Love in the ER

CHAPTER 10

Outside the café, Oliver's frustration simmered. Who was this guy? The longer he stood there, the more he realized just how much it bothered him to see Paris with someone else. He had no right to feel this way—they barely knew each other—but the jealousy was undeniable. He hated how comfortable this guy seemed with her, how easily he could make her laugh. And what bothered him even more was that he had no idea who this man was.

Oliver wasn't the type to jump to conclusions, but this wasn't just any colleague from the hospital—at least, not that he knew of. The man's body language made it clear that he was interested in Paris. He watched as the man leaned in slightly, smiling at her with a familiarity that gnawed at Oliver's insides.

His mind raced with questions. Was Paris seeing him? Was there something between them? Why did it matter so much?

After what felt like an eternity, Oliver realized he couldn't just stand there staring like a jealous fool. With a sigh, he forced himself to turn away and continue walking back to the hospital. But even as he walked, his thoughts remained fixed on Paris, the unknown man at the café, and the irritating feeling that he might be losing a chance with her—before he'd even had one.

Back in the café, Paris could still feel the weight of Oliver's gaze, even though he was no longer standing at the window. Mateo continued chatting, oblivious to the strange undercurrent that had just passed through the room.

Clara, on the other hand, was fully aware of what had just happened. She leaned in, her voice low and teasing. "Okay, spill. What's going on with you and Dr. Salameda? Because he did not look happy to see you with Mateo."

Paris shook her head, trying to brush off the question even though her heart was still pounding. "There's nothing going on."

Clara raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. And yet, he looked like he was ready to burst through that window when he saw you sitting with another guy. I don't know, Paris—if you ask me, I'd say Dr. Salameda is a little more interested in you than you think."

Paris sighed, unsure how to process everything that had just happened. The truth was, she had noticed something different about Oliver lately—the way he looked at her, the way he seemed to go out of his way to work with her. But she didn't want to get her hopes up, and now, with Mateo back and clearly still interested, things felt even more complicated.

"I don't know," Paris muttered, staring down at her plate. "It's probably nothing."

Clara grinned, not buying it for a second. "Uh-huh. Well, for your sake, I hope it's not nothing, because that was some serious tension back there. And I've got a feeling this isn't over."

Paris couldn't argue with that. It certainly didn't feel like it was over.

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The afternoon sun was beginning to sink lower in the sky as Paris made her way out of Salameda Health Care Center, tired but determined to stick to her promise. She had told her abuela she would stop by the market after work, and despite her exhaustion, she wouldn't let her grandmother down.

As she said goodbye to Clara and the other nurses, she smiled faintly, waving as they headed in the opposite direction. "See you tomorrow!" Clara called, grinning playfully. "And don't forget to update me on any more dramatic bump-ins with certain doctors!"

Paris rolled her eyes, laughing softly. "No drama, I promise."

With her coworkers gone, Paris felt the familiar quietness that came after a long day at work. She pulled her bag higher on her shoulder, checking her phone quickly for the grocery list her grandmother had texted her earlier. Just a quick stop at the market, she reminded herself. Then, she could go home, make dinner, and maybe—just maybe—relax for a bit.