Needing Him

by Kennedy Fox

  Rolling my eyes, I find the keys to my truck on the other nightstand. At least she had the decency not to steal those too. After I open the door, I look up and down the hall to see if anyone is around. Considering the hallway is empty, I take that as my cue to hurry and try to make it out without running into a single person. Unfortunately, I’m not so lucky, because as soon as my foot hits the bottom step, I run into Jackson, Courtney, Mama, and John. Behind them, I see Drew and their kids, along with River’s best friend, Natalie, and Natalie’s husband. I totally forgot they were meeting for brunch this morning and can’t get out of their presence fast enough.

  “Evan, honey. What are you wearing?” Mama asks, confused by how I look. They all know I haven’t worn clothes like this since I started dressing myself in third grade. Courtney bursts into laughter, which Jackson encourages.

  “Holy shit,” John says under his breath as he shakes his head, realizing Jackson set my ass up. He glares at Jackson, who does nothing but shrug.

  “I’ve got to get the hell out of here,” I say under my breath as all eyes bore into me.

  “I don’t even want to know.” Courtney looks me up and down.

  “You’re not going to stay for brunch? Courtney, Drew, and the kids are heading back home soon.” Mama asks as I head toward the door.

  I lift my hand to stop the conversation and keep walking. I’m sure I’ll have to apologize for my rudeness later, but right now, all I can think about is getting these pants out of my ass.

  No matter how fast I walk, I can’t get away from their laughter quick enough. I climb in the truck and roll up the flannel sleeves because it’s hot as fuck outside and I’m already sweating. This is what I get for trying to be like my dumbass brothers and let loose. Honestly, I feel like I deserve this in some fucked-up way.

  The drive home seems to take longer than usual, though there’s no traffic and I drive over the speed limit, which is already seventy. Hugging curves, I haul ass, hoping to get out of these damn clothes as soon as possible. Jackson has it coming. The next time he calls me to cover for him because he’s too trashed to hang out with family, I’ll refuse. He made his bed, and I’ll make sure he sleeps in it.

  I let out a sigh of relief when my house comes into view. Considering I’m practically married to my job, I chose to buy a house that’s closer to the hospital than the ranch. Mama wasn’t happy, but this is the choice I made for myself, regardless if they supported it at first or not. Becoming a doctor was a dream, and all I ever wanted to do was help people. Not everyone is born with that characteristic, plus I’m good at what I do. By the time I park and get out of the car, it’s nearly eighty degrees outside. Shaking my head, I walk inside, unbutton the shirt, and throw it to the ground, then force the boots off so I can peel the pants from my body.

  I change into workout clothes, grab my keys, and head to the gym. There’s too much built-up frustration, and I need to get rid of it so I can go to work with a clear head tomorrow. That goddamn tuxedo irritates the fuck out of me. After I’m at the gym, I warm up on the treadmill, then lift until my muscles can’t handle any more. Just as I’m walking out, Alexis walks in, and I pull out my earbuds and smile. She’s wearing shorts that barely cover her ass and a tank top.

  “Hey, you, been a while,” she says, lingering on my biceps a little too long before her eyes meet mine. Alexis is a doctor at the hospital who works on the cardiology floor. A year ago, she asked me out, and I refused for other reasons, but ever since, it’s been awkward between us. Not to mention, I have a strict no-dating-doctors-or-nurses rule, or hell, anyone with a hospital badge. Mixing sexual relationships and work is like mixing oil and water; the two never go together and never will.

  “Yeah, it has. How’ve things been going?” I ask.

  She swallows hard. “Pretty good actually. Shorthanded as always, but that’s life. I think I need a vacation.”

  “Yeah.” I smile. “Vacation? What’s that?”

  People are trying to enter the gym, and I take that as my cue to go. “It was good seeing you, Alexis.”

  “You too. Take care of yourself, okay?”

  I give her a head nod and walk out to the truck. My legs feel like gelatin as I open the door, climb in, and buckle. Sweat rolls down my cheek, and I wipe my face on my sleeve as I stare out at the clouds. A thought comes to me, and I’m pissed all over again when I think about last night. Aren’t one-night stands supposed to be freeing? Aren’t I supposed to wake up the next day completely okay with how things ended? It’s exactly what I’d asked for, knowing one night was all I had to offer, but the repercussions aren’t worth it. Honestly, I don’t know how my brothers do it. It’s not me and never will be. This empty feeling inside brings up more anguish than pleasure. Stella’s venom is still streaming through my blood, poisoning my thoughts, and there’s no anti-venom in sight. She was fucking deadly.

  The morning comes early, and considering I’ve had the past few days off, I decide to go in extra early. No one’s going to complain, and I already know I’ll be here longer than usual today to try to catch up and get my head back in the game. Not being in the know is the only thing I hate about taking days off. I never know what sort of situation I’m going to walk into when I return.

  Of course, as soon as I arrive, I’m filled in about each of the patients who are currently in rooms and look at their charts. One of the ER nurses, Brooklyn, falls into step with me, giving me the rundown as I sip my coffee. Four in the morning comes early but growing up on the ranch prepared me for the early hours and long days. One thing I’ll always be thankful for.

  “A few patients are waiting for rooms. There’s an eight-year-old female who has a severe case of pneumonia and pleurisy. We have the room in respiratory isolation at the moment. Recently got the fever down, so if you sign off, we can move her to the pediatric intensive care unit but continue isolation.”

  “Which room?” I ask, setting my coffee down by the computer, not even wanting to sign on and finish reading the emails I didn’t make it through last night.

  “Seven. She’s been here since midnight,” she says.

  Not waiting, I grab a face mask and read over the chart before walking into the room with Brooklyn behind me. Being as quiet as possible when we enter, I look at the current stats while trying to allow the little girl to continue to sleep soundly. Her mother shifts and blinks a few times before giving me a small smile. I give her a head nod and smile in return and continue to make notes, but I don’t like the way she’s wheezing.

  Brooklyn follows me out of the room. “In a few hours, I’m okay with moving her to the PICU, but I want to start breathing treatments and chest physical therapy as soon as possible. She needs to stay on close watch. I don’t want this progressing to bronchitis, especially with the pleurisy.”

  “Understood,” she says.

  Over the next couple of hours, I continue making rounds and checking on patients. Since a few other doctors are covering the emergency room, I go to the PICU to brief the doctor on duty about the eight-year-old girl we’re sending up.

  Just as I finish my conversation with the peds doctor, I see River stepping off the elevator with a shit-eating grin on her face. Fuck, she must know something. Of course, she does. My brothers have the biggest mouths in the south. My timing couldn’t have been more horrible. I look down at the folders in my hand, hoping she didn’t see me.

  “So…how was your weekend?” She keeps a hint of sweetness in her tone, but I know better. River is the perfect match for my brother Alex—independent, but has just enough sass to scare any Bishop into place. I honestly don’t want to talk about this weekend and was hoping to forget it.

  “How do you think it was?” I try my best not to roll my eyes at her because she knows exactly how it was. Great then terrible, especially considering I’m going to have to pay five hundred dollars for that damn tux. Just when I get ready to walk away from her, Amelia, another nurse on the children’s floor, walks up. That’s when I real
ly become a laughing joke for the two of them. At least someone’s laughing, and it’s not me, because nothing’s funny about what happened.

  I take a deep breath and try to release it slowly. River is family now, and I can’t be a dick or Mama will have my head. Her rules, not mine. River continues to tell every detail, not letting one thing slide, especially not the clothes thing.

  “Damn,” Amelia says, her eyes wide. “Who does that?” She chuckles.

  “Stella!” River laughs. “He would've been better off wrapping a sheet around his waist and making a run for it because they’re never going to let him live it down,” she tells Amelia. She got one thing right, that’s for damn sure. I shouldn’t have depended on my brothers to help me in my time of need. I try to tune her out and find my perfect opportunity to leave.

  “Don’t you think I’ve gotten enough shit from my brothers about this weekend? Just had to bring it to work too. Go ahead, laugh it up. I’m glad I could amuse you both.” I groan, getting ready to walk away, but when the elevator doors slide open and I see her, my breath hitches.

  “Who’s that?” Amelia asks, looking back and forth between us.

  “I’m pretty sure that’s the new ER doctor they told us about last month. Dr. Emily Bell. She just finished her residency and has to work under Evan.”

  My body goes completely rigid, and Amelia and River glare at me, then turn and look at the woman who’s walking off the elevator with a smile on her face. Her brown hair is pulled back into a ponytail, and she’s wearing a black pencil skirt that’s so tight it might actually rip when she bends over. Fucking hell. It doesn’t help how her cream top is tucked into her skirt, accentuating her small waist that I had my arms tightly wrapped around when I fucked her senseless.

  Of course, this would be my fate. My luck is comical, and it causes me to stifle a sarcastic laugh.

  “Lighten up before you scare the poor girl away,” River says and elbows me, but obviously she has no fucking clue who the hell this woman is. I overhear her asking for Dr. Bishop, and I shake my head.

  “What’s wrong with you?”

  I glare at River with a tight jaw. “That’s her. That’s the woman who stole my goddamn clothes,” I mutter, feeling my annoyance building. I run my hand over my jaw, trying to figure out why she lied about her name or why she stole my fucking clothes. A million questions run through my mind as River continues to question me. I’m pissed.

  I cross my arms over my broad chest as she walks toward me with a smile on her face. Recognition flashes in her eyes, and the confidence she had when she stepped off that elevator slightly falters. This whole situation is bullshit. One-night stands with strangers are supposed to stay in the past. As she walks toward me, it becomes my present.

  Just as she goes to open her mouth, I interrupt her, and I know she can feel my anger bleeding through. Hell, at this point, the whole hospital probably can.

  “Emily? That’s real cute.” The sarcasm in my voice isn’t lost on her. I don’t regret many things in life, but hooking up with Stella or Emily, or whatever the fuck her name is, is at the top of my list. I should’ve known better than to have a random hookup, and now I’ll pay for it every fucking day I come to work. The truth is, she’s going to pay for what she did too. And the look on her face says she knows as much.

  Chapter Six

  EMILY

  I wake up with a smile on my face, letting everything over the weekend escape my mind. Today’s a new day and the first day of my new job.

  When I did my residency in Houston, my father and sister had already made a name for themselves. I was constantly compared to them and lived in their shadows, but not anymore.

  New town. New job. New me.

  At least that’s what I’m telling myself. I know I’m good at my job, but people treated me like I was fragile. Being Dr. Jason Bell’s daughter meant my father knew about everything I did—good and bad. I couldn’t slip up without it getting back to him even though I worked in a different department and on a different floor.

  Though I consider myself knowledgeable in my field, everyone being in my business, knowing my failures and successes, made me want to branch out and be on my own. Work in a hospital where no one knows my family or history. I want to be treated just like everyone else—no favoritism or special treatment. I want to prove to him, and more importantly, myself, that I’m capable of living up to the expectations all on my own.

  When I caught my ex cheating four months ago, it was the last push I needed to make the change. I’d been thinking about it ever since I finished my residency, but because my father waved around his magic wand and got me a permanent job at the hospital, I felt guilty for wanting to leave and pursue another job. But I wasn’t letting fear keep me there anymore. My dad heard the rumors before I could even tell him about my ex, and once I told him I needed a fresh start, he gave me his blessing, and I applied to San Angelo General Hospital the next day.

  Moving from a large, busy city to a small town is an adjustment, to say the least, but I think it’ll grow on me. I’ve already slipped up and had a random one-night stand, so I’m more determined than ever to focus solely on my career and find new roots here. The weekend is still a blur, and I’m ready to forget it ever happened.

  Kiera: Good luck today! You’re gonna kill it! :)

  * * *

  Kiera: Whoops, sorry. No pun intended.

  I chuckle and shake my head at Kiera’s messages. After Saturday morning’s escapades of waking up in a stranger’s room and stealing his clothes, Kiera spent the rest of the weekend with me. Mostly because she wanted to help me figure out who the mystery man was, but it’d be our last weekend to hang out for quite a while. Spring and summer are a busy time of year for her horse training business, and my hours at the hospital will be unreliable.

  Emily: Thanks! I’ll text you and let you know how it’s going when I can! Cross your fingers for me that all the doctors are old and ugly. I don’t need any more distractions.

  * * *

  Kiera: No way! Hot doctors all the way! I need to live vicariously through you, so I expect a briefing after every shift!

  * * *

  Emily: Highly unlikely! My life is mostly boring, so I should be the one living vicariously through you… and the vet :-)

  Once my adrenaline slowed down and we were back at my place, I finally got the scoop from Kiera about where she ended up the night before. Dr. Trent Laken is an equine vet who specializes in horses and has been Kiera’s family vet for years. On top of training horses, they have a ranch for showing horses and trail riding. He’s also the Bishop’s vet, which explains why he was at the wedding. They ran into each other and had some drinks before Trent whisked her away. According to Kiera, though I’m not sure I completely believe her, they only talked all night long, and she ended up falling asleep in the bed of his truck.

  I couldn’t even be mad at her for ditching me because any chance of her getting over Jackson and finding a decent man has my approval. I don’t know Jackson well enough to form a real opinion about him, but I’ve seen how crazy he’s made Kiera over the years, and if he hasn’t made a move on her yet, he’s never going to. I’d rather she find someone who makes her happy so she can get over him once and for all.

  Kiera: He called me this morning. We’re meeting up for lunch! Squee!

  * * *

  Emily: Yay! That gives me something to look forward to later. I want all the juicy details! Gotta go! Talk later! Mwah!

  Dropping my phone on my bed, I walk to my full-length mirror and look over my outfit again. Cream blouse, black pencil skirt, and red heels to match my bold lipstick. My hair is pulled back into a sleek ponytail, and I forgo my contacts and wear my black-rimmed glasses instead. Normally I’d be wearing scrubs with my lab coat, but I have orientation with the director this morning before I meet up with the department supervisor.

  I packed my bag last night, so all I need is my purse before heading out. It’s barely eight o'clock in
the morning, and I have a thirty-minute commute to get to the hospital. Grabbing my to-go cup of coffee, I swing my bag and purse over my shoulder and lock up before walking to my car.

  My father calls me while I’m driving and wishes me luck on my first day. I tell him thanks, and I thank him again for everything he’s done and taught me. He still wishes I would’ve stayed but understands why it was time for me to do this.

  The hospital is much smaller than the one I’d been working at. I knew this beforehand but seeing it now in person makes it real. This hospital specializes in trauma, which makes sense considering it’s the only medical facility for miles. Every trauma or patient flown by Flight for Life gets brought here. It’s one of the reasons I specifically applied here.

  I make my way to the help desk, and the receptionist directs me to where I need to go. My nerves escalate, and my palms sweat as I make my way up the staircase.

  Dr. Abbott greets me with a smile and ushers me into his office. He goes over my contract and all the specific details about the hospital and my position. He’s the only one who knows who my father is and where I came from—information I don’t plan on sharing with anyone else here.

  “Here are your new lab coats.” He hands me a stack of folded coats in plastic. They have the hospital name and logo on one side with Dr. Bell embroidered on the other side. Smiling, I thank him and press the stack to my chest while I try to hold on to everything else. “Dr. Umbridge is the department supervisor, and he should be here to go through protocols and specifics with you. I’m sure we do things a bit different here than in Houston.” He flashes me a wink, and I know he’s probably right. Though I’m well practiced in medicine, each hospital has their own procedures and protocols, which is one thing I’m actually nervous about. Over the years, I’ve only had to learn things one specific way because I was hired at the hospital where I completed my residency, so breaking the rules that were ingrained into me won’t be easy.