XOXO, Winter

by Bloom, Nikki

  “Restraining order? Complaint?” I repeated, my tone a mocking one. “I think I can take care of myself, thank you.”

  “I don’t doubt it, but sometimes guys like that can be unpredictable, especially when they don’t get what they want.” He placed his hand on my shoulder. “And I would feel a lot more comfortable if I knew you had that level of protection.”

  I shrugged him off. “I don’t need a knight in shining armor, Reed.”

  “I’m not saying you do. I’m just saying that you shouldn’t undermine the police in this situation. They might be a major help in solving this problem of yours.”

  I considered it, but knowing Victor’s temper, I didn’t think it would be a very good idea to piss him off.

  “What was he doing here anyway? I didn’t peg that guy as much of a reader,” he asked after a moment of my silence.

  “Honestly, I have no idea. I think he was meeting someone here or something.” I paused.

  Why was I wasting my time with speculation?

  “Look, I don’t know and I really don’t care to find out. All I want to do is check out my books and get out of here. This basement is starting to give me the heebie-jeebies.”

  “Did you find everything that you were looking for?” he asked.

  “No, but I don’t feel much like searching at this point.”

  He acknowledged my decision with a slight nod of his head, and in the end, I checked out one of my favorites: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. The weight of the book in my arms came as a comfort. I flipped through the pages as I waited for Reed. Since he was new in town, he had to enroll for a library card.

  A few minutes later, he held it triumphantly between his fingers. “I think this makes me an official member of the community.”

  “I see you got yourself a little sign-up prize, huh?” I pointed to the complimentary tote he had been given.

  “Pretty cool, isn’t it?”

  “I have about ten of them in my closet.”

  “Way to pop my bubble.”

  We headed through the doors and into the night. I was glad for the fresh air. It helped me keep my composure even though all I really wanted to do was break down. The run-in with Victor had rattled me more than I wanted to admit.

  “Look, I should probably get home. I have an early shift in the morning, but I just wanted to thank you again.”

  “I’m just glad that I got there in time before anything could happen. I’d hate to think what might have happened otherwise.”

  “Yeah, I don’t want to think about it either.”

  I glanced at the bus stop knowing that was where I needed to go, but I couldn’t leave just yet. There was still one more question that I needed to ask. “What I want to know is what you were doing at the library.”

  “I was looking for some historical fiction,” he answered.

  “I just find it really weird that you ended up here at the exact same time. It almost feels like you followed me.”

  “Followed you? If you’re trying to say I’m some kind of stalker–”

  “That’s not what I said. Don’t put words in my mouth.” I sighed. “Sorry, I guess I’m just a little wound up after what just happened.”

  “Do you want me to drive you home?”

  “No.” The last thing I wanted to do was get in a car with a complete stranger. For all I knew Reed’s nice guy act might be just that – an act. “I’ll take the bus. Or walk even, it’s a pretty nice night.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive and don’t you dare try to stop me.”

  “You really are a hard nut to crack, aren’t you?”

  I didn’t bother to say a word as I started down the road. A part of me wanted to turn around and slip into the warmth of his BMW, but I wasn’t about to eat my pride like that.

  It was time for me to go home, crawl into bed, and forget all about the handsome surgeon.

  6

  Reed

  I watched her go. Walking alone, she looked so vulnerable. All I wanted to do was take her into my arms and keep her safe, but that hardly made any sense when I barely knew the woman. And yet, I felt such a strong attraction to her.

  Seeing as I couldn’t chase after her without getting a slap to the face, I returned to the library, hoping to come across this Victor fellow a second time. To my luck, he was hanging around the back smoking a joint.

  Didn’t this place have security guards or something? How could they allow a scumbag to stink up the place?

  “Did you forget something?” he asked as he took a drag and blew a plume of smoke in my direction.

  “Yeah,” I said. “I forgot to give you a piece of my mind.” My hands tightened into fists. It had been a long, long time since I had taken up a fight. The last time I could remember was back in high school when the class jock had pushed his date to tears. I just can’t stand that shit. Men who treat women like crap are the literal scum of the world.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Winter.”

  “What about her?”

  “I hear you’ve been giving her a hard time.”

  “She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.” He took another drag. “If you ask me, she doesn’t know what’s good for her.”

  “And why is that? Because she refuses to be with you?”

  “Who the hell are you?” He advanced, puffing out his chest. “When did you become her goddamn guard dog?”

  “The second I felt like she needed someone to stand up and say something.”

  He laughed. “What do you think you’re going to do about it? You’re too much of a pretty boy. You don’t know shit. Me? I’ve got street cred.”

  Street cred? I thought to myself. You have to be kidding me.

  “I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe. So, mark my words, if you do anything to make her even slightly uncomfortable then–”

  “Then what?” He pressed himself against my body in an attempt to intimidate me. All it did was fuel the rage I already felt. Oh, I wanted to bash his face in, I really did, but I wasn’t about to resort to violence unless I absolutely needed to.

  “Mark my words.”

  “Ha,” he scoffed. “I knew it. You’re nothing but talk.”

  “Just you remember that.” Being the better man, I walked away. Even that small encounter had me wrapped up in a bad vibe. I really didn’t like that guy. Hopefully, he would give Winter the space she needed, or I’d be getting my hands dirty.

  * * *

  I was just about to fall asleep that night when there came a call. I fumbled around the nightstand until I found my cellphone. “Hello?”

  “Dr. Goodman. We need you at the hospital right away.”

  “The hospital?” I repeated, confused. “Why?”

  “We realize that you do not officially start your contract with us until Monday, but we have received an emergency and we need your help. Our senior doctor is on vacation and we short staffed.”

  “I’ll be there right away.” I was already out of bed and into my slippers. I threw open my luggage and grabbed a random outfit, hastily throwing it on. The hospital would have a waiting pair of scrubs for me to wear once I arrived. Pressed for time, I didn’t even bother to tie my shoes properly before I snagged my car keys from the kitchen counter and off I went.

  I sped along the backroads, hands tight around the steering wheel. Despite my experience and the number of surgeries I had under my belt, I still got the jitters every time I was called in for an emergency situation. There was no telling what could happen. I had that person’s life in my hands and they depended on me.

  Luckily, the hospital wasn’t too far of a drive. I quickly parked in the physicians’ lot and jogged inside. As I followed a nurse into the OR, she had me sign a bunch of legal forms that would help cover the hospital’s ass in case anything happened while I was operating outside of contract. One major fuck up and I’d be in trouble, but I couldn’t let that scare me away from helping
someone in need.

  “What’s the status of the patient?” I asked as I dressed for the operation. Privacy isn’t a luxury you can afford when someone’s life is on the line. “Is she stable?”

  “So far there’s been no spikes in her vitals, but she hasn’t responded to any of the medication. The blood clot is still in place and should it stay any longer then she risks some serious brain damage.”

  “Then we’re forced to perform a thrombolysis.”

  “Yes. Our senior doctor–”

  I tied off the waistband to my scrubs and continued to the hand-washing station, scrubbing them of any contaminants.

  “How is it that you guys have no one in his place that can do this?”

  “We’re a small hospital,” the nurse explained. “We’re the first to receive budget cuts. Good doctors don’t stay with us for very long.”

  “I’m going to need a catheter and have a stent on hand in case I find that I need it. We’re going to save this woman and I’m not going home until that happens.” I slapped on my gloves and entered the operating room. My new team looked a little green but they would have to do.

  Immediately, I started to bark orders. Everyone fell into place like chess pieces on a board. Sweat dripped from my brow as I performed the delicate procedure.

  “Keep an eye on those vitals,” I said. “I’m not losing anyone on this table tonight.”

  Through the blurry monitor, I watched the catheter make its way through her veins. When I reached the clot, I uttered a silent prayer in my head. The seconds crawled by as I waited for a result.

  And finally, the coagulated blood broke apart, carried by the rest of her bloodstream.

  A round of applause sounded all around me. “We aren’t done yet,” I said. “We’re putting a stent in place. This vein isn’t very structurally sound.”

  * * *

  After what felt like an eternity, I emerged from the OR. I was covered in sweat, but thankfully, my patient had survived. Now, only time would tell whether the operation had been a true success or not.

  “We can’t thank you enough,” said one of the older nurses as she rested her hand on my arm.

  “Do you know if there is any family waiting for her?”

  “A daughter, I believe.”

  “I’m going to have a word with her.” I excused myself and shrugged off my bloodied apron. The rest of my clothes had been spared the crimson dye. “Excuse me, is there a Miss Sherman here?”

  A young strawberry blonde looked my way. Immediately, she rushed over. “Is she alright?”

  “Your mother has gone through a thrombectomy. We were able to successfully remove her blood clot–”

  “Oh, thank heavens!” In her relief, she practically fell into my arms. “I was so worried.”

  I steadied her by placing my hands on her elbows. “I am sure, Miss Sherman. I believe your mother will make it through this ordeal, but really, only time will tell.”

  “When will I be able to see her?”

  “In a little while. They are making her comfortable in the intensive care unit. As soon as it is safe to do so, they will call you into her room.”

  “Thank you so much.”

  “Tomorrow, I will go into things in further detail.”

  “Thank you,” she said again. She stepped a little closer and batted her eyelashes. “You don’t know what it means to me that such a capable doctor took care of my mother.” She spoke with an almost sultry tone. If I didn’t know any better, it almost sounded like she was trying to flirt with me. “Perhaps I can treat you to some dinner…”

  “That’s hardly necessary,” I responded, trying to keep things professional. “I was only doing my job. You really have no need to thank me.”

  “Oh, but I insist.” She rested her hand on my upper arm and leaned forward so her chest nearly brushed against mine. “I know this nice little restaurant–”

  “I think right now we need to worry about the wellbeing of your mother.”

  “Oh, I know,” she said quickly. “I meant when she was better, we could go–”

  A firm look on my part was enough to silence her.

  “I –” she started, but I didn’t allow her to finish.

  “I should go back and check on her.”

  She deflated like a popped birthday balloon. “Oh… but I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  It took a lot of effort on my part to bite my tongue. I couldn’t believe this woman. She seemed more concerned with flirting with me then she did her own mother. “Yes, I will be here tomorrow to monitor your mother’s recovery,” I said, keeping it as professional as possible.

  Before she could say another word, I excused myself. After all that had happened, I definitely needed some coffee. Unfortunately, the pot left in the break room was burnt. I drank it all the same.

  Another doctor walked in. “What’s got you all down in the dumps?”

  “I just had a woman learn that her mother survived a thrombectomy and her main concern was with taking me to dinner. I just don’t get it. Wouldn’t you be relieved that your mother has a better chance of survival now that the clot was removed?”

  The young doctor nodded, pursing his lips. “It’s hard these days to find a wholesome woman. Most of them just see us as walking bags of money, you know?” He poured out the rest of the coffee. “I guess that’s just the price we pay for making a lot of dough.”

  “But it shouldn’t be about the money,” I argued.

  “It shouldn’t,” he agreed with a tilt of his head. “But that’s just how the world works, son. The faster you accept that, the faster you can move on.”

  “Maybe I’m just better off staying single. It would save me a lot of trouble.”

  “Look, I know where you’re coming from, but trust me, it isn’t very fun staying a bachelor all your life. It gets lonely as hell.” He placed an arm on my shoulder and I was able to see his nametag: Dr. James O’Leary.

  “I appreciate the kind words, James–”

  “All I’m saying is that you shouldn’t give up hope. There are still a few good girls out there, you just have to find them.”

  Instantly, I thought of Winter. She had this innocent purity that was unlike that of any other girl, but clearly, she wasn’t interested in a relationship so what was the point?

  “Anyway, I should get going. I’m exhausted.”

  “Goodnight,” James said as he stuffed some saltine crackers into his mouth. “And when it’s time, your heart will speak up.”

  “Where did you learn that? The inside of a Hallmark card?”

  He shrugged. “I’ll admit that I’ve watched my fair share of rom-coms with my sister.”

  I laughed. “I’ll see you around.”

  “See you.”

  And with that, it was finally time for me to go home.

  7

  Winter

  A few days later.

  “There’s so much to remember,” I groaned to myself as I tried to memorize the skeletal structure of a dog. “I’m never going to pass this test…” I was starting to freak myself out. Knowing that I wouldn’t retain any information in panic mode, I stopped and took a deep breath. When that wasn’t enough, I went around to the dog kennels and started checking on everyone’s food and water. “Looks like everyone is A-okay.” A few of the dogs barked in response.

  Suddenly, someone walked in through the front door.

  Ding!

  A moment of silence before all the animals at the shelter started to lose their minds.

  “Well, well, this is quite the greeting.” I knew that deep, husky voice. It had followed me into my dreams.

  “Reed?” I asked aloud.

  “Unless I have a doppelgänger walking around town–”

  The rolling of my eyes was enough to get him to stop whatever lame comment was coming next.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked.

  He smiled that charming smile of his and my heart instantly turned to mush. “Well, I couldn
’t leave it up to fate,” he said with a wink. “I just had to see you again.”

  “But how did you know where to find me?”

  “First of all, it's not like this town has a hundred animal shelters – there’s just the one.”

  “Okay, yeah, but my schedule–”

  “Iris.”

  “Wait, she actually ratted me out?”

  “I wouldn’t consider it ratting you out,” he said. “When I said I wanted to adopt a dog and that I would rather adopt one while you were volunteering, she caved.”

  “So, you lied to my friend?”

  “I didn’t lie. I really am in the market for a dog.”

  I eyed him with suspicion. “And are you ready to be a dog owner? Have you ever owned a dog before?”

  “Not as an adult, but as a kid I always grew up with a dog in the house. A cat too, but I wasn’t very fond of her. She was a bit feral.” As he spoke, he browsed through our selection. “And after living on my own for a few days I learned that I hate having a house that’s so empty. I thought a dog would be a good addition.”

  “Hmm, with your line of work, you’ll want a dog that can behave on his own for long periods of time.” I glanced around the room. I knew the personality of every dog we had there. “Do you plan on crate training?”

  “What do you recommend?”

  “Personally, I think it's cruel to have a dog caged up all day long but it's your choice. If it is done correctly, the dog will be fine.” I opened up a cage all the way at the back. Timber was one of our best dogs. He was a golden mix and he had a very loving and calm personality, but the second he saw Reed squatting down by another dog, he charged into a sprint.

  “Whoa!”

  Timber knocked him down and attacked him with a slew of kisses.

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “I think it’s safe to say that he likes you.”