Yeah. Long day.
Wait 10 mins out back behind the bar.
He didn’t reply, tucking his phone away and returning to the table, noting the steely glint in Lawson’s gaze as he sipped his beer looking—angry?
“All right, kids,” John began in a long sigh. “It’s time for me to head out for the evening. It was fun,” he said to the younger doctors, and patting Samuels on the shoulder. “You can get the bill next time.”
Samuels’s grin was lopsided and his eyelids at half-mast, clearly drunk. “Aw, you shouldn’t have, buddy.”
“Yeah, I did,” he replied, ruffling his curly hair. “Hope all of you have rides.”
Reyes and Emily waved their goodbyes happily. Ava had promptly taken John’s vacated seat beside Lawson and was leaning provocatively into him, playfully fingering the brim of his hat in a flirtatious way that set John’s teeth on edge.
Fuck, I need air.
“I’ll walk you out,” Steph said, getting to her feet and slinging her purse over her shoulder. John opened the door for her, the crisp scent of fresh fallen leaves and damp pavement filling his nostrils. He let out a long breath.
“I love this time of year,” Steph said, pulling out her car keys.
“You okay to drive?” he asked.
She waved a dismissive hand and paused, “Well, now that you say that… Probably not. Wait with me till my Uber gets here?”
“Of course,” he said as she ordered her car via app. He leaned against the red brick building, listening to the commotion within and trying not to think about the way Ava was looking at Lawson.
“God, to be a kid again, with all that damned energy. I don’t remember how we did it,” Steph drawled, joining him against the wall, wrapping her arms around her waist to keep warm. John slipped his arm over her shoulders and drew her into his side. They had been friends since day one. Years of going through hell together had bonded them.
Steph was his rock, his navigator, and in many ways, his best friend.
“I don’t remember either, if that makes you feel better,” John said with a gentle smile.
She snorted. “We had fun times, though.”
“We still do.”
“You say that, but all we do is come here. And then go back to work. Rinse and repeat.”
“True, but I like it here.”
Steph returned the smile, burrowing into him. “Me too.”
“We could always go line dancing,” he teased.
Steph barked out a rich laugh, and they watched the light mist of rain and the twinkle of city lights. Finally, Steph said, “I’m glad you’re doing better.”
He stiffened.
Steph glanced at him with that knowing expression. “I’m not stupid, you know.”
“Never said you were.”
“I know you weren’t doing well there for a minute, Johnny. You know you can always come to me, right?” she murmured. “You’re my best friend—hell, possibly my only friend, outside of Samuels and my husband.”
Overwhelmed with the tenderness of her statement, John kissed the side of her temple, squeezing her shoulders. “I appreciate that.”
“And if he gives you any trouble, just send him my way.”
He hesitated, breath hitching in his chest. “Who?”
