Page 52 of Love Medley (Med Wreck Romance #1)

Chapter forty-one

Jake

I t’s Weston.

He must have been following Lucy again. There’s no reason he’d be here otherwise.

That asshole is like an indestructible weed that pops up through the cracks no matter how much you spray it.

Maybe it’s time that I became a fighter over a lover and shoved my fist through those shiny white teeth of his.

“No, you’re the one not good enough for me,” Lucy says in a clear, angry voice.

God, I’m so gone for this woman. And fucking proud of her.

“What happened to you?” Weston snarls. “You used to be so sweet, and now you’ve morphed into this complete bitch!”

Lucy puts her hands on her hips. “You mean, I actually developed a backbone?”

Weston scoffs. “More like you’re the whore that’s willing to lift her skirts for any guy who is interested.”

Okay, I’ve had it. But before I have a chance to react, Lucy’s fist shoots out and slams into Weston’s nose.

“What the fuck?!” Weston roars as blood pours out of his nose. “Wait until my father hears about this!”

I can’t help it, I snort with laughter. Lucy glances at me, shaking her hand out, as she dissolves into peals of giggles.

“You do that,” Lucy gasps. “I’m sure your father would love to hear how you got your ass kicked by a girl.”

God, Lucy is a force to be reckoned with, and I am so lucky to know her.

As we leave Weston sputtering behind us, Lucy and I glance at each other and burst into laughter again at the same moment.

“Did you see his face?” Lucy wheezes, doubled over. “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him make that expression before.”

I grin at her. “I’m sure no one’s ever stood up to him quite like that before either.”

“I can’t believe I did that,” Lucy says, shaking her head.

“I was so impressed,” I say. “But not surprised. Damn, I’m proud of you, Lucy.”

The glowing smile she sends my way makes my chest tight .

As we make it back to the parking lot, we pause by Lucy’s car. She tilts her face up and lifts her eyes to mine.

For a beat that seems to stretch into infinity, I get lost in her gaze and feel a seismic shift deep inside me. Lucy is a fire that no one should ever put out.

Not on my watch.

I don’t want this moment to end, and I wonder if there’s some way to keep talking. Maybe we could go for a coffee? What time is it again? My eyes flick down to my wrist. “Shit. I’m gonna be late for my shift. I’m so sorry.”

There’s something I can’t read in her eyes, and then after a beat, she nods. “Of course. Will I see you at the Blackwell Times office tomorrow?”

I nod, trying to memorize her face before I leave. “I’ll be there.”

I barely make it to the hospital in time for the monthly meeting with all the ER staff. It’s usually pretty boring, and this one is no different. At least they bring in good coffee from Coffee Conglomerate. I sip at mine, barely listening because my mind is still stuck on Lucy.

At the beginning of our conversation, it felt like we were headed towards a reconciliation, but somehow, we haven’t made our way back to each other.

I know how I feel, but maybe Lucy still isn’t sure about us.

But I’m being selfish—she has a lot on her mind right now.

I need to give her time to deal with Weston first .

“And that’s all that I have for you today,” Alicia says, her words reorienting me to the meeting.

“Oh, I almost forgot! We have the Employee of the Month award. I’m very pleased to present this award to a particular individual who has received the most positive reviews from patients and fellow staff this month by a landslide.

In addition, he has been a stellar role model for other aspiring nurses.

He’s achieved this in less than six months with us. Please give a hand to Jake Whitlock.”

I’m startled out of my stupor. Wait, what just happened?

Thomas is standing next to me and claps me on the back. “Congrats, man! Go up there!”

Denise and the other nurses are hollering and whistling.

In a daze, I set down my coffee cup and walk towards Alicia. She hands me a check and a polished wooden plaque.

“Great job, Jake,” Alicia says, shaking my hand.

“Wow, thanks!” I say, overwhelmed.

“Stay after the meeting for a few minutes, there’s something else I want to talk to you about.”

I nod, stunned into silence, as person after person lines up to congratulate me.

I received positive reviews? But I was just doing my job. I can’t believe people took the time to fill out comment cards for me. Here I was, begging my family to see me as someone valuable, someone worth loving, and complete strangers were giving me that validation for free.

It’s a humbling experience .

And also makes me wonder if maybe my family has as warped a view of me as I have of myself.

And maybe we’re both wrong.

After everyone leaves, Alicia motions towards her office.

“Take a seat, Jake.”

After I sit, Alicia says, “I’ve been incredibly impressed with your performance for the past few months. Obviously, I wasn’t the only one. I also got a glowing report from Thomas Kane that you’ve been a spectacular mentor to him.”

“Wow,” I say again, robbed of any other speech.

Alicia laughs. “Still shocked, I see. Anyway, I was thinking that more of the nurses in training could use a good role model. I was wondering if you’d be interested in heading up a mentorship program for nursing students?”

All of this—the award, the praise from Alicia and Thomas, the mentorship program—is unexpected, and I’m still reeling from the whiplash. But as the words penetrate my brain, I realize I already know my answer. “Yes, I would.”

“Good. I think you’d be perfect for the job. Do you like teaching?”

“Love it,” I say automatically.

“Have you thought about getting an advanced degree, say a masters of science in nursing, and becoming a nursing instructor?”

“Not really.”

“Well, I have a great opportunity for you—there’s going to be a new teaching position available soon at Blackwell Nursing School. While you’re a wonderful nurse, you have a definite knack for teaching. I think you’d be an ideal candidate for the vacancy. Just think about it.”

Teaching? This option has never even occurred to me, and yet, a sense of rightness settles in my chest. “I will.”

Not only that—I feel…proud. Before now, I rarely felt that way—especially not about my chosen career. Despite my heart knowing nursing was the right choice, I've sometimes still wondered if I left med school because I wasn’t good enough to make it.

But then, I hear my mom’s voice in my head: You’ve always been adept at instructing others.

And Wyatt’s: Nursing is the perfect job for you. No matter what anyone says.

And Lucy’s: For what it’s worth, I think changing over to nursing suits you in the best way possible.

Even at the beginning, she believed in me.

Maybe I’ve been the one who couldn’t see it.

And then it clicks—for real this time.

I didn’t leave med school because I couldn’t handle it. I left because I finally understood what kind of healer I wanted to be.

“Thank you so much,” I say out loud.

“Of course. And let’s set up a meeting for a month from now to talk about the details of a mentoring program.”

After I leave her office, I’m buoyed by the conversation.

There are so many opportunities within nursing that even I didn’t know about.

Suddenly, I feel sorry for my dad, being so locked into his own prejudices that he can’t see anything outside of his purview.

There’s a whole world out there, and he’s missing out.

I’m determined not to.

The first person I want to tell is Lucy, but I can’t. Still, I’ll see her again tomorrow at the Blackwell Times office.

Almost against my will, a surge of hope rises inside me. Today feels like the first few notes of a brand new melody—one that promises a brighter future for me, and maybe…if I’m lucky…one that I get to share with Lucy.