14. My Lips Are Sealed

Johanna

A fter having the weekend off, Jo woke up to the birds singing outside her window. Or rather, it felt that way because she hadn’t once been able to erase the smile off of her lips. She considered texting Ali over the weekend, telling her again how much she truly enjoyed herself on Friday night. However, it all seemed like it would be a little too much like high school. They were in a good place, and Jo didn’t want to screw that up.

So, instead, she hurried through a shower and was certain to check herself to make sure she looked extra cute that morning. Even though that also seemed a little too much like High School. She wanted Ali to appreciate how she looked and would do anything to get her approval.

She arrived at the hospital with an extra pep in her step. If she grinned any harder, she would have surely busted a gut. She didn’t care. Just imagining getting to see Ali that morning had her giddy. And yes, that was much like a schoolgirl. Their friendship had turned a corner and branched over into something deeper. She was relieved to learn that Nolan and Ali were merely best friends, and that Nolan wouldn’t chase after her because he would never be interested in what Ali could offer him.

When she reached the floor, she looked around for Ali, but she wasn’t readily available. That saddened Jo, but the day had only begun. She would have plenty of time to find Ali and talk to her. After all, they had to have some sort of talk. Like what would this mean for them? She knew, in her heart, they couldn’t just go out there and tell everyone that they had kissed and expect a warm reception. The rules were there for a reason, and she wasn’t looking to get fired over it. So, she would play her cards close to her chest and see what Ali had in mind.

“Hey, Johanna.” May looked up. “it’s going to be a busy day today and look what just came on the board.” May pointed to a section on the computer, as Jo looked over her shoulder. Her eyes narrowed in, and a weight fell to her gut. It should have been great news. She wanted Vincent to be home where he could recuperate after his kidney transplant. He was doing well, so that was why they would remove him from the hospital and just monitor him on a regular basis.

“Great,” Jo mumbled.

“You don’t look too happy about it,” May replied. “I know you’ve gotten close with him, even reading to him periodically on your lunch hour.” May tilted her head and gawked at Jo. “But the fact that the doctors feel he’s ready to be released means that he could get on to living a happy and healthy life.”

“Which is what we all wanted. Of course, it’s fantastic news.” Jo stepped away from the computer. So why did she feel so sad? It was like a weight had fallen on her, threatening to continue to hold her down. She swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat and went to the other computer. She would have her goodbyes and rejoice in the fact that Vincent would be able to get out of the hospital. She knew that’s what he wanted. She just hoped that he would get the care and attention he deserved at home. “Excuse me,” she mumbled. She got up and hurried down the hall to the restroom. She locked the door behind her and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Tears had already started to fall. She shouldn’t have gotten so attached. Everyone warned her, but it was hard when you formed a bond, only to see that it had to end.

Jo ran some cold water and splashed it on her face before giving herself one more glance in the mirror. She wasn’t perfect, but presentable. She opened the door and nearly ran straight into Ali, who was coming inside.

“Hey,” Jo quickly replied, glancing away so Ali couldn’t tell that something was wrong.

“Hey,” Ali softly added. “I just heard the news. Vincent is going home. That’s great.” Her words fell off. “I know you and him formed this bond, so it’s probably difficult, but he’s healing, and nothing bad can come from that.”

“I know.” Jo quirked up her lips. “I suppose I’m just being a bit selfish.”

Ali shook her head. “You have a good heart, Jo. Keep that but be happy that he’s on the road to recovering with his new kidney. He’s healthy, and that’s what you have to focus on.”

“And you’re right. I know that.” Jo dropped her gaze before looking up to find that Ali still had that generous smile on her lips. “Good to see you this morning.”

Ali’s lips even got wider. “Likewise.”

As Jo attempted to brush past her, Ali reached out and took her hand. There was this electricity that shot through Jo’s body for several tantalizing seconds. Jo looked over and stared, but Ali had dropped her gaze to their hands. She smirked, then looked back up, never pulling away from the touch.

“About Friday,” she began. “Let’s keep things professional, alright?”

Jo’s gaze dropped, and she fought the urge to yank back her hand. Professional? Is that how Ali wanted it? She opened her mouth, but the words were stuck in her throat.

“I mean,” Ali continued. “I liked it. It was nice, and I don’t want to lose that feeling, but…” Her words trailed off for a second. “I thought about it all weekend, Jo.”

“As did I,” Jo whispered.

Ali blushed, her finger slowly running a loop around Jo’s hand. “Things could get tricky here. As mentioned, there are rules.”

“Right,” Jo slowly and reluctantly withdrew her hand. “I get it.”

Ali snickered. “I don’t think you do. While we’re at the hospital, we have to be professional. No one should know because if they did, that could get very bad for both of us.” Ali tilted her head. “But when we’re not at the hospital…”

Jo grinned. Ali wasn’t ending things before they began. She was merely protecting their jobs. It was exactly how Jo wanted things to go. Nothing could come between them as long as they were on the same page. “My lips are sealed.” She leaned in and gave Ali a soft peck on her cheek, before turning and rushing off. As she rounded the corner, she spotted May.

“Are you alright?” May asked, before stepping back and staring at her. “Is that a grin on your lips? You rushed off. I thought for sure you were bawling in the restroom. But now, I’m not sure about anything.”

“I was,” Jo replied. “And then…” She shook her head. “I’ll te ll you all about it later. I have to prep Vincent for going home.” She rushed off and ignored the fact that May was staring at her from behind. It would all make sense to her, but she had to do what Ali wanted for now. Be professional.

At lunch, Jo considered telling May about the kiss. However, she didn’t want anyone to eavesdrop. Plus, when lunchtime rolled around, Jo really wanted to get Ali to join them. However, Ali was too involved with patients and said her shift was hectic, so it was only May and Jo who went to the cafeteria.

The cafeteria buzzed with chatter, and the moment just didn’t feel right for Jo to discuss with May how she was feeling about Ali. She had no doubt that May would keep the secret between them, but the timing just felt off.

So, later that evening, Jo invited May over to the apartment so she could go with her and Maverick on a walk. “It’s a beautiful night,” Jo replied as they had just left the apartment. “It’s nights like these that I come home to Maverick and just enjoy being together, taking him on walks, and not having to think about a whole light. It’s relaxing.”

“And you and Maverick have formed such an amazing bond,” May commented. “I can see that, and it warms my heart.”

Jo grinned and turned to May. “And I have you to thank for all of this.” Jo leaned in and patted Maverick on the back. “He’s been a comfort to me, that’s for sure.”

May clapped her hands together. “I just love hearing that.” She beamed with pride. “Maybe I should have been a therapist.”

Jo laughed. “I think you’re a pretty great nurse.” They continued to walk, and the conversation fell silent for a minute as Jo considered how she wanted to bring up the news. She had to be cautious and make sure May knew just how fragile things were and that May had to make sure she kept it quiet, or it could hurt people. She didn’t want Ali to get caught in the crossfire, but she had to talk to someone about it. It was practically killing her inside.

“Something on your mind?” May asked, breaking into Jo’s thoughts.

Jo laughed. “I would say that you and I have formed a bond, even more than Maverick and I have. You have quickly become someone that I can talk to about anything, and I appreciate our friendship.”

May grinned. “You and me both. Never imagined I’d meet someone, and we would just click like we have. I’ve never had a connection like that.”

“Agreed,” Jo replied. “So, there’s something I’m aching to tell you, but it has to stay between us. If it gets out, it could hurt people, and I need to be sure that no one will hear what I’m about to say.”

May stopped walking and turned to Jo. “You can count on me, but it sounds ominous. What’s going on?”

“Well, when I came back after having my melt down over Vincent leaving the hospital, you noticed that I was smiling. That’s because I had bumped into Ali.” May arched an eyebrow but didn’t interrupt. “You see, Friday night, after Ali came outside looking for me, we sort of had a breakthrough. Things got heated between us and one thing led to another, and we were kissing.”

May’s jaw dropped. “What? I thought you told me that Nolan and Ali were dating.”

Jo smirked. They had escaped into the bathroom because May sternly wanted to discuss with Jo how much she couldn’t believe they were flirting right in front of them at the table. Jo was adamant it wasn’t flirtation because Ali and Nolan were a couple.

She shrugged. “I guess I was wrong. She said that Nolan is gay and has a long-distance boyfriend. She initiated the kiss, at first. But then, because I swore she wasn’t available, I stopped it. Once we realized how foolish I was, we went for it. Today at the hospital, Ali said she wants us to explore things, but that we have to keep things professional while we’re working. No one can know.”

“Well, yeah, because they pretty much said that’s a no-go at our orientation. I won’t tell anyone. I’m happy for you, Jo. You guys would make a cute couple.”

Jo grinned. She wouldn’t object to that, but it sucked that they would have to keep things on the down-low, at least as long as they were both working at CAPMed. They started walking again, and Jo couldn’t get Ali out of her mind. How far would they take things while Ali was a superior over her? She just wanted to focus on the good that could come and not let her own fears take over her mind.

They got back from the walk, and May said her goodbyes to Maverick and Jo. Jo came into the apartment and fed Maverick before she turned on the television and tried to relax on the couch. Periodically, she would reach for her phone and start to dial up Ali, but then quickly stop herself. If Ali was with someone from the hospital, she would have already blow their secret. Yet, Ali would be more careful than that, right?

She grabbed her phone again when it started to ring. She spotted the caller ID and saw Ali’s name. She grinned and picked up the call. “I was just thinking about you.”

“You were? What were you thinking? ”

Jo laughed. “Well, it depends. Where are you?” she teased.

She could get used to the flirtation that surrounded them. “My home, just sitting here thinking about you, wondering if I should give you a call. Not wanting to sound too hopeless and pathetic.”

Jo leaned back against the arm of the couch. “You could never,” she replied. “I had literally just picked up the phone to dial up your number, when your call came through. Great minds think alike.” Jo turned off the TV and relaxed.

“Well, the reason I’m calling is to see how you’re doing?” Ali continued. “I know it must’ve been hard to see Vincent going home, and I guess I just wanted to check on you.”

Jo’s heart sighed. That was so sweet of her and reminded Jo that Ali might have had a rough tone when they first met in the hospital, but she really had a pure heart. All the more reason to be attracted to her.

“I’m doing alright. It’s silly, ya know? I mean he’s gotten through the transplant, responding well to meds, so it’s really only obvious that the next step would be to go home. I’m happy for him.”

“That’s my girl,” Ali cooed. Hearing Ali mutter those words brought a smile to Jo’s face. Even if she meant nothing by them, she enjoyed hearing them. “We all have patients we miss for various reasons. Whether they pass away or are released from our care. It’s how we get over them going that helps shape us as nurses.”

“You’re right.”

“I guess I just have one more thing,” Ali began. Jo perked up, anxiously waiting to hear what Ali had to say. “What are you wearing?”

Jo laughed hard. “Are you serious? ”

Ali snickered from the other end of the line. “Let’s just say I’m bored.”

Jo giggled, then relaxed and mentally thought of those words. She looked down at her sweats and t-shirt. She had just come in from a walk. She wasn’t prepared for being cute. She reached up and pulled her ponytail down, so her hair fell to her shoulders.

“Ask me again,” Jo whispered, wanting the moment to be perfect.

“My dear, Jo. What are you wearing?” This time Ali’s voice came out in a sexy huff that left Jo instantly wet.

Jo grabbed her t-shirt from the bottom and pulled it up and over her chest, flinging it to the side as they both patiently waited for Jo to answer the heated question. “A bra,” Jo started. “Just whipped my shirt off so fast.”

“And your lower half?” Ali asked softly.

Jo kicked out of her sweats, then spread her legs and grabbed hold of her panties, she slowly pulled them down her legs until they were hanging off the couch. “Nothing,” Jo replied with a gasp. She closed her eyes and pictured Ali slowly moving on top of her.

“Imagine me sliding on top of you,” Ali softly spoke, ready to taste how wet you are. Are you wet, Jo?”

“Oh, yes!” Jo whimpered. She didn’t know how long she’d be able to sustain the heat within her, but she knew that she needed to satisfy and quench the thirst that she now had for Ali. There wasn’t any way she could ignore that much longer.