The Way Your Heart Sounds

When Lauren came into work the next afternoon and was briefed on her patients, she was happy to hear that Jimmy made it through the night without much incident and was sent home a few hours ago. She sincerely hoped that he would at least consider her suggestions, even if he didn’t follow through with them.

After work, she stopped by the gas station to fill up her car. Her phone started to buzz in her pocket, it was her best friend from college, Dani.

“Hey, what’s up? I’m at the gas station,” she said as she adjusted the phone to sit on her shoulder while she closed the gas cap.

“You busy? Taylor and I were wondering if you wanted to come grab a drink and dinner with us.”

Lauren finished what she was doing and climbed back into her car.

“I guess I can. I just got out of work. Let me stop by the house to shower real quick and I’ll head on over. Text me the address of where you are,” she said.

“Gotcha, see you soon!”

After a quick pit stop at her house to clean up whatever kind of germs and bodily fluids she had accumulated on her throughout the day, Lauren made her way over to the bar and grill her friends were at and went inside. It didn’t take long for her to spot them. Dani stood up and hugged her, while Taylor, Dani’s boyfriend, just waved. Lauren sighed as she plopped into her seat.

“Rough shift?” Dani asked.

“Not particularly, just tired. I really wanted to come out with you guys, though. Lord knows I could use a social life,” Lauren laughed as her eyes scanned the drink menu.

“Same. I’ve been stuck in the lab for so long, sometimes I forget what sunlight feels like,” Dani responded. “I’m getting a martini. Taylor?”

“Just a beer’s fine for me,” he said.

“Gotta be honest with you, after all the alcohol poisonings I’ve seen lately, these drinks don’t seem too appealing,” Lauren mumbled. As she skipped to the dinner menu, she heard a distinct voice in the background. Was someone she knew here? Her eyes quickly darted away from the menu and she looked around the bar, trying to find a familiar face.

“What’s the matter?” Dani asked.

Lauren found the face a moment after her friend spoke. It was Jimmy. He was laughing with his friend, though not the one he was with in the hospital yesterday. He also had not one, but two beers. One in each hand. He must have somehow noticed her gaze, because they ended up locking eyes.

“Shit,” Lauren mumbled, “I treated that guy yesterday.” Dani and Taylor turned around, and Jimmy noticed that all three of them were staring at him now.

“Way to be subtle, guys,” Lauren shook her head. Jimmy excused himself from his friend and started to walk towards her table. What was she supposed to say? She never bumped into a patient like this before outside of work.

“Lauren? What are the odds I’d see you here, huh?” Jimmy said. His smile was beaming and he was very animated. You would have never guessed he was in the hospital earlier this morning.

“They do let me out of there to get fresh air on occasion,” she said, smiling at him. She wanted to make a sarcastic remark about the drink in his hand, but decided against it. Dani and Taylor were observing Jimmy quietly the entire time, before they suddenly excused themselves to go to the bar. As Dani scooted out of her seat, she winked at Lauren.

“Are your friends really that scared of me? I’m friendly!” Jimmy chirped. Lauren shrugged.

“Anyway, I don’t want to bother you, you’re having a good time. One thing though,” he added.

“What’s that?”

She hoped for a second he would ask for that list of referrals. But then she realized she was hoping for something that wasn’t going to happen. He took a seat across from her and leaned his long arms onto the table, looking directly into her eyes with his piercing stare. She started to feel nervous because of how intensely he was looking at her.

“Could I get your phone number, maybe take you out sometime?”

Lauren felt her mouth go dry. While she wasn’t going to lie and say that she wasn't attracted to him, she knew that getting involved with him would be nothing but trouble.

“Oh… I don’t know Jimmy… if that would be such a good idea,” she said, stumbling over her words.

“Do you think I’m good looking? You can be honest. If you’re not into tattoos and piercings and shit, I can deal with that!” he rambled. She couldn’t believe he was being this forward, and she had no idea how to respond except to stare at him.

“Cause I’ll tell you what, last night I was plastered and I thought you were breathtaking. Now?” He leaned in a little closer to her and lowered his voice, “you’re a goddess.”

Lauren seemed to have lost her ability to form sentences. She was mesmerized by this tall blue-eyed man in front of her. Less than 24 hours ago, he was a complete sickly mess, and now he was sexy, confident. As much as she wanted to say no and tell him it was inappropriate, she was also caving into the feeling he was evoking in her chest. He anxiously awaited her answer while she was lost in thought.

“Give me your phone,” she said, against her better judgement. Jimmy grinned as he put his number in there and texted himself. Afterwards, he returned the phone and stood up.

“I look forward to hearing from you soon, my angel.” With that, he disappeared into the crowd of bar-goers.

Notes