candle at both ends for too long, and it’s not sustainable.I don’t want to leave emergency medicine, but I also don’t want to let it consume me.”
Bennett watches me carefully, unreadable for a long moment.“So… you’re staying, but on your terms.”
I nod, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.“Yeah.I think for the first time, I’m actually setting myself up for something that isn’t total burnout.I love what I do—I just need to find a way to do it without running myself into the ground.”
He doesn’t speak right away, but then, after a long moment, he leans back in his chair, his expression softening.“Quinn,” he says, voice low, steady.“That’s probably one of the smartest things I’ve ever heard you say.”
My breath catches.“You think so?”
“Hell yeah.”He shakes his head like it’s obvious.“You take care of everyone else, all the time.It’s about time you take care of yourself.”His gaze is warm, unwavering.
Something in my chest loosens.
I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear that until he said it.
I let out a small, shaky laugh.“I was kind of scared to tell you.”
His brows knit together.“Why?”
I shrug, picking at the edge of my pizza crust.“Because I didn’t want you to think I was quitting.That I wasn’t strong enough to handle it.”
Bennett’s eyes flash with something fierce.“I’ve seen you take on disasters—literal and personal—and come out standing.I know exactly how strong you are.”He reaches across the table, brushing his fingers against mine.“But strength doesn’t mean breaking yourself to prove a point.It means knowing when to pivot, when to fight, when to take care of yourself.And I don’t think I’ve ever seen you do that before.”
I flip my hand, linking my fingers through his, my pulse steadying.“I think I’m finally ready to.”
Bennett squeezes my hand.“So what’s next?”
A slow smile tugs at my lips.“For starters, I actually have time off this summer.No more piling on extra shifts, which means…” I pause, letting the moment stretch.“I was thinking more about your idea of Switzerland.”
His brows lift.“Yeah?”
He’d gone on and on the other night about a trip to hike in the Swiss Alps this summer during his off-season.I might have spent the following day obsessively Googling and dying at how pretty it was.
“I think we should go.”
His mouth parts slightly, like he wasn’t expecting that to be what I said.But then, the slowest, most devastating smile spreads across his face.
“You serious?”
I nod.“As long as you’re still up for it.”
He lets out a low chuckle, shaking his head.“Of course I’m up for it.”
I laugh.“Well, now we can actually go.And I don’t have to beg for PTO or worry about missing shifts.”
He looks at me like he’s never been prouder in his life.“I’m loving this new side to you.My girl is finally learning to take it easy.”
I roll my eyes.“Let’s not get carried away.”
He squeezes my hand one more time before grabbing his beer, clinking it lightly against mine.“To Switzerland.”
