Need Me - M. Malone Page 0,7

shift we had two gunshot wounds, a heart attack and a suspected domestic assault. Things slowed a little giving me hope and then started all over again when there was a wave of injuries from a bar brawl. One of the guys had a piece of glass stuck in his face so close to his eye that it was a miracle he could see.

Why did I think this would be less heartbreaking?

“You’ve had a rough first day, kid. And I was hoping to convince you to leave that agency and go full-time here.” Jackie, the nurse supervisor, pauses to enter something in the computer.

“This is definitely something.”

“I know you’re about to leave but can you take this one first? Suspected wrist fracture and possible concussion. They gave him something for pain in the ambulance.” She hands me the next chart. “Guy got hit by a car.”

“Sure thing.” When I see the name on the chart I chuckle. The patient’s name is listed as Mickey Mouse.

Jackie smiles, too. “You noticed. We have a comedian. Or a criminal. But I hope it’s the first.”

I’m so busy looking over the patient’s chart that I don’t notice anything odd at first. Then I look up and gasp.

“You!”

Vin grins deliriously. “I knew it. I am in heaven. Or maybe hell if my little devil is here.”

I glance behind me to make sure Jackie isn’t close by. The last thing I need on my first day in a new department is to be the subject of gossip.

“What are you doing here? Did you follow me or something?”

He holds up his arm and I gasp at the sight of the bloody, ripped fabric wrapped around his forearm.

“Oh my god. You’re actually hurt.” Instantly I feel like the worst kind of bitch.

“I seem to be bleeding,” he mumbles, before squinting down at his arm like he’s not sure why it looks that way.

“Okay, let’s get you checked in so the doctor can take a look at this arm.”

He startles a little when I come closer with the blood pressure cuff. “It was me vs. taxicab. The cab won this time.”

“I see that. Any reason you were walking in traffic?”

He snorts. “I was trying to hail a ride and didn’t see this guy pulling up so fast. That’ll teach me to look where I’m going and stop daydreaming about blondes with smart mouths.”

I’m not touching that comment so I focus on taking his vitals.

“But it brought me here so that means I was right.”

“About what?”

He points at me with his good hand. “This. Us. I was just thinking about you and now you’re here. It must be fate.”

Although he’s really cute when he’s delirious, what he says just proves I was right not to keep his number.

He’s a keeper. The kind of guy who says he can do casual but always ends up getting serious. Before you know it he’s buying a ring and bringing you home to mama.

And I am not the kind of girl you bring home.

It bums me out though because he’s gorgeous and fun. I take a moment to mourn the night of nakedness we never got to have. But I have to do the right thing and let him go. He believes in good winning over evil and the universe putting people together.

He deserves someone with that same optimism not a girl who believes that life likes to kick us while we’re down.

“Why did you put a fake name? Are you in some kind of trouble?”

He shrugs. “I like cartoons. Is my brother here? My brother should be here soon.”

That’s my cue to leave. Letting him go means meeting the family is definitely not on my to-do list tonight or ever.

“Vin?”

“Hmm?” His eyes are still slightly unfocused and there’s a fine sheen of sweat on his forehead.

I’m glad he has someone coming to get him because I would really feel bad about sneaking off if he was all alone.

That’s a feeling I know all too well and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

“Take care of yourself, okay? Be happy and don’t walk in front of any more cabs.”

“No traffic. Got it.”

He looks so lost and rumpled sitting there that it’s hard to resist giving him a final hug. But instead I just pat his shoulder gently.

“Bye.”

Jackie looks up when I come back out. My expression must be giving away more than I realized because she stops typing.

“Is everything okay? Mickey isn’t giving you any trouble is he?”

I take a deep breath and then shake