The Two-Night One-Night Stand by Ryan Ringbloom Page A

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    I curse my life as I reluctantly follow the rolling stretcher out to the waiting ambulance.
    I hate Jayne. I hate fix ups. I hate motherfucking hazelnuts.
    Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath, trying to center myself and focus on something positive. It takes a lot to find something, but then I think, at least this night can’t get any worse.
     
     
     

     
    “WE GOT A crier.” Dr. Porter laughs and hands over the chart for a Nicholas Dormer. “He’s been cleared but still needs someone to hold his hand and assure him that the hazelnut he ate is no longer a threat and not going to kill him.” I peer down at the patient info. Male, twenty-three, allergic reaction to nuts, RX for an epinephrine injection, follow up with allergist. “He’s in your hands now. Get him out of here, we need the bed.”
    “Terrific,” I mutter under my breath, and brace myself for what’s behind the curtain. I pull it back and in the bed lies a grown man. The swelling from his attack has gone down everywhere except around his eyes, but I’m guessing that’s from the tears. “Hello, Mr. Dormer, my name is Matthew Daniels. I have your orders here, and it says that you are free to go. Dr. Porter just wants you to follow up with an allergist as soon as possible. Any questions?”
    “You have got to be freaking kidding me.” A female voice causes me to turn my head.
    Holy shit. It’s her.
    “Should I be admitted? How can you be sure I’m okay? Don’t you think I should be watched for at least the next twenty-four hours?” I hear the questions coming from the patient but ignore them. My eyes stay locked on Holly. What is she doing here? God, she’s even prettier than I remembered. I’m not even sure how that’s possible. “Doctor? Hellooo? Are you listening to me?” The impatient patient forces me to redirect my attention back on to him.
    “I’m not a doctor, I’m a physician assistant.”
    “What?” he exclaims, springing up on the bed. “No. Hell no! Get the doctor back in here. I need a doctor.”
    “The doctor cleared you. He says you are fine and you can go home.” How does Holly know this guy? Is this a relative? A friend? A date? The guy in front of me looks vaguely familiar. But how? His name is Nicholas… Nicholas? Nick . I swallow down the lump rising in my throat. This is the guy from the bar. The real date. She’s with the real date. Jesus Christ. The chart slips from my hand and I scramble to catch it before it lands on the floor.
    “I really think I should be admitted. Is there another doctor here? I want a second opinion.”
    “Nick, we’ve been here for almost six hours. The doctor says you’re fine. I really think it’s okay for you to go home now.” Holly rubs her temple, her eyes squeezing shut as she exhales an agitated sigh.
    Hmmm . What’s this I’m detecting?
    The curtain opens and a petite blonde steps in. “Nick, are you okay?” she asks the man-child, who is now curled up in the fetal position.
    “No, I almost died,” he says weakly.
    “I’m Nick’s sister, Jayne,” she introduces herself, stretching out her hand to me. “Is he going to be okay?”
    “He’s fine. The doctor cleared him and he is all set to go.”
    “Okay, well, now that Jayne is finally here, I’m gonna take off.” Holly inches her way over, ready to run off.
    “Thank you so much for staying,” Jayne says, taking a seat on the edge of Nick’s bed. “Sorry it took me so long to get here.”
    “No, problem.” Holly’s got the privacy curtain balled up in her hand and one foot out the door. I’m not sure if it’s me, or Nick, or a combination of us both that has her desperate to flee.
    “Wait.” Jayne stops her. “How are you getting home? Don’t you need a ride?”
    “It’s all taken care of.” Holly taps the phone in her hand. I know this must mean she’s using her Uber app. “Jayne, talk soon. Nick, feel better,” she says, ignoring me completely, and before either of them can