Page 52 of That Last Secret

“Ready to head out?” Silas asks.

Just as I’m about to answer, I see Emiline sitting at the nurses’ station, practically falling asleep. Exhaustion is written all over her face, and I know the feeling all too well. I briefly scan the rest of her and notice she’s wearing my sweatshirt Thomas made me give her.

I was hoping she’d wear it, but I didn’t expect to see it on her at work.

I almost never want it back because of how good it looks on her. It’s almost like it was made for her, like I bought it with her in mind, even though I certainly didn’t.

“Are you good for a minute?” I ask Silas, nodding toward Emiline.

He glances in her direction before looking back at me and giving me a smile like he’s onto me. “Take all the time you need, Bennett.”

Smug.

Just as I’m about to make my way to the nurses’ station, a nurse stops me.

“Hey, you got a minute?” she coos.

Andrea.

Fuck, I don’t have time for this right now, nor do I want to engage in conversation with the one nurse who doesn’t stop flirting with me.

Letting out a sigh, I look from her to where Emiline sits, finding her staring with an expression that stirs something unwelcoming in my gut. Gone are the tired eyes I just saw.

I quickly look back at Andrea. “Sure, what’s up?” Sounding more annoyed than I intended to.

“A couple of us are heading out Friday night for some drinks. From what I hear, a few guys from your unit are coming too.” She grins. “I was wondering if you’d wanna go.”

Andrea’s a pretty girl, and if my thoughts weren’t consumed by a certain blonde just a few feet away, I would flirt right back and take her up on her invitation.

Besides, I can still feel Emiline’s eyes on me without even looking over Andrea’s shoulders to confirm.

And damn, I want to look at her.

Only her.

I just need Andrea to stop talking to me.

“I’ll see what Silas is doing,” I finally answer back.

“I was sort of hoping it would be just you and me.” Andrea flutters her lashes at me.

My body betrays me when my eyes trail from hers to just over her shoulder. Emiline is now aggressively typing on the desktop computer, her exhaustion long gone. I realize she can hear our conversation.

Andrea looks over her shoulder to see what I’m looking at before looking back at me. “She won’t be there if that’s what you’re worried about,” she whispers, leaning closer. The small move should affect me, and I should be interested in a woman flirting with me the way she is, but I feel nothing. “I know you don’t care for her. Besides, she has assignments to do for her summer class.”

I swallow and give her a tight nod. I didn’t realize how much I’d shown my disdain for her. Or, has Emiline talked about how much I’ve avoided her?

This used to be what I wanted.

Is it still what I want?

“Although the answer will probably be no, I’ll let you know, Andrea.”

“Yeah, no worries.” She shakes her head in embarrassment. “Just let me know.” She pulls out an alcohol swab from her pocket before writing something on it. She pockets her pen before slipping the swab into the uniform pocket on my chest. “You have my number now. Hope to see you there,officer.”

There’s one thing I hate more than how much I think about Emiline, and it’s when women use my job title in a suggestive tone. It makes me feel like they’re only after one thing.

I make a mental note to trash her number as soon as possible.