Behind the bright lights *LH*

Chapter 3

"Hi, uh it's Luke." I feel my heartbeat quicken when I hear his raspy voice on the other end of the phone. I'm probably smiling like a lunatic, but for the sake of womankind, I pull myself together.

I answer nonchalantly "Hi, Luke is everything okay with your hand?" Oh God, what if he is hurting. My cool as a cucumber act goes out the window. "If it hurts badly you may need to come in again. The stitches might have ripped or it could be infected?"

He lets out a short giggle before responding, "No, it's fine. It doesn't hurt at all."
I let out a sigh of relief. Before I could say anything he speaks again. "I can't stop thinking about you." My stomach erupted with butterflies and cheeks flushed crimson. "I want to see you again."

I notice some of my coworkers staring at me, it's well past the time I should have left. "Luke, just hang on one second." I need privacy. I grab the entire landline phone and dart to the far end of the room. I find safety from my coworkers in a tiny cubicle used for reaching the hospital's online library. I shut the door behind me and lock it. "Sorry about that." The words spill out of my mouth, sounding very jumbled.

"Is now a bad time? I know you're about to leave work." His voice is cool and distant. "I wanted to catch you before you left."

"No, now is a great time." Not really, but he doesn't need to know that. "I moved somewhere a little more private."

I'm freaking out. I don't know how to talk to boys. My dating game in the United States has been very weak. I was focused on school for so long, I forgot how to have fun. Now, I work so much that I don't have the time to go out and meet anyone. Honestly, I was sort of hoping they would come to me. But at the same time, having a crush on someone gives me more anxiety than pleasure. Not that I have a crush on Luke. We are friends. Long lost, distant friends at the moment. I shake the thoughts from my head. "Luke, I'm not supposed to have any kind of relations with my patients, this could get me fired."

There is a long pause. In my head I'm yelling "Hello, hello, are you still there?' I start to nervously pace around the cubicle. Finally, Luke starts to laugh.

Phew, that was a close one. I thought I blew it. I want to see him again, but I don't want to get in trouble.

"Well once this heals I will no longer be a patient. Plus we have history, I knew you long before you were my doctor." I nod. He is not wrong. I'm not sure ethically what this could mean. Typically, you aren't supposed to treat your friends. We are friends but we have grown distant because we haven't seen each other.

But since we have grown apart, does that mean I'm now solely his care provider?

"Now, no excuses, come get drinks with me tonight?" I jump up and down mentally. He wants to get drinks with me! I cannot even try to fight the heat that is coming to my face and the butterflies in my stomach. He must not have a girlfriend, if he wants to get drinks with me. I look at the time and remember I still have another shift today.

"I'm really busy with work and plan on going to bed tonight, I-" Luke cuts me off.

"Fine tomorrow night, just two old friends having drinks." A part of me is scared. What if he doesn't like me as an adult? I know childhood me was a lot more fun, carefree, and happy; the list goes on.

"How about I think about it?" This is good, boys love a little chase right? Or has our generation outgrown that?  "And you can't be calling me at work anymore, unless it's an emergency with your hand."

"Ok. Fine. Call me tomorrow." Before I know it, he is spitting out the numbers to his cell phone. I search my coat pockets for a piece of paper and a pen. "Drinks, dinner, coffee, whatever you want."