Page 84 of Paging Dr. VanRyan

There was a good chance I would run into him in the cafeteria. The elevator. Even on the ward, if one of his ER patients needed surgery and he came upstairs to check on their condition.

I sat down on a bench a couple of blocks away from the hospital, then barked out a laugh. I was supposed to be heading into work, not running away. I glanced at my phone with a sigh. I was early. I was always early. I would take a couple of moments and calm myself, then go back. It looked as if he was heading out of the hospital, which meant he was on day shift again, and I was working afternoons.

And his girlfriend was with him. It had to be the woman Sue had seen him with. She had described the odd shade of red hair, and the girl who clutched his arm with such familiarity had that bright copper-colored hue. She was in scrubs, so obviously, she worked somewhere in the hospital. I hoped I could avoid her.

Matthew looked different. His face was thinner, his expression more serious than it used to be. His eyes looked drawn. Tired. My immediate thought was he needed to be looked after. Cared for. And my treacherous heart wanted to be the one who did that for him. But it wasn’t my place. The redheaded girl had that responsibility now.

I shut my eyes and drew in some long, deep breaths.

I could do this. I had survived a year of hell. Lost the man I loved. Moved twice. I would get used to seeing them together, and maybe once I did, my stupid heart would stop yearning for Matthew.

I stood to make my way back to the hospital.

I ignored the voice in my head telling me that wasn’t going to happen any time soon.

If ever.

Three days later, I sat in the back of the cafeteria, picking at a sandwich. It was quiet this time of night, and I liked the corner since I was partially hidden from view. I was tired and feeling down. I had spotted Matthew twice in the past few days and managed to avoid him. Once, I hid in a supply cabinet when he strolled onto the ward, asking if I was around. Luckily, the charge nurse informed him I wasn’t, then later reamed me out for disrupting her ward and hiding like a child. She also informed me she refused to allow personal conflicts to interfere with patient care. I allowed her rant, not bothering to remind her I had been on a well-deserved breather, having missed my supper break earlier to help her.

Sitting back, I shut my eyes and sipped my coffee, the bitter brew strong and dark. The noise of someone sitting across from me startled me, and my eyes flew open. I met the calm gaze of the redheaded man-stealing bitch who sat across from me. Then I corrected myself. I didn’t know if she was a bitch. I was sure Matthew wouldn’t date a bitch.

“Can I help you?”

She smiled and stuck out her hand. “I’m Daisy.”

I wanted to refuse her offering, but I allowed a brief handshake. “Hi.”

“You’re Maddy.”

“Madison.”

She shook her head. “Matthew calls you Maddy, and since we’re going to be friends, so will I.”

“I doubt that,” I snorted, my tone derisive.

She chuckled and leaned forward. “I know who you are, Maddy. And I know what you think. But I’m here to set the record straight.”

“And what record would that be?”

“I am not dating Matthew.”

“What?”

She shrugged. “I tried once. But he has too many green flags. All feelings and wonderfulness. Not for me. I like to be ignored and taken for granted. Sadly, that isn’t in Matthew’s vocab.” She took a sip of coffee and grimaced. “God, that is awful. Besides,” she added with a grin, “he’s still in love with you.”

I gaped at her. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. That man is so messed up over you, I don’t think he’ll ever get over it.”

I shook my head, even as my heartbeat picked up and my blood rushed to my head, making me dizzy. “We aren’t together.”

“If you’d stop avoiding him, you could be.”

“We didn’t work.”

She sighed, rolling her eyes. “I know your story. The timing didn’t. You did, apparently. He can’t move past you.” She smirked widely. “And judging from your reaction to me, you can’t move past him.”

I didn’t know what to say. How to react. I blurted out the first words in my head. “You’re not a man-stealing bitch.”