Clearing the Air

Pam smiled at Doug, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. "I want to get to know you better too," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Doug's face lit up with a warm smile. "I'm glad to hear that," he said, squeezing her hand again. "I'll talk to you later, okay?" Pam nodded, feeling a spark of excitement. She watched as Doug walked away, feeling a sense of hope that she hadn't felt in a long time. The next day at work, Pam was busy with her patients when she heard a knock at the door. She looked up to see Doug standing in the doorway, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Hey, my girl," he said, sauntering into the room. "How's it going?" Pam rolled her eyes, trying to play it cool. "It's going," she said, smiling despite herself. Doug grinned. "Just checking on my favorite nurse," he said, winking at her. "I heard you were having a tough day." Pam shook her head. "I'm fine," she said, trying to hide a smile. But Doug was undeterred. He spent the next hour finding excuses to come see her, popping in to ask her questions about her patients or to chat about his own cases. Each time, he made her laugh, teasing her about being his girl and making silly jokes. As the day went on, Pam found herself looking forward to Doug's visits. She loved the way he made her feel, like she was the only person in the world. And she loved the way he teased her, making her laugh and smile. At one point, Doug poked his head into her room, a silly grin on his face. "Hey, I just heard that the cafeteria is serving pizza for lunch," he said. "Want to come with me and get some?" Pam laughed. "I'm busy," she said, trying to sound stern. But Doug just chuckled. "Come on, my girl," he said. "You need a break. And besides, I promise I'll buy you a slice." Pam couldn't resist his charming smile. "Okay, fine," she said, standing up and grabbing her purse. "But just one slice." Doug grinned, triumphant. "I'll take that as a yes," he said, holding out his arm for her to take. As they walked to the cafeteria, Pam felt a sense of excitement and happiness. She was having a great time with Doug, and she couldn't wait to see what the rest of the day would bring.