Page 73 of The Ampersand Effect

TOBIN—8:24 a.m.

I’m glad it was obvious to you, because

I’ve been over here for the last several

days wondering if Saturday was a

figment of my imagination.

GRIER—8:25 a.m.

I sincerely hope you’ve been imagining—and

reimagining—last Saturday. I have. Nightly.

Goddamn, Grier was good at this. She hadn’t said anything remotely sexual, but Tobin’s body reacted anyway—heat rising as she remembered exactly where her imagination had taken her since their last encounter. Being cooped up in the hangar had made relief… inaccessible. She wassoready to go home andrecall—with explicit detail—exactly how last Saturday played out.

TOBIN—8:29 a.m.

::Gulp:: Does that mean I get to see you

this weekend?

GRIER—8:31am

Obviously.

Tobin beamed from ear to ear. She couldn’t hide her excitement. Grier made her stomach flip in the best possible way. She just had to get through the next couple of days, and then she’d be able to experience that feeling in person instead of through a phone screen.

She walked out of the bathroom—and directly into Mike. “Oof! Sorry, Cap! Didn’t see you.” He grabbed her shoulders, steadying them both.

She quickly tucked her phone into the back pocket of her flight suit before looking—just in time to see recognition dawn in his eyes.

“Cap!” he said, elongating theawith a mirth-filled grin.

She stared him down, lowering her eyelids but failing to hide the smile behind them. “Don’t even say it, Mike.”

He paused, studying her face. But when her radiant joy refused to be dimmed, she gave up trying to hide it. In that moment, she decided she’d rather have her friends teasing her than bury the happiness that was brewing within her—happiness because of Grier. Her eyes crinkled as the grin broke free.

Mike’s expression lit up. He squeezed her shoulders, his eyes wide with realization. “You got the girl, didn’t you? The doctor?”

Tobin’s grin widened as a little heat flushed her cheeks. “I’m working on it.”

Before she could blink, Mike swept her into a giant bear hug. “I figured you’d prefer this to a douchey high five.”

She chuckled into his embrace, warmth blooming in her chest, before she heard him say, “I’m so happy for you!”

Breaking the hug, she smiled. “I better grab a quick bite before we take off.”

Mike cocked his head toward the bathroom. “I just wanna wash my face. I’ll join you in a minute.”

She grabbed a banana from the counter and popped one of her breakfast casserole containers into the microwave—one of the many she’d prepped before her shift. Sitting at the kitchen table, she pulled her phone from her back pocket and saw a new message waiting for her.

GRIER—8:41 a.m.

It’s your turn. Give me a question to ponder

between patients this morning.