Page 49 of Halo

I nod, but I already know what I'm about to find. I carefully unzip the main compartment.

And gasp.

For a second, my brain can't make sense of what I'm seeing.

I expected a box of crayons—which alone would've been incredibly thoughtful.

But this? This compartment is filled to the brim with items from my classroom supply list. Not some of it. All of it. Glue sticks, tissues, markers, disinfecting wipes, even writing pads. He has it all stacked and neatly tucked into different compartments.

I pick up the note again, tracing his handwriting with my fingertips as I read it again. Only this time, a nervous flutter blooms in my chest as my pulse skips a beat.

Oh no, cowboy. What have you started?

Chapter 13

Nick

“Incision.”

Finally. We made it. I was beginning to think this surgery would never happen.

My first patient of the day was a reschedule of a rescheduled cholecystectomy from five months ago. On her original surgery date, she ate a kolache on the way to the hospital. This woman was a sweet-talker and painfully flirty, but no amount of southern charm was going to convince me to induce anesthesia on a non-fasting patient. Emergency? Sure, but not scheduled. As far as it depends on me, my goal is to keep patients off of a vent in the ICU.

When she arrived for her second attempt two months ago, she thought it would be funny to bring breakfast kolaches for the entire surgical team—which was very nice. The only problem is she took a sedative to calm her nerves, and her high-ass promptly ate one while she sat in pre-op.

I can't make this shit up.

Third time's a charm, and today is the day. She has fasted, and she is officially anesthetized for the removal of her gallbladder.

I finish documenting before scanning through the anesthesia record one last time. Logging out of the charting system, I pat Gene, our nurse anesthetist, on the shoulder. “Need anything from me?”

“I think I'm good.”

“Y'sure? I know where I can find a mild sedative and a kolache—”

“Dude, I swear to God, if I hear the word kolache one more time …”

“So that's a no then?”

“Bye, Crawford.”

“Okay, okay.” I chuckle. “Don't call me if those vital signs tank—and by don't, I mean please do, or else I'll make sure your own vitals tank.”

Gene chuckles. “Duly noted. Now get out of here.”

I give a little salute before heading out of the operating room to pre-op. The day has only just begun, and it's a full board of surgeries with back-to-back cases.

As I take a quick sip of burnt-flavored coffee, my phone vibrates in my pocket. My heart flutters with the anticipation of a picture of my son, but I force myself to finish reviewing the surgical board before pulling it out.

Today is a big day for Grady. His kindergarten class is taking a field trip to the children's museum that has an interactive dinosaur exhibit. He's been talking my ear off all week about it.

What has him most excited, though, is that Tiffany had taken the day off to chaperone.

Not going to lie: I'm a little jealous. I would've done anything to have gone on that field trip with him. Hell, I would do anything just to spend more time with him.

Tiffany and I are still figuring out this whole co-parenting thing. We don't want to overwhelm Grady with too much change all at once, so we're taking things slow. Painfully slow, if you ask me.

Fortunately, Tiffany makes an effort to keep me included, and that includes the occasional photo update.