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You walked into the emergency department for your night shift with a wide smile on your face.
“Well, somebody had a good day,” Dana teased as she finished up the last of her work. “What’s got you so happy?”
You bounced on your feet a little. “They’re setting up for the festival, did you see?”
She chuckled. “Should have known you’d be excited about that.”
You nodded, already making plans for when you were going and who you could get to go with you. You loved any kind of festival or carnival. Especially in the fall. Your favorite season mixed with crafts and food and carnival rides? Yes, please. And if you could get Jack to take you? Even better. The two of you had only been on a couple of dates but you were optimistic about where it was going.
“Who’s excited about what?” Robby’s voice came from behind you and you turned to find him and Abbot standing behind you.
“Fall fest,” Lena answered having caught your conversation with Dana.
Robby’s eyes lit as he smiled at you. “You like the festival, huh? I haven’t been a couple of years.”
Before you could answer, Jack scoffed beside him and rolled his eyes. “Oh yeah. Can’t wait for the flood of idiots that will be in here. Injuries, indigestion from overeating that everyone is certain is a heart attack, anaphylactic issues because no one checks the allergens on festival food. And don’t get me started on the carnival rides. I know there have to be standards but—”
Robby dropped a hand on his shoulder to cut him off as your smile dropped and your happy light faded a little more with every word. Jack shot a look to Robby who simply gestured in your direction with his head.
You were already turning away, giving a little wave to the charge nurses. “I’ll be right back for handoff. Need to stash my stuff.”
“Sure thing, hun,” Lena said with a smile before turning her scowl on Jack behind your back.
Jack’s gaze flicked between his best friend, Lena and Dana. “Why are you all looking at me like I did something wrong?”
Dana took a deep breath, hands on her hips. “Jack Abbot, when the girl you are dating is excited about something, you don’t suck the joy out of it.”
He huffed a sigh. “It’s a craft fair with a carnival attached to it. How excited could she be?”
“She asked to have those two days off in the rotation. I’m guessing it wasn’t a coincidence,” Robby said with a shrug.
“Oh,” was Jack’s only response before heading to his locker.
Jack’s gaze kept finding you during the shift, which, to be fair, wasn’t unusual. But he found himself studying you in a way he normally didn’t. While you were your normal upbeat self, he couldn’t help but notice you were a little wilted around the edges.
When the early morning lull hit, he waited for you to finish with a patient then caught your attention. “Want to get some air with me?”
You smiled. “Sure.”
The two of you stood quietly in the ambulance bay for a few minutes before he turned to face you. “I’m sorry I’m a grumpy bastard.”
That earned a startled laugh from you. “Anything in particular you’re referring to?”
“The festival.”
You simply shook your head. “You don’t have to like the same things I like, Jack. It’s not a requirement and it certainly doesn’t make you a grumpy bastard.”
“Still…” he trailed off and rocked back on his heels. “Let me take you.”
You blinked at him. “Huh?”
“Let me take you. We’re both off tomorrow. Festival starts at noon.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
He stepped closer, meeting your gaze. “I am aware I don’t need to. I want to. You can show me all of your favorite things. I’ll try not grumble too much and we’ll end the night with a ride on the Ferris Wheel.”
You studied him for a moment and must have been satisfied with whatever you found. The smile you gave him rivaled the one you wore at the beginning of the shift. “It’s a date, Dr. Abbot.”