Total pages in book: 296
Estimated words: 284055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1420(@200wpm)___ 1136(@250wpm)___ 947(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 284055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1420(@200wpm)___ 1136(@250wpm)___ 947(@300wpm)
“I can’t believe I have to go back to work on Monday,” Natalie whines. “Maybe I could convince Adam to move down here instead. I’m sure they could use a radiologist at the hospital or something.” Her tone is serious, though I know she’d never leave her family.
“Doubtful.” I chuckle. “He’s too much a country boy. He’d miss his ice fishing and snowboarding.”
Her shoulders fall. “Damn. A girl could get used to this beach lifestyle.”
I grin, agreeing. “It’s definitely going to be hard going back to twelve-hour shifts after this.”
“Damn, you work long hours,” Alex states. “I’m usually up around four or five a.m. to feed the animals before starting on the day’s chores, but Dylan and I fuck around most of the time.” He chuckles, and I have a feeling he’s being humble about how hard he actually works.
“Twelve hours minimum,” I add. “Then sometimes I don’t even get a break until the end of my shift, which means my feet are swollen and I look like I’ve just ran a marathon.”
“That’s intense,” he says, studying my features.
“I’m sure you’re used to those long hours, too,” I say. “Don’t ranchers work till the late afternoon or something?”
“Oh, yeah. It just depends. Every week can be different, especially at the Bishop ranch. My older brothers, Jackson and John, live on the ranch, too, so we’re supposed to split up the duties.”
“I can’t even imagine living on a ranch,” Natalie blurts out. “Being constantly dirty and smelly and oh my God, the heat. That’s a double hell no from me.”
Alex chuckles. “You city girls.”
I grin, not denying he’s right. I love my job, and at least I get to work indoors.
Moments later, our food arrives, and we dig in. Alex talks more about the family ranch and his brothers. It’s very family-oriented, which actually sounds nice. But there’s no denying we’re from two completely different worlds.
“So you’ve talked about different aspects of your job, but I don’t think you told me what made you want to become a nurse in the first place,” Alex says, curiously, and though his question isn’t out of line, it does come a little unexpected.
Natalie lifts her face right away to watch my expression and waits to see if I need an out. I don’t let her give me one, and even though talking about Rylie never gets easier, I don’t avoid it either. Hiding what happened to my baby sister won’t change the past.
“I ended up spending a lot of time in hospitals when I was eleven or twelve. As sad as it sounds, it became my second home for a few years. I met a lot of nurses and doctors and started learning more and more about it as I got older,” I begin.
“Were you sick?” His brows squeeze together.
“No, I wasn’t.” I swallow, lowering my eyes before looking back up. “My baby sister, Rylie, had leukemia, and after she was diagnosed, I didn’t leave her side. Every doctor appointment, ER visit, or chemo treatment—I stood next to her because I didn’t want her to be alone.”
“Oh my God, River. I’m so sorry.” He reaches over and squeezes my hand. The tears surface, but I blink them away.
“It was horrible,” I admit. “I watched her deteriorate and become a lifeless version of herself.”
“Is she okay now?” he asks, and even though I anticipated that question, it does nothing to my aching heart.
I try to find the right words as I respond. “No. When I was fourteen, she ended up in the ER for the millionth time and contracted an infection that took a turn for the worst. She became septic, and her organs rapidly shut down.”
“She didn’t make it,” he says softly, his voice somber. He closes his eyes.
I cover his hand and squeeze three times. He couldn’t have known, and I know he feels bad now for bringing it up.
“Alex,” I whisper, and he opens his eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I tell him. “I like talking about Rylie, even when it’s sad.”
He wraps his arms around my shoulders and pulls me close. “You became a pediatric nurse because of her.”
“Yeah. I knew I wanted to be around children, and as weird as it sounds, it makes me feel closer to her. I want to do good by her, make her proud.”
“By the sounds of it, I’d say she’d be very proud.” His smile is genuine.
We turn our heads, putting our attention on Natalie who’s staring dreamily at us with tear-filled eyes. “I’m not crying.” She wipes her cheeks.
I laugh through my own tears. “Me either.”
“Me either,” Alex says in a thick voice, making Natalie and I both laugh.
We finish our breakfast and part ways with Natalie so she can start packing.
“So…” Alex begins as we walk hand in hand along the beach.
“Yeah?”
“What do you want to do for our last night here?”