Justin shook his head in understanding. “Fair enough,” he acquiesced. “As long as I head that list for potential dates when you do become available, I’m fine with your decision now.”
Tessa smiled and shook her head. “You’re relentless, aren’t you?”
“Yup. I was a Boy Scout.” He grinned. She found herself following his lead and smiling just as wide. “Can we at least be friends? I like you very much, but I will respect our boundaries.”
Tessa looked at him for a short pause before responding. “Okay, we can be friends,” she agreed.
“Great. Friends, it is.” He smiled with satisfaction.
“As my friend, the first order of business is for you to come to my family’s barbecue next month,” she instructed.
“Yes, ma’am,” Justin agreed, tipping his imaginary hat.
Tessa chuckled at this.
After lunch, the two returned to the hospital, and Tessa decided to stay on the floor to assist with several patients who’d just been brought in from a bus crash.
“Nurse Luis, you’re with me,” Justin called out as they wheeled in a man with a sharp object sticking out of his chest.
Tessa followed the gurney to the operating room, and after scrubbing, she went in on the surgery. They spent the next four hours working to remove the object that had impaled the man and repair his spleen.
“Good work, everyone. Mr. Davis is stable and is set to have a full recovery. Nurse Luis, you were great in there. Thank you for your input.”
Tessa felt her cheeks get heated and was glad she was wearing the mask, hiding the red tints she was sure were there. She bowed her head in acceptance.
For the remainder of the day, Tessa worked closely with Justin, and each time he offered a word of encouragement or praise, she felt her cheeks turn bright red.
“Be honest with me. Is there something going on between you and Dr. Myers?” Janet half whispered to Tessa as they stood by the nurses' station.
Tessa’s eyes widened.
“What? No. Why would you keep thinking that?” she asked, folding her arms over her chest and trying to maintain a sober look.
“It’s not just me who thinks this, Tessa. I overheard two of the nurses talking about how in sync the two of you are while working. It’s like you’re reading each other’s minds. It’s cute but scary.”
“Justin and I are just friends, nothing more,” she affirmed.
“Hmm.” Janet released a skeptical breath. “The last time we spoke about this same topic, you and he were merely colleagues; now you’re calling him by his first name and have moved on to being friends. Are you sure there isn’t more there?” she asked with a raised brow.
Tessa opened her mouth to respond, but the alarm went off, and they returned to emergency mode.
ChapterTwenty-Three
Tessa
“Hi.”
“Hi. I missed you,” Tessa smiled demurely as she stared up at her husband.
“I know,” Don replied. “But it’s time to let me go, Tessa.”
“W-what?” she gawked. “What are you saying?”
Don reached up and brushed back a strand of her blond hair before cupping her cheek. “I love you, Tessa.”
“I love you too,” she returned, holding his hand to her cheek. Her eyes watered, and she didn’t know why.
Don’s lips turned up in a smile, and his light-green eyes glittered affectionately.
