But Tucker was right—she’d done good things, and she’d learned so much. She often forgot to take the time to pat herself on the back about all those good things.
“Thank you, Tucker.”
“For what?”
“For reminding me that I’m good at what I do.”
He smiled. “You’re welcome. Try reminding yourself every day.”
“I will.”
He paid the bill, and they headed out toward his car. He drove her back to the hospital, stopping out front.
“Where are you parked? I’ll drive you to your car.”
“Here is fine. I’m parked in the physician’s lot and you need an access code to get in there.”
He turned in his seat to face her. “Would you like to come to my place? I really liked spending time with you tonight, Aubry. I don’t want it to end yet.”
Her stomach did a tumble. She’d started out the evening so angry with him for not calling her. But at dinner, they’d had such an in-depth conversation. She’d learned a lot about him. If nothing else, she wanted to continue to learn more, to talk more with him.
“I’d like that. Wait here for me and I’ll meet you.”
She got out of the car and hustled her way to the elevators.
“Dr. Ross?”
She stopped and turned as one of the attendings she occasionally worked with on the night shift called her name.
“Yes, Dr. Landing.”
“We’ve got a multiple-vehicle accident coming in. We could use all the hands we can get.”
“I’m . . . off duty.”
“Not now you aren’t. We’re shorthanded and need some help.”
She sighed. As a resident, she had to do what she was told, and as a doctor, it was her duty to help the sick and injured. Thankfully she’d had that last glass of wine more than an hour ago and had enjoyed a couple of cups of coffee since then. “Of course. I’ll go change and be right there.”
She headed down the hallway, grabbing her phone out of her pocket. She punched in Tucker’s number.
He answered right away. “Did you get lost on your way to the car?”
“Worse. There’s a multi-vehicle accident on its way in. One of my attendings just stopped me and asked me to help.”
“Go do your job, Aubry. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
She appreciated that he understood. “Okay, thanks, Tucker.”
She hung up, slipped her phone in her purse and hustled her way into the locker room to change into a pair of scrubs.
TRUE TO HIS WORD THIS TIME, AND BECAUSE HE REALIZED he didn’t always follow through, Tucker contacted Aubry the next afternoon. He figured after putting in some extra time at the hospital, she might be exhausted and need some sleep, so he texted her and said to let him know when she was awake.
She texted him just as he got to the ballpark for warm-ups.
Got your text. Sorry. Late night that went longer than expected. What does your evening look like?
He smiled and sent her a return text.
Just got to the ballpark. Have a game tonight. I’m pitching. Wanna come?
It took her a few minutes to reply with: Sure.
He laughed, because he knew she obviously didn’t want to come. She was probably tired. But he’d take what he could get. So he texted back.
Great. Assume you’ll sit in the owner’s box with your dad. See you after the game.
Several minutes later, she replied.
Good luck, Tucker.
He grinned, then headed into the locker room. It was time to get into game mode and clear his mind of everything else. This was an important game. After yesterday’s loss on their home turf, they needed to win this one tonight.
And it was up to him to pitch well.
AUBRY ARRIVED AT THE BALLPARK RIGHT BEFORE THE game started. She had no idea what she was doing there. She’d ended up working until ten a.m. Dr. Chen finally gave her a break and told her to take the rest of the day off, since, other than dinner with Tucker last night, she’d basically been working nonstop.
The multi-vehicle accident had been brutal. They’d lost one of the victims, unable to resuscitate him. He’d coded twice in the ambulance on the way, and the team had worked on him for forty minutes until the attending had finally, reluctantly, called it.
It was always difficult to lose a patient, but his injuries had been too severe for them to save him. Then they’d concentrated on taking care of everyone else, including the man’s wife and two children who’d also been injured, though nothing life threatening. Thank goodness.
They’d recover. But a woman had lost her husband, and those kids had lost their dad. The attending physician had been the one to tell the wife that her husband hadn’t made it. Some day that would be her job.
She wasn’t looking forward to it. She was in the business of saving lives, not losing them.
It had been a rough night, and she’d gone home, fallen into bed and immediately passed out until she woke about five p.m., dazed and groggy. Six hours was a lot of sleep for her. She’d headed straight for her coffeemaker, eaten a bowl of oatmeal and then taken a shower, both of which had helped a lot.
Then she’d gone through her phone and seen Tucker’s text. And when he’d asked if she’d come to the game, the logical part of her brain had told her to say no.
But she sensed the eagerness in his request, so here she was, in the owner’s box, smiling as she greeted her dad.
He hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. “This is a surprise. You hardly ever come to the games anymore. You’re always working.”