"That's bullshit and you know it," I said, grabbing her arm and forcing her to look at me. "What's going on with you, Liz? Are you okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm sorry, Alex," she said, looking very apologetic. "I don't know what's going on, I just felt incredibly tired."
"Liz, if you have a problem..." I began not knowing how to say what I was about to say. "If you have a drug problem, I can get you help, you know."
"Me? A drug problem?" Liz said incredulously. "Jesus H. Christ, Pierce, not you, too!"
"What? You were acting strange, Liz!" I shot back as she moved away from me crossing her arms over her chest and setting her jaw.
"I don't have a drug problem," Liz said again. "I thought you were my friend."
"I am your friend, and if you have a problem, I'll help you," I pleaded. "Just tell me what's going on!"
"Go to hell, Alex," Liz said as she wiped angry tears from her cheeks before turning her back and walking away.
"What did I do?" I shouted after her. "I just want to help!"
I threw up my hands and walked back to the ER where Leslie cheerfully informed me that my shift was over and I was free to go. I went to the locker room to gather my things hoping that Liz would be there so we could talk about what had happened, but she was gone. Her locker was open and empty, and as I pulled on my coat, I wondered if I should pick up breakfast and take it to her place as a peace offering.
"Hey, Alex," Leslie called as she ran after me hold the gold box containing the roses Cam had brought. "Don't forget your flowers!"
"Oh, yeah, thanks," I said, taking the box and tucking it under my arm.
"You okay?" Leslie asked. "You look a little down."
"I'm fine, just worried about Liz," I admitted. "There's something wrong and she won't tell me, but we always tell each other everything."
"I'm sure she'll tell you when she's ready," Leslie reassured me.
"But what if it's too late?" I asked, "What then?"
"I'm sure if she needs help, she'll ask," Leslie said as she turned and headed back inside to the warmth of the ER. "If you need to talk, I'm here!"
I trudged home through the snow, deciding to skip breakfast and sleep. I was supposed to go out with Cam at seven, and I'd been awake for more than twenty-four hours. I shoved the image of Violet Metzler hugging Cam out of my head, and by the time I got home, it was all I could do to shed my scrubs, set my alarm, and fall into a deep sleep.
I woke up before my alarm went off, and for a moment wasn't sure where I was. The sun had set and the streetlight cast strange shadows on the wall of my bedroom. I grabbed my phone and saw that Cam would be picking me up a couple of hours, so I got up and made a cup of coffee as I ran a shower.
The caffeine and hot water combined to jolt me out of my sleepy state, and I decided that I wasn't going to start the evening by being mad at Cam for what Violet had done in the ER. I'd been tired and worried about Liz, so I'd read more into Cam's interaction with Violet than I should have. Besides, it was me he'd brought the flowers to, not her.
I wound my hair into a loose bun at the nape of my neck and swept black mascara on my lashes and a bit of red lipstick on my lips before I slipped into a form-fitting, little black dress that had a deep v-neck and a pair of black, patent leather stilettos. The overall effect was quite sexy, and I smiled as I looked at myself from all angles in the mirror next to the front door.
Cam arrived a little while later and let out a low wolf whistle when I opened the door. He looked handsome in a grey suit that was obviously custom made since it emphasized his wide shoulders and cut in at the waist. He'd shaved, and although it looked like he'd made an attempt to tame his wild, rust-colored curls, they defied him.
"You ready to go eat?" he asked as he helped me with my coat.
"I'm starving," I said. "I hope this place serves big portions!"
"Well, we're not leaving until you're full, that's for sure." He smiled.
We drove to Grace over on Randolph Street where Cam handed over the keys to the truck to the valet after making sure I'd made it safely to the door. The hostess led us into the dining room and seated us at a quiet table off to one side. I looked around, awed by the fact that I was inside this beautiful place that was so in demand that reservations had to be made months in advance.
"How did you get a reservation here for tonight?" I asked as I looked over the menu.
"I've got some friends in high places." Cam smiled as he gave the waiter our drink order. He looked back at me and said, "Actually, a friend of mine already had the reservation, but he had to cancel, so he offered it to me."
"Ah, I see, so Violet's friendly greeting had nothing to do with this?" I said with a playful smile on my lips.
"I'm sorry about that, Alex," he said in a tone that was far more serious than I'd expected. "I don't know her at all. I know of her father, but we're not close or anything."