"Ahh, am I the last one to clock out?" I asked, stepping into the lobby where Amy, our receptionist, leaned casually against the counter. She was scrolling through her phone, completely unbothered.
"Yeah, but don't worry," she giggled, glancing up at me with a smirk. "I'm so sorry—I was just finishing up some paperwork," I said, feeling a little sheepish as I hurried to the clock-out screen.
"Girl, you're fine," she reassured me. "Besides, Julia's still here. Well, technically. She forgot her bag, but she's still here."
Right on cue, Julia appeared from down the hallway, her tote slung over her shoulder. "Found it!" she announced, holding it up triumphantly.
Amy laughed. "Great, do you mind flicking off those lights for me Val?" I nodded, making my way to the switches.
The soft hum of the overhead lights faded as I turned them off, one by one. I grabbed my keys, double-checking my bag as we all moved toward the door.
"Is this a joke?" Amy's laugh echoed through the quiet hallway.
I turned off the last light and stepped outside, stopping in my tracks as I spotted someone leaning casually against a truck in the parking lot. Front and center, under the glow of the streetlights, stood Easton Sinclair. A bouquet of flowers rested in his hands, and the grin on his face was nothing short of smug.
I couldn't help but laugh. "Hi, bud," I called out, locking the door behind me. I jiggled the handle to make sure it was secure before walking toward him.
"Well, well, lucky you," Amy whispered, leaning in for a quick hug. "See you tomorrow," I said, shaking my head.
"Mr. NHL—nice score," Julia teased, pulling me into a hug next.I laughed. "Goodnight, ladies. Have a great evening!" "You too!" they sang in unison, walking off toward their cars.
Once they were gone, I turned back to Easton. "What are you doing here?" I asked, unable to hide the smile tugging at my lips.
He held the flowers out to me, his grin widening. "Here to hang out." "Hang out? Outside my workplace?" I teased, taking the bouquet from him and shaking my head. "Very funny. I thought I'd take you out."
I raised an eyebrow, already amused. "And where exactly do you plan on taking me?"
"Wherever you want."
"New York," I joked without missing a beat.
He didn't even flinch. "I could make that happen," he said, full of confidence. "But you're kidding, so what's the real plan?"
I let out a small laugh, shaking my head at his audacity. "Well, I'm starving. I had lunch at eleven, and I'm starved."
"Then dinner's the priority," he said easily. "What are you in the mood for?" "Sushi. A spicy tuna roll and some dumplings sound amazing right now," I reply without hesitation.
"We can do that." He smiled, leaning back against his truck, clearly satisfied with the plan.
"I have to get changed first," I told him, gesturing to my scrubs and puffer vest. He gave me a once-over, smirking. "I don't know—I'm kind of digging the look."
I rolled my eyes. "Well, I also need to drop my car off, so made sense if I could change" "Fair enough. Lead the way—I'll follow you."
I headed to my car, glancing over my shoulder as he strolled alongside me. "Very chivalrous," I teased.
"Always. It's all part of the new-friend perks," he quipped, opening my car door for me before stepping back.
"Lucky me," I joked as I slid into the driver's seat.
