Read Online Source One by Allyson Simonian - Free Book Online Page B

or not, it was time to go shopping.
    Amber pushed the cart down the produce aisle twenty minutes later. She put lettuce and tomatoes into her cart.
    She’d make a cobb salad. The grocery store sold chicken precut into strips. Amber reached for a package and then pulled her hand back.
    She’d get a rotisserie chicken instead. Then she’d have leftovers. She pushed her cart toward the meat department.
    “Amber?.......Amber?”
    The voice startled Amber out of her thoughts. She looked up. It was Max, a resident she’d worked with in the E.R. two years before.
    When she’d first started working at the hospital, she’d had a secret crush on Max. Dark hair, dark eyes, strong jawline – he was a heartthrob.
    But now, as she looked at him, Brian’s image superseded.
    “I thought that was you.”
    “How are you, Max?”
    “I’m doing okay.”
    Max was studying her. “Listen. I heard about everything that happened last year. I wanted to call you. I’m sorry I never did.”
    Amber drew in a breath. A few months ago, she would have been embarrassed if someone had brought up how she’d lost her job. Now, she didn’t even care.
    She looked up at Max. “Please don’t worry about it.”
    “Where are you working now?”
    “In an office.”
    “No more nursing?”
    Amber shook her head. “Well, I’d better be going. It was nice to see you.”
    “Amber, wait.” Max grabbed her arm.
    Amber stopped and turned back to Max.
    “I have the whole weekend off for once. Come out to dinner with me Saturday?”
    Amber licked her lips. She opened her mouth to say no.
    Is sitting home alone better? What harm would it do to go out with Max?
    Amber debated another moment then nodded. “Thank you. I’d like that.”
    ***
    Amber and Max sat at a table in an Italian restaurant that Saturday night.
    Amber told him about her arrest.
    Max sat back against his chair. “I had a feeling it was something like that.”
    He told her about medical school on the East Coast. It was now his third year as a resident. He said he’d been engaged in college but barely had time to date now.
    “What about you, Amber?”
    “I was seeing someone until recently.” Amber pressed her lips together as thoughts of Brian came to the forefront of her mind.
    Max raised his brow. “So, what kind of business do you work for?”
    Amber told him about Sumner Systems. “And I worked for a company called Source One before that.”
    Max frowned. “Source One?”
    Amber nodded. “Have you heard of it?”
    “Nichols’ wife, Diana.  She was my fiancée.”
    Amber ’s pulse rocketed. She sucked in a breath as she stared at Max. “Did you know she passed away?”
    “Yes.” Max’s eyes burned into Amber’s.  “Is Nichols the guy you were seeing?”
    Amber squeezed her hands together. “Yes.”
    Max stared down at his drink.  “I see.”
    They sat in silence.
    “Why did you break up?” Amber finally asked.
    Max inhaled a sharp breath.  “I had gotten into medical school here and on the East Coast.  Diana didn’t want to move but I was determined to go to the program back East. We argued about it a lot before she broke it off with me.” Max’s jaw tightened. “She started dating Nichols soon after.”
    Amber stared down at the table.
    After a long while, Max suggested they change the subject. “Amber, do you remember Dr. Howard?”
    Amber nodded.
    “He started a surgery center last year. I’ll recommend you.”
    Amber gazed at Max. “What about everything……my background?”
    “He’s looking for good nurses, Amber. Anyone who worked with you would say you were great.”
    Amber forced herself to think about it. The salary would be better. But she’d already sold her mother’s house. The money wasn’t important any longer.
    And she really wasn’t ready for another change, even though she did love nursing.
    Amber wet her lips. “That’s really nice of you. But the job I have now is going well. I’m not ready to leave it.”
    Max