Who I Am With You (Imagination #10) - Staci Stallings Page 0,5

glad of that for her friend.

“It’s up to you,” Lily said, “but I figured it couldn’t hurt to mention it.”

Slowly Taylor’s gaze fell to the paint brush in her hand. “I’ll think about it.”

“I see you have the AART requirement completed; however, the state licensing documentation appears to be missing,” Ms. Jefferies said as she reviewed Greg’s information which someone had uploaded into the hospital’s employment system when he had applied in August. “I don’t see that listed.”

“Right.” Greg shifted in the chair. “I took the AART last summer. They said I had to have that to get a job in radiography.”

“Yes, but you also must be licensed by the state.”

“Okay? They didn’t mention that when I applied last August.”

“Probably because at the time we were not filling a position in radiology anyway, so it didn’t seem pertinent,” Ms. Jefferies said. She turned her chair all the way toward him and laid her hands on the desk. “Unfortunately the next certification test isn’t until February 22. By then we will most likely have filled all the positions available.”

Greg dropped his head and nodded. How did he always manage to mess these things up?

“However,” Ms. Jefferies said, “there is a limited certification test on January 11th.”

His head jerked up as hope surged.

“I’m not saying that getting the job is a lock even if you were to pass it,” she said, holding up her hands. “And if we get any applicants with full certification, we will have to consider them first.” She withered just a touch. “But I suppose you can take the gamble of taking the test, and if you pass it, submitting the application with a limited certification. Of course, if you don’t pass that test or the one in February…”

There were so many ifs and maybes, Greg could hardly navigate them all. “But there is a chance?”

A breath and Mrs. Jefferies nodded. “A slim one, yes.”

“Nice,” Lily said, coming over once again.

Taylor picked her brush up and looked at her work. The pond in the forefront created a mirror for the trees behind. “Thanks.”

“You sure you’re not thinking about slipping art in there somewhere in the middle of all of those biology classes?”

With a sigh and a small laugh, Taylor shook her head. “Wouldn’t that be cool?”

“Sure would.” Lily sat on the floor and put her chin on her fists. “Probably goes without saying, but I’m sure going to miss you when you go back in a couple weeks.”

Slipping over to her friend, Taylor’s gaze said the same. “I mean, I do know where you live now, so…”

Never taking her eyes off of Taylor, Lily leaned forward. “Just don’t forget me, okay?”

“Not a chance.”

Chapter 2

“Snacks,” Taylor said at five in the morning on Monday when Greg showed up, bleary-eyed and only half awake. She went to the refrigerator and pulled out two plastic sacks. “I’ve got sandwiches and chips so we don’t have to stop if we don’t want. I’ve got enough Dr. Pepper to drown a horse.” She put the sacks in the cooler and straightened, hands on hips. “Anything else?”

“Sleep?”

She grinned at him. “In the good news department, I think I even have a plan for that.” Pointing at the cooler, she grabbed up her coat and swung it on. “You get that.”

Greg did as instructed and followed her to and out the door, dragging his feet. “Do I even want to ask about this plan of yours?”

In front of him, she opened the back door of the car so he could put the cooler in, which he did.

“Simple,” she said, never moving as she put out her hand. “You let me drive.”

“Oh. Uh.” Stepping back, he put his hands on his hips and tipped his head. “It’s cool. I was just kidding. I can drive.”

“I know you can, but so can I. Now hand over them keys, turkey.” She wiggled her fingers. “Come on. You’re burning daylight here.”

Truthfully, Greg wanted to point out to her that it was in fact the middle of the night, but he finally decided arguing was pointless. With a small stretch, he reached into his pocket and produced the keys, handing them to her with a shake of his head as he closed the trunk. “Just don’t make me regret this.”

“Ha. Ha,” she said as she turned to get in as he went around to the other side. “Might I remind you which of us passed her driving test on the first try?”

“Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And you’re never going to let