Chapter 10

Connor heard the text coming in. He reached for his phone and read the text.

Same. I am ok. Last one asleep has to buy breakfast.

He smiled. He'd buy her breakfast anyway, but it was a cute way to end the night. He rolled over and closed his eyes. Cassie was getting to him. He wondered if he was getting to her.

Chicago Med Cafeteria, 6 AM

Cassie scoped out a seat in the cafeteria, and joined the line forming at the grill. It was definitely a bacon and eggs day. She knew she was going to be running all day, and she would need the protein. She placed her order for eggs, bacon, and one pancake.

"Fancy meeting you here," she heard in her ear. She knew the voice. It made her shiver.

"Good morning to you too, Dr. Rhodes," she greeted.

"I didn't know you had breakfast here."

"In the morning, I have trouble managing the coffee pot, let alone trying to cook something."

He laughed and ordered French Toast with sausage. "So, what time did you finally get to sleep?"

"About 1. You?" she asked.

"Not really sure. I didn't look at the clock."

Their plates were handed to them.

"Kind of hard to get to sleep last night," she admitted.

"Worried about another attack?"

She nodded. "It wasn't my finest hour last night. I'm sorry you had to witness it."

They reached the checkout. Cassie handed over her debit card.

"Put that away. It's on me," Connor said.

"Connor—the text was a joke," she protested.

"I know. It was also cute and it gave me a laugh. Just let me cover this," he said as he handed cash to the cashier.

Cassie headed to the table she had scoped out earlier. She set her backpack on the floor and took the seat. Connor joined her a minute later.

"So how come I've never seen you in here before?"

"Maybe because most days I grab a breakfast sandwich and coffee and eat in the locker room?"

"That would be why."

He dug into his French Toast, she took her bagel and started piling on her scrambled eggs and bacon. He watched her, amused. She was methodical—eggs spread evenly on the bottom half of the bagel, bacon strips cut in half and laid side by side, and topped with a piece of cheese that he didn't see her pick up. She placed the top of the bagel, and then used her knife to cut it in half. He was surprised. He had expected her to pick up the entire bagel and take a bite.

"Everything okay?" she asked as she cut the half sandwich in half again.

"Fine," he said as he reached for his coffee.

Cassie took a bite of her breakfast sandwich. She glanced at Connor, hoping he didn't notice that she did.

"Ready for the day?" he asked.

"I am. I'm looking forward to it."

"You're a trauma junkie?"

"I am. It gets in your blood. There's nothing better than working with a team to save someone's life."

"You're doing well. You keep all of us on our toes?"

"How so?" she asked as she stirred her coffee.

"You're making us think. You bring options to the table that we don't think about."

"Of course you don't. Doctors diagnose, nurses treat. It's two totally different paths."

He nodded. "So, I noticed the saxophone in your bedroom. Do you play?"

"An hour a night if I can. I didn't last night because I had a date."

He chuckled. "I kept you from practice?"

"No, not really. Stuff happened as well."

She noticed him looking at her, but not saying anything. "The parents thought that if I played an instrument, it might help me with keeping the asthma under control."

He sobered and set down his coffee mug. "That makes sense. Will you play for me sometime?" he asked quietly.

She drew in a breath, then let it out slowly. "I don't think so."

"How come?"

"Because I don't believe in premarital sax."