“Hey, you kicked ass in that surgery today,” she said as she swung her locker open.

I felt myself blushing and shook my head. “I didn’t really do much, mostly just stood there with my finger in the guy’s chest.”

“Whatever, you still rocked it, I mean, you helped save that guy’s life. How exhilarating is that? I can’t wait til I get in the OR.”

“Yeah, it was pretty cool,” I admitted, pulling my purse out of my locker and closing it.

“You heading out now?” She asked me as she bent down to tie her shoe.

“Yeah, I’m off, but I gotta be back here bright and early tomorrow morning,” I reply.

“Me too, but I’m not ready to head straight home yet. I heard some of the other doctors talking about a bar across the street, Joe’s I think it was called, you wanna check it out with me?”

I looked at her and couldn’t contain the grin growing across my face. “Sure.”

Several hours and a few too many drinks later, we’re both kinda tipsy and being ushered out of the bar by the owner, Joe, who’s trying to close. It was karaoke night, and let’s just say things get a little crazy when drunken doctors try to belt out the lyrics old 80s hairbanger bands. But when Ashley got up there, it was like the whole bar just went silent, listening intently as she sang. Her voice is as beautiful as she is, sorta makes me wonder why she became a doctor instead of a singer, not that she probably isn’t just as good at being a doctor, but it’s obvious she’s also pretty passionate about singing.

Anyway, so we’re walking and it occurs to me that neither of us is really in any position to drive, and I don’t live within walking distance of here. I pull my phone out to call a cab for us when she reaches out and puts her hand on mine, stopping me. I feel a shiver shoot down my spine at her touch and look up at her with questioning eyes.

“My apartment is only a couple of blocks from here, if you want you can stay over, save the cab fair for a rainy day, which is pretty much every day in Seattle.”

I laughed and put my phone back in my purse, excited that my night with Ashley wasn’t ending yet. “Okay, I mean if you’re sure you don’t mind.”

“Not at all, I have plenty of room and besides, it’ll be nice to have the company.”

The walk to her place was short and I waited as she fished her keys out of her bag and opened the door. When I stepped inside I felt like I had just walked into a palace. Her apartment was HUGE, not to mention beautifully furnished with expensive couches and topped off with 50 inch plasma above the fire place. She must have noticed me gaping at the living room, because she shrugged and said her dad had left her a nice inheritance when he’d died back when she was in high school.

She gave me a quick tour of the downstairs; the kitchen was just as impressive as the living room, by the way. It was getting late and we both had to be back at the hospital early the next morning, so we decided it was time to go to bed. We started up the stairs and I guess the alcohol mixed with my natural klutziness because I tripped over a step. Apparently Ashley has quick reflexes because she caught me before I fell flat on my face.

“Are you okay?” She asked me, her arms still wrapped tightly around my waist, holding me up.

I nodded, completely embarrassed and looked up at her, my face beet red. I looked up at her and our eyes locked, and we stood there gazing at each other in the middle of the staircase for what seemed like eternity but was probably only a couple of seconds. Finally she tore her gaze away and dropped her arms back to her sides, and we continued up the stairs, but I have to say, it was nice feeling her arms wrapped protectively around me, even just for that brief moment.