Page 30 of Rise Above

head and Dr. Bowie. In comparison to the two hockey players, Bowie looked like a dwarf. He wore a scowl on his face as he looked between the two athletes. Bowie took his job seriously and from what I knew of Zeke, he was a constant jokester.

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“You must be the other one.” Bowie sounded so

disinterested in the players. “Not to rush you all, but I do need to round with my patients.” Clearly, he was grumpy. I couldn’t really blame him. The ICU was too busy for nonsense, especially neuro.

“Understandable, Dr. Bowie.” TJ nodded. “Any

patient rooms we shouldn’t go in? We’ve got autographed items for everyone, and the nurses can take those into any rooms you want us to avoid.” It was weird to hear him talk so much.

“Rooms 425, 431, and 437 are all vented patients.

They aren’t responsive at this time due to heavy sedation. Room 443 is on isolation precautions. The other eleven patients you can go see.” Bowie turned to me. “Do you need something, Aife?”

I handed him some papers. “A signature on this out

of hospital DNR. Dr. Bravo refused to sign it.”

He sighed. “I hate the weeks he works.” Normally,

he usually didn’t express himself like that, but he quickly signed where I pointed to. “Anything else?”

“Yes, there’s a peer-to-peer for 427 at 1400 today.

You asked me to remind you.”

“Right. Send me a text at about 1:50?”

“Sure thing, Dr. Bowie.”

He turned to the hockey players. “Why are you two

still here? Go see my patients. Start in the front. I’ll round backwards.”

TJ glared at Bowie as he left. “Is he always that

rude to you?”

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“Doctors are just like that. Honestly, that is a

normal interaction for us.” I collected my clipboard and started to walk away. My stomach was demanding food at this point.

“Aife, wait.” His large hand came down on my

shoulder. “Here, I want you to take this.” TJ handed me a slip of paper and then headed off with Zeke to visit my patients.

Quickly, I looked down to see his number. He gave

me his number? My mouth felt a little dry. The man looked like a God, and he wanted me to have his number? It was a little insane. My experience with men wasn’t great. Not because of them. No, my faults with men were all my own doing. Somehow, I had piqued TJ Walker’s interest though. A relationship was not on the table, at all. However, I wasn’t opposed to a friendship.

Nervously, I chewed on my lip as I waited for Nat