Chapter 7

Elizabeth

I walked down the hall and tried to catch my breath. I wasn't being saucy or trying to tease him, it just rolled off my tongue without thought. Wrapping my arms around myself, I let out a short yelp as someone turned the corner and plowed into me.

"Oh! Shit. Sorry, Lizzy." Parks.

"It's Elizabeth, and watch where you're going, playboy." I gave him a cheeky grin. I'd never date a guy like him in a million years, but he seemed like the right man to know. He was outgoing from what I could tell, and I had no doubt that he knew everyone in the hospital.

"Now, look... if you get to call me playboy, then I get to call you Lizzy." He extended his hand. "Come on. Shake it. You know you wanna."

I laughed and shook his hand. His energy was contagious, his smile wide and welcoming. With what was sure to be a killer personality and his light green eyes and spiky dark hair, I had no doubt that Steph would be talking about him soon. Him and Aiden.

Aiden. Just the thought of him had my heart racing, my body aching for something I'd never in a million years get.

"Better? Satisfied?" I pulled my hand back and started to move past him.

"I figured your hands were soft." He moved in beside me.

"Why's that? Do I look like a soft type of gal? Fluffy and squishy?" I gave him a sideways glance as he visibly paled. I couldn't help but laugh at his discomfort.

"What? No. Ugh. You girls are so damn difficult." He held the door open for me to the girl’s locker room.

"This one especially." I glanced over my shoulder as he stopped. He wasn't allowed in the girl’s side, which was a perfect getaway for me.

"Come have a drink with me tonight." His eyes moved down me, and where I should have felt something, I didn't.

"I will!" Stephanie moved up beside me and extended her hand. "I'm Stephanie, Elizabeth's best friend."

"Well... this day just keeps getting better." He reached in as far as he could while keeping one foot out in the hallway, and shook Steph's hand. "Come have a drink with me tonight, and bring your uptight friend."

I growled and lifted my eyebrow. "I'm not here to have fun."

"She's always like this. I'll drag her along. Give me your cell and I'll put my number in it." Steph moved away from me, and I turned my back and walked to my locker. She'd be pissy about me not going, but hopefully it would be a good time for her to win Parks over. They'd be cute together, though I was pretty sure the hospital had rules against that sort of thing.

"Give me Lizzy's digits too."

I turned and narrowed my eyes at both of them. "Don't you dare. I'm dating someone. Stop being a flirt, playboy."

"Come on, Lizzy. I just want to be friends." He gave me one of the cutest looks I'd ever seen. He was a panty-melter no doubt. The sound of Steph's girlie sigh had me barking out a sharp laugh.

"You're corrupt. Stay away from me. I'm not available for anything, including a friendship." I turned back to the locker and rolled my eyes, unable to help myself. There was no way in hell I would ever consider dating someone like Parks. He was looking to score, and then he’d be on to the next victim.

"Alright, but don't deny me the right to say that I told you so when you're asking for my digits," he laughed, and I ignored him, giving Steph a chance to hopefully take his attention off of me.

"Don't forget to text me where and what time," Stephanie called after him.

I glanced back and lifted my eyebrow as she approached. "He's nothing but trouble."

"I know. I love it," she giggled and wrapped me in a side hug. "How are you? Working different shifts than you is killing me."

"At least you got the evening shift." I bumped my forehead against hers softly. "I miss you too, though."

"Come with me tonight. This guy is obviously interested in you, but just deny him, and I'll clean up the mess you leave behind." She gave me a silly smile and moved back. "Please?"

"I really can't. I have a dinner at Dr. Crawford's house tonight. It's something I'm not missing." I turned from her and finished putting my stuff up before grabbing a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. "I'm running home to shower and change into something a little dressier."

"I'm still jealous over you getting Dr. Crawford as your mentor. Mine's a mean old woman with a thick accent that I can barely understand. Who'd you sleep with to get your good deal?" She pushed against my shoulder with hers.

"No one. I haven't had sex in at least a few months." I glanced over at her and shrugged. "And I'm not sure it was worth talking about the last time I did."

"Oh, Liz. That's horrible." She turned to me, but I diverted. I'd spent too much of my time talking about my relationship with Jackson. It was time to do something about it.

"Yeah. I'm going to swing by and see him on the way home." I pulled my hair into a ponytail and quickly changed. "Have fun tonight. We'll catch up when you get home. I'll try to stay up and wait for you."

"Alright. Good luck with Jack. You know you've tried to break up with him a million times. He's not going to let you go."

I chuckled. "How did you know I was going to try to break up with him?"

"Please. Why else would you stop by to see him?" She cocked her eyebrow at me and put a hand on her hip.

"That predictable?" I groaned and closed my locker.

"Yep, but go take care of it. You'll feel better after you get it over with. It's beyond time for both of you to move on. You're just comfortably stuck together. That's not love, nor is it fair." She rubbed my back soothingly.

"Thanks. You're right." I gave her a quick hug and walked out into the hall, to find Aiden and Parks standing at the far end, laughing about something. It was nice to see Dr. Crawford smiling and relaxed. His laugh was warm, and wrapped around me, pushing me toward them. I forced myself to keep walking, but he glanced at me and waved me over.

"Elizabeth. We're cardiologists. We're here to save hearts, not destroy them." The cheeky grin on his handsome face left me breathless.

"Yeah, Lizzy." Parks clamped his hands over his heart and stumbled back. "You're killing me."

"You should be cupping your crotch, not your heart." I winked at Parks and walked to the door. "I'm not sure it's love you're after."

Aiden's laughter filled the hall, and several of the nurses just ahead of me stopped what they were doing and looked back, smiling much like I was.

"Alright, princess. That's another one for you. You're up by two, but I'm coming after you," Parks called after me.

I turned and winked at him as I stopped by the exit. I was playing so far out of my normal comfort zone that it was comical.

"Bring it, playboy, but you should know that you're not getting anywhere with me." I shrugged, caught Aiden's eye for a second, and turned, walking out into the warm autumn afternoon.

I wanted my teasing to be with the handsome doctor who pretended to be stern and unyielding. He wasn't going to be an easy nut to crack, but I wanted to give it a go. Even if it were just for a fun friendship like he and Parks had.

I was jealous of the younger doctor who had Aiden's attention. I wanted it too.