She smiles. “I know. That’s probably the last time I ever do something like that. At first, I thought I was imagining you as my doctor because I was so high. The next morning, I checked my discharge paperwork twice just to make sure your name was actually on there and I hadn’t dreamt the whole thing.”
I chuckle, picturing Regan stoned off a tray of chocolate brownies. No wonder she was so quiet when I walked into her hospital room. She was probably freaking out even more than I was.
“So… what was all that commotion about when you walked into the bar?” she asks, changing the subject again.
I shrug, trying to downplay it. “Ah, nothing. Not a big deal.”
A guy sitting next to me at the bar who I hadn’t noticed earlier leans over with a conspiratorial whisper. “He saved a baby’s life today. Whole town’s been obsessing over the good doctor here.” He squeezes my shoulder in an affectionate way.
“What?” Regan gasps, eyes going wide as saucers.
I shake my head. “It was a toddler.”
“What happened?” she presses, leaning closer.
“Nothing. Just a little choking incident. No big deal.”
“Baby was blue in the face,” the old man cuts in, his voice a touch too loud. “Doctor Walker brought him back to life. It’s all anyone’s been talking about tonight.”
I glare at him—not because he’s lying, but because he’snotbut I don’t need everyone rehashing what happened. And I really don’t need Regan looking at me like I just descended from heaven with a halo.
Compliments have never sat well with me. Blame my dad, who drilled it into me that pride was the devil’s playground, and I’d never amount to anything worth value.“Compliments made you soft”, he’d say, which was rich coming from a man whose fists never missed their mark. Even if he had tossed an occasional compliment my way, which he never did, it wouldn’t have softened those blows.
“Thanks…?” I trail off, raising a brow at the old man.
“Smythe,” he says, grinning like we’re old friends already.
Regan leans over the bar, propping herself up on her elbows as she looks at me with softer eyes. “Smythe’s a town legend. He and Cash hang out together at the high school football games when my nephew plays.”
“Of course they do,” I mutter, more to myself than anyone else. “I take it Cash is one of your many brothers?”
She nods. “He is, but don’t change the subject. That’s really incredible that you saved that baby’s life.”
“Yeah,” I say flatly, not wanting to dive any deeper into this conversation. I might’ve been able to keep the kid breathing, but the praise that comes with it? That’s a whole different beast I’d rather let go.
Regan seems to pick up on my mood shift. “Well… is there anything I can get you to eat tonight?” she asks, her voice softer now, careful.
I wave her off, even though my stomach’s growling like I haven’t eaten all day.
“Nah, I’m good. Already ate. Probably just gonna head out, turn in early. Gotta be up for a shift at the hospital in the morning.”
She nods. “Well, it was nice to see you tonight.” And then gives me a rare, small smile and a wave before disappearing through the management door in the back.
I watch her go, feeling a weird mix of relief and regret. I didn’t mean to kill the vibe with my piss mood, but conversations like this always mess me up. Compliments twist me up inside, and my default reaction is to self-sabotage. Always has been. Unfortunately, that’s one thing I haven’t grown out of in my old age.
Smythe leans closer once she’s out of earshot, his breath heavy with whiskey and beer.
“You got the hots for the Marshall sister, eh?”
I pause, not sure how to answer that question because I most certainly do. “I don’t know…” I trail off.
He grins, wide and knowing. “Prettiest girl in town. Sweetest soul too. I know you’re new here, doctor boy, but give it time. Once you’ve looked around, you’ll see. There’s no one in this town like her.”
Yeah. People keep telling me that.
And that’s the damn problem.
Chapter 13: Regan
