Everything & More (Book 1 in the E.C.N Series)

Chapter 72 - Ryan

"Oh Shit!, I'm so sorry!" Her giggles were like a melody and carried throughout the restaurant no doubt bringing some attention to our table. She was infectious.

A chuckle of my own escaped me as I took the napkin and wiped my eye....again. "No you're not."

"Yes...I am." She managed to say in between the little fit of giggles that were erupting from her. I narrowed my eyes playfully, "If you were sorry you wouldn't have aimed at me for the third time."

She widened her eyes, "What do you want from me, the crab legs are tricky. It's not my fault your in the danger zone." The danger zone being directly in front her.

I stood, grabbing my chair and shifting it around the table. "What are you doing?" She observed with intrigue.

"I'm getting out of the danger zone." I was glad I had an excuse to move closer to her. If I had it my way I would have sat us at a booth. The ability to smell the vanilla lavender scent she always wore,  and getting an up close view to that glint in her eyes every time I managed to make her laugh. I kind of made it a personal goal of mine.

I watched with amusement as she struggled to crack another leg. Of course she would never ask for help, Martha was always someone who wanted to prove that she could do it. Though when the 12th grunt escaped her lips, I couldn't let her suffer anymore, "Can I help you?"

I was met with a defeated sigh, "I mean if you want to." She said nonchalantly as if letting me help her was because it made me feel better.

The first leg was split in seconds and I could feel the eye roll that would be coming my way if I hadn't fought the corners of my lips from turning up. I took the tiny fork it comes with to pull the meat from the shell and laid it in the butter for her. Her eyes brighten as I lifted it to her lips. I saw the hesitation, but I also saw the intrigue as those big browns glanced in my direction. Martha slowly opened her mouth and I gingerly placed the crab meat on her tongue. Our eyes never leaving one another as her lips closed around the fork. 

I suddenly had the need to adjust myself. Clearing my throat I diverted my mind elsewhere. "So um, I've been meaning to ask you, how's work going?"

"It's good. Exhausting but fulfilling. I enjoy how much I get to help patients."

I decided to continue to crack the legs for her and work in conversation, "I always knew you would be an amazing nurse. It's all you could ever talk about when we were younger. Remember when you would force me to play make believe."

Her cheeks tinted as she relived the memory, "Oh don't remind me." She whined in embarrassment.

"You made me be the doctor and while you told me stats of the patient and we would operate on one of your stuff animals"

"Hey! We saved Mr. Sniffle's life!" The laughter bubbled up till it was bursting out and the two us couldn't stop. I couldn't care less if we attracted attention from neighboring tables. All I could focus on was her, she looked so care free and uninhibited. Her smile was bright as she tried to catch the tears from her eyes from laughing too hard. "My mother thought with how much I enjoyed medical shows and playing operation I would have become a doctor."

"I think either way you would have been amazing, the way you talk about your patients, it shows you care."

"That's the thing, the patients see the nurses the most, we build up these relationships and I enjoy being the reassurance and what some doctors would consider the menial tasks. They aren't menial to me, I like being in control of coordinating their care and educating patients when they need help. I've truly seen some doctors that talk to patients like they're stupid and it's not fair to them. Some people are just scared, I mean people shouldn't be in hospitals, no one likes being there because that means something's wrong. However, if I can be a light during their treatment, someone that can make it just a little more bearable, I'd gladly do it." I was in awe of her and how passionate she was. The drive and determination to be there for her patients was something to be inspired by. Every time I got to see more of Martha being her old self, how her personality shines through, I wondered how anyone would want to hurt her.