digging through the bottom shelf, my brain so delirious that I couldn’t remember what I was even looking for. “I don’t have time. I—”
“You’re going to crash if you don’t put something in your stomach.” When I still didn’t move, she grabbed my hand and hauled me up. “Girl, you’re making me get all nursey on you.”
We laughed as she led me into the hallway and then through the door of our break room. I wasn’t sure why she wasn’t taking me to the cafeteria, where there was much more than just the leftover bags of chips and uneaten fruit that we normally found in here.
Once we stepped inside, I understood.
Each of the three counters were covered in catering platters and baskets of desserts. A large table had been set up in the middle that held even more varieties of both.
The text I had read earlier came flooding into my mind.
Caleb.
Rebecca handed me a plate. “The unit secretary said someone sent it over.”
I gripped her arm, keeping my voice low. “It was Caleb.”
“You’re joking.”
I took out my phone and showed her his text.
“Oh my fucking God,” she groaned, reading the screen. “He’s hot and sweet? I can’t even right now.”
I stuck the plate under my arm. “I’ll catch up. I need to send him a message.”
“Thank him for me, please.”
I moved to the far wall, out of the way of those trying to get to the buffet, and I began to type.
Me: I’m blown away by your generosity. You’ve made us the happiest unit in the hospital, and we appreciate you so much. I don’t know how to thank you for this, but … thank you, thank you, thank you.
Caleb: You can say yes to a date. That would be more than sufficient.
Me: I’d say you’ve certainly earned yourself one.
My phone rang a few seconds after sending the text, Caleb’s name appearing on the screen. I chuckled as I heard Emily’s voice in my head, telling me he would never call, and said, “Hi,” as I brought it up to my ear.
“I don’t want to take up too much of your time. I just want to make sure you’re all right.”
“I’m really tired, sore, probably a little manic at this point.” As I watched Rebecca shove a cookie into her mouth, holding one up to see if I wanted it, I tried to think of how many hours I’d been at the hospital. I couldn’t come up with that answer, but I nodded at my friend and held out my hand. “And I’m starving.”
“That exhausted, raspy voice sounds incredibly sexy on you.”
A burst of tingles shot down my body.
Even in this state, his words had an extreme effect on me.
Rebecca placed a chocolate chip one on my palm, and I took a bite. “Yum,” I said, chewing. “Caleb, this cookie is amazing, and so are you for sending all this stuff.”
“I hope it’s enough to feed the staff. If not, I’ll send more.”
Nurses I knew from other units were coming in, telling me word had gotten out.
“You’re feeding more than just our floor, and we’re not even close to running out. Thanks again, times a million.”
“You guys are healing our city. I’m happy to do it.” He sighed, his tone changing. “It could have been us out there.”
Every time a patient had come in by ambulance, the same thought had entered my mind. “I know.”
“Listen, we’re safe; that’s what matters. Try to get some rest, if that’s possible, and eat up.”
I finished the rest of the cookie. “You’re a good guy, Caleb.”
“And how do you know that?”
“I trust my gut; it never steers me wrong.”
He was silent for a few moments and then, “I’ll talk to you soon, Whitney.”
“Bye.”
I pushed myself off the wall and went over to check out the food. I should have reached for the deli meat and cheese, definitely needing the protein to keep me going, but I went for the sweets instead. I added another cookie to my plate and a muffin that had some crunchy crumbles on top.
Rebecca had already left, so I moved into the corner to eat, and just as I was swallowing my first bite, a familiar face walked into the break room.
“Get over here,” I gasped, setting my treats on the windowsill to wrap my arms around Emily. “How do you feel? Are you sore from falling?”
“I’m fine. I just haven’t seen you in almost forty-eight hours, and I needed to put my eyes on my girls to make sure