Page 144 of Halo

“Listen, Jon … I … I haven't—I mean, I don't know—”

He holds up a hand. “Hey, this is your relationship. If and when you're ready, you'll know.”

Something deep within my ribs flutters, making me want to scream and vomit and laugh all at once. It couldn't be this easy … could it?

“I better head to the ER and finish my rounds. Is your day done—well, at least here?” He smirks.

I chuckle. “Yeah, I need to finish up some charting, and then … yeah.” I blush.

“Catch ya later, Crawford.”

“See ya, Chief.”

I blow out a heavy exhale, shaking my nerves. I retrieve my phone, and dear God.

I knew it.

Leah is posing in one of her new lingerie pieces, looking all wholesome and cute with her back conveniently angled toward the mirror.

And there, reflected over her shoulder, is the slightest peek of her bare ass.

Oh, she knew exactly what she was doing.

ME: This is wildly unfair

LEAH: Motivation to finish :)

A laugh rumbles out of me as I set the phone down and badge into the charting system.

Oh, I'll finish alright.

I pull up my patient, and start verifying my intraoperative notes.

My phone vibrates again.

I shake my head, reaching for it. If that woman is showing any more skin, I’m going to have to find an empty call room and get handsy with myself.

My smile disappears when I see the screen.

GULF WATERS REGIONAL ECC

I answer immediately.

“Is this Nicholas Crawford?”

“Yes.”

“Hi, Mr. Crawford, this is Terry McCullough. I'm a social worker at Gulf Waters Regional Emergency Care.”

My stomach drops.

“Hi. Um … how can I help you?”

““Ms. Tiffany Stone identified you as Grady Stone’s father and asked that we contact you.”

“Right. He's my son.”

“I regret to inform you that they were involved in a motor vehicle collision.”