Stella was slumped over her desk, her eyes rimmed with exhaustion. She’d been on night shift again, a patient had taken a sudden turn for the worse, and she hadn’t slept a wink. The scent of coffee and disinfectant clung to her scrubs, and her shoulders sagged from fatigue.
But the moment she saw Sloane walk in, bright-eyed and freshly pressed, something in her seemed to jolt awake. Her lips curved into a cold, brittle smile.
“On time again, huh?” she drawled. “Some people really do live charmed lives. Must be nice to clock in and clock out without a care in the world.”
Sloane met her gaze evenly. Once, she might have winced under that passive-aggressive tone, back when guilt had gnawed at her for leaving work on time instead of staying to help. But now, after learning about Ste
