Page 330 of The Doctors Will See You Now

Obviously, I wasn’t a doctor, but her words hit me hard.

I really helped…contributed something.

Was it really too late for me to go to med school?

Scott flashed a knowing smile in my direction before whispering for my ears only, “It’s never too late, Dr. Paige.”

I feigned annoyance with a roll of my eyes, but I couldn’t deny that the day had put a bug in my brain. Could I really go my whole life without achieving my dream?

I honestly didn’t know the answer to that, but I did know I’d felt more invigorated by today than I had by anything I’d ever done at Gossip.

Four hours in the ER with Scott and I felt like I was falling in love with medicine all over again.

Maybe medicine isn’t the only thing you’re falling in love with.

Oh. Boy.

I grabbed my phone out of my pocket as I stepped out of the elevator on my way down from the OR.

A man had come in with an esophageal collapse, and we’d rushed him right in nearly the minute I’d started this eight-hour shift. It threw me off a little working a morning shift after working mostly nights—especially after staying up late last night with Harlow—but as soon as that guy had come through the doors in his friends’ arms, I’d been wide awake.

On a very important side note: Ever since I’d taken Harlow on a date to my ER about a week ago, late nights—aka lots and lots of sex—together have become our thing.

Neither one of us want to be the first to say “Uncle” to our aching tired bodies or fluttering sleepy eyes. These late night battles with Harlow are my new favorite pastime.

But the surgery had taken nearly five full hours, and after leaving Harlow sleeping in my bed this morning, I’d wanted to call her before lunch.

I had the screen on recent calls and my thumb hovering over her name when I got interrupted.

“Scott!” Deb yelled, running from the other side of the ER. Assuming her cry was as urgent as it sounded, I immediately dropped my phone back in my pocket, grabbed a pair of gloves from the nearest supply cart, and broke into a jog toward her.

As soon as we were within reaching distance, she swatted the gloves right out of my hand. I watched as they fell to the floor with a soft plop.

Um. Not emergent, then, I guessed.

“Okay, then. What’s up, Deb?”

“They just announced this as the most efficient ER in New York City! You’re getting an award!”

Me?

“Why am I getting an award?” I asked dumbly, and she rolled her eyes.

“You run this ER!”

Now it was my turn to roll mine. “Not really, Deb. I do some shit, but we all know you’re the one who really runs everything around here. This is your award.”

“Yeah, well. They don’t give this award to nurses. They give it to doctors, and you’re the doctor. So just suck it up and accept it. Though, I won’t mind if you mention me in your acceptance speech.”

“Acceptance speech?”

She slapped at my arm. “Yes. There’s a ceremony. Next week. You get a key to the city from the mayor and everything.”

Jesus Christmas, that was ridiculous.

“Yeah, I think I’ll be busy. Schedule me for a shift then, would you?”

“No. You will go there, you will do this, I will murder you.”