“Stop obsessing, you look terrific.” Brody walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist as I stopped to check my refection in the mirror for the hundredth time that morning.
“I’m just so nervous, I feel like I’m gonna puke.”
“Then kiss me now.” He laughed as he spun me around by my hips and planted his lips firmly on mine, causing my stress to evaporate faster with each gentle swipe of his tongue.
“Oh my God,” I said against his lips. “I’m gonna be late.”
“It’d be worth it.” He groaned as he trailed kisses down my neck.
“I’m sure it would.” I let my head fall back, enjoying the feel of his lips exploring my skin. “But, it’s my first day. I can’t be late.”
I gently pushed him off of me and kissed the tip of his nose. “Save that for later, okay?”
“Deal.” He grinned.
I checked my appearance one more time.
New blue scrubs, check.
New shoes, check.
Lucky silver necklace, check.
Today was the first day of my externship and my nerves were a mess. I wanted to make a good first impression, but there was no chance of that happening if I couldn’t get my hands to stop shaking long enough to put eyeliner on, let alone insert an IV.
“I think I’m ready,” I said a few minutes later as I walked into the kitchen. Brody and the girls were sitting at the island eating waffles, the cozy smell of syrup loomed in the air. A morsel of jealousy sat in my stomach as I packed up my lunch and thought about them hanging out here all day while I was at the hospital. I was also incredibly thankful that Brody was willing to babysit my kids all day. Figures the one day my mom had a doctor’s appointment and couldn’t help me would be the first day of my program.
“Thanks for staying with them today.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his cheek.
“My pleasure.” He grinned at the girls. “We’re gonna have fun today, right?”
“Yay!” They cheered.
“I’m thinking we mow the lawn, give Diesel a bath, clean out the gutters, then have a bunch of broccoli for lunch. Sound good?” He wiggled his eyebrows at them.
Lucy and Piper looked at each other with disgusted faces. “Noooo!”
“I think you should make them wash the dishes too, they’re six years old now, they can handle it,” I teased.
They just shook their heads back and forth, their eyes wide.
“I’m gonna head out. Girls, you go easy on him today, okay?”
“Yes, Mom,” Lucy said.
“Piper, you too.”
“Mm-hmm,” she mumbled, shoving a giant bite of waffle in her mouth. It had only been a few weeks since her accident and I was so thankful she finally had her appetite back.
I kissed each of their cheeks and grabbed my purse. “If there are any problems, I have my phone with me.” I leaned down and kissed Brody’s cheek. Both of the girls giggled. They still weren’t completely used to our moments of affection toward each other, but we weren’t hiding anymore. I loved him, he loved me and we were going with it.
“We’re good.” He grinned and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me in tight. “Good luck today. I know you’re gonna do great.”
“Thanks,” I sighed, my nerves starting to get the best of me. “I just want this day to be over. I’m anxious to come home and snuggle up with the three of you tonight.”
“Sounds like a date,” he said.
I smiled at him and turned to head out when he pulled my hand back toward him. I spun around and locked eyes with him; his jet-black pupils swam in a sea of brilliant green and focused right on me. I pulled my browns together and looked at him curiously.
He looked at the girls, then back at me. “Pay the toll.” He cupped my rear and drew me in close to him, planting a firm kiss on my lips, while the girls squealed and covered their eyes.
The automatic doors of the hospital slid open and the familiar smell hit me. It’s unmistakable, that hospital smell, a weird combination of latex and iodine and death. If colors had smells, I think white would smell like the hospital. Pink would be flowers, yellow would be fresh air, blue would be the sea.
White … definitely the hospital.
I walked up to the registration desk where a girl sat chomping on her gum like a cow, looking bored out of her mind.
“Hi, my name is Kacie Jensen. I’m supposed to start my externship today, but this is my first time here and I’m not exactly sure where to go.”
She glared up at me from her cell phone and without responding, pointed toward another large set of automatic sliding doors with EMERGENCY ROOM painted above them in bright red. “Thanks,” I said as I looked back at her.
She rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to her phone.
Brat.