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Aiden nods down to et to have that lunch with you sooner than I thought"

I laugh and give hiuess that would be true"

I' There's so my white lab coat on that feels like some type of protection I also didn't want to be in any circumstance with him where he would take me out for lunch somewhere that is too "datelike" So this works out perfectly

"I'll get us a table," I tell him, and turn away to pay for my food before he can offer to do the same, because I know Aiden, and he would have

I find a booth that's out of the way and with no one sitting around Not that I require privacy, but merely because the table looked like it had been wiped down recently With the ah this cafeteria, it's not easy to find a clean table, asfor the table

By the ti into the seat opposite lance down at his plate that there are soot his typical salad with a lean protein--this ti on the side Aiden was always one to eat super healthy and he worked out diligently

Aiden beams across the table at ain"

"Likewise," I say, although htly as his "So, tell me all about what you've been up to over the last two years Kevin has kept me updated when he hears from you"

Aiden nods his head "The ability to get emails out was spotty at best, so I wasn't able to update Kevin all that much My first year I worked down in Haiti The country was struggling to recover fro on in their public hospitals And that was good Really iot a little boring, so I volunteered to go to Yemen That's where I've been for the past year, and it was a little dicey at times"

I sit and listen to Aiden tell me an incredible story that fillsYemen has been involved in a full-scale war the for the past few years Medical services are critically needed, and many hospitals have been shut down due to air strikes, shelling, lack of supplies, and doctors and nurses getting killed I don't know much about Doctors Without Borders, because frankly I never bothered to look after Aidenany acknowledganization But as Aiden continues, I learn that it was beyond dangerous Many of his friends and colleagues have been killed over the past year

"Why would you put your life in such danger for a country thatto you?" I ask Aiden I know that sounds like a selfish and attacking question, but I just can't quite comprehend it

Aiden gives er is part of the appeal I mean, I want to practice ine at that point in er sort of made me feel alive"

What I really want to say to Aiden is that's a stupid fucking reason for taking a job It's also a stupid fucking reason for leaving your girlfriend of three years, and this is the first I've heard about his apparent hard-on for danger But I don't say those things because none of itand I moved on

So I just give him an interested smile "That's really incredible Good for you"

After Aiden takes a bite of salad, he says, "But I' to take a break fros"

"Like what?"

"Like I don't know if I want to go back or if I want to work in a hospital or "

"Oh, wellIt's a good thing you're taking some time off then to consider your options"

Aiden grins at me and then pops a cherry tomato into his mouth After he chews and ss he says, "Actually, I just signed a three-ht I'd see what it was like to actually practice y Kevin's going to let me crash at his place"

"Aweso against this notion I one up north near his family And why this hospital? Why reconnect with me?

"So, how have you been, Josie Bug?" he says with rapt attention as he puts his fork down I control the outward cringe over his use of a nicknaiven me early in our relationship and that I once adored It sounds so very wrong now "How's practicing here at Raleigh Memorial?"

I put on the brightest s upon h "I love it here The work is interesting and fulfilling The people here are great I' time, I think"

"That's awesome," Aiden exclaims "I've only ever wanted you to be happy"

Yeah, Aiden? Then why the hell did you leave me?

"Well, I am," I say with confidence "Very happy"

And I realizeI a to rise up withinto do with hty fine hockey player who I have the hots for and who has theht back for me

Aiden fiddles around with his salad, takes a few bites, and Ithe time periodically