Once again, I’m left staring at gray dots that come and go.
Something within me deflates when I finally read his reply.
Dumbass
Get some sleep, Cherry.
* * *
By the time I’m getting my things from my locker after work, sleep is already shutting my body down bit by bit. Most days, I’ll get straight into my pajamas at work and just jump in the car so I can go home and pass out without having to waste any time. Today, however, I’m so exhausted that it appears tonight will be another sleep in scrubs night. At least these ones are clean.
I grab my bag with my clothes in them and my phone before heading toward the exit.
“You finally finished?” Nicole, a fellow nurse asks. She’s a good friend, she even came to my thirtieth last year that Wren planned for me.
I let out a heavy sigh. “Is it really finished if I have to be back here tomorrow?”
“Should honestly be illegal to leave a night shift late.”
“Agreed. I’m like the walking dead right now. Two large accidents in one week is a joke.”
Her face softens. “Go and get some sleep, Lee. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I blow her a kiss and carry on walking. I’m about to leave the hospital when a recognizable mop of curly brown hair and sharp features makes me pause.
What the hell is he doing here?
I shake my head to myself before walking over to Finn’s sleeping form. His head rests in his hand, his breaths even and calm, his face relaxed. He has to hunch in the hospital waiting-room chairs in order to fit, his long legs having no choice but to spread out in front of him. How peaceful he looks.
I lean right in, as close to his ear as I can.
So peaceful.
“HEY!”
Finn leaps up with a high-pitched screech, and I almost fall on the floor with how hard I’m laughing. I’d work twenty night shifts just to hear that noise come out of his mouth again. He looks around, panicked, but the moment he spots me, that panic quickly turns to rage, then morphs into unimpressed. He folds his arms over his chest, muscles bulging.
“You done?” he asks after a minute of watching me hunched over, laughing so hard that tears are escaping my eyes.
I try once, twice, five times to tell him yes, but every time I look at his face, I start laughing all over again, remembering the look of pure terror that was spread across it.
He rolls his eyes before unfolding his arms and picking up my bags that lie forgotten on the floor. The action sobers me up enough to form coherent sentences.
“What are you doing with those?”
He rolls his eyes again, turns around and heads out the doors. It must have rained while I’ve been working. Remnants of rainfall darken the sidewalk and the fresh smell of water that’s wanted to fall for days hangs in the air. It’s one of my favorite smells.
Even though I want nothing more than to question him about carrying my bags, I stand still, and take a second to inhale the scent of mother nature’s finest work. The summer air still holds its warmth even though it’s five in the morning. I was supposed to finish at three, but shit happened and I needed to stay. Now, the sun begins to peak out over the horizon, and the birds are singing their songs.
I smile softly as I open my eyes, but it quickly disappears when I see Finn watching me, one hand in his pocket, the other clutching my bag.
“What?” I ask.
He shakes his head, the ghost of a smile on his lips. “Nothing.”
“You’re staring at me.”
“I’m admiring you; there’s a difference.”
