BenI had expected to hear from Jerrod the moment Mila had let me know he’d been to her place to confront her about our relationship. I couldn’t believe it had come to this. I had been an idiot to think that our being together wouldn’t come out somehow.I had no doubt that it was our stupidity at the bar. We had been flaunting it, all over each other. And Jerrod had been so different when Mila and I had come back from the bar. I had thought it was because he was drunk, but I knew Jerrod almost as well as I knew myself. I knew what he was like when he was drunk, and that hadn’t been it.The only reason I hadn’t realized something was up right away was because I had been arrogant enough to think that just because we wanted it to be a secret, no one would find out, no matter what we did.We had been fools.Jerrod had already confronted Mila, and I was upset that I hadn’t been there to protect her. No doubt, Jerrod had not been pleasant with her. Jerrod had a short temper on a good day, a

MilaOn Thursday, I finally had a day off again. Even though my days off were still as often as they used to be, it felt a lot longer between them with all the double shifts I was working. At least, the ward was calming down. Most of the accident patients could be moved to regular recovery rooms and beds were emptying in the ICU. It was always good news when we had less work because it meant that people were getting better.Or passing away, but that wasn’t the case, here.My phone rang. It was Danielle. I smiled and answered.“Are you off today?” Danielle asked.“Yes. I really need this break.”“I hear you,” Danielle said. “It’s dull without you, though,” she said.I told her I would be back tomorrow, and we ended the call. Danielle and I had been getting closer over the past week. She was a sweet girl, eager to learn, and her compassion was staggering. But she was young, and she struggled under the pressure sometimes. She was a little squeamish when it came to blood and puss, which

BenDid I feel like shit for what I did to Mila? Yes, I did. When I had said to her that I was trying to figure out if I belonged in this life, I meant it. Not because I had wanted her to think that she wasn’t important to me, but that was how it had come across.I had had so much on my mind when I had met her for coffee. And I guess that was my fault. I should have pushed it away. But I had been having a bad day. My father and Uncle Dean had died, and it turned out it might have been for a reason, and not just an accident. I had no idea where I was going with the company that had been left to me. Twice. I had no idea who I was supposed to be. Was I going to be the man my dad and Uncle Dean wanted me to be? Or the man that turned them down, even after everything that had happened?And what about Jerrod? If I stayed with Mila, I was sure I would lose him. But if I said goodbye to Mila to keep Jerrod in my life, I felt like I would lose a piece of myself. So, maybe going back to New Yor

MilaOn Saturday, I had a rare single shift. I would have worked a double shift, but I asked for a single shift because I was worn out after working so hard. I got it as long as I was on call. I was fine with that. I was always ready to jump in when there was an emergency. And it didn’t happen all too often.Jessica Wright had finally been moved to a regular recovery room, and I was glad about it on so many levels. First of all, she was getting better. In my career, we were happy people left and didn’t come back. It meant they were healthy and safe and that was something we wished for everyone as nurses and doctors. Secondly, I was relieved not to have to deal with Mr. and Mrs. Wright anymore. Of course, they had only been concerned parents. But Mrs. Wright had been harder work than some of the other parents I had dealt with. Having said that, since Jessica had woken up, Mrs. Wright had changed into a calm, nice lady.Stress and fear changed a lot of people.Jessica’s bed might have

BenOn Sunday evening, I drove with my mom to the Castle house. Paul had decided not to join us. Even though mom and Miranda had been friends since long before he had come into the picture, he never really made my mom’s friends his friends. My mom didn’t seem to mind.“You could have told me what was going on, you know,” my mom said. Of course, Miranda had told her that I was with Mila. This city, even though it was so big, was a gossip town. Or at least, the people in my life were.“I didn’t know if you would approve,” I said. But it wasn’t only that. I had been scared that Miranda would find out if my mom knew. Women never kept secrets from each other when they were best friends, and the story would have been far too juicy for my mom to ignore.“What are you talking about?” my mom asked. “Mila is a beautiful young lady. She’s just the kind of balance you need in your life.”“I wish Jerrod would feel the same way,” I said.“He’ll come around.”Everyone was saying that, but I knew him