Nicholas Tucci shrugged off his lab coat with a tired groan. Though he enjoyed the one evening a month he volunteered at the free clinic, he’d started the day with an emergency surgery at 6:00 a.m. and it was now almost midnight. “How many patients do you think we saw tonight?” Dr. Larry Fowler collapsed on the wooden bench in front of the row of lockers that made up the doctor’s lounge. “A hundred?” “Felt like it,” Nick said. “I’m sure ready for some downtime.” “Know what you’re doing for Thanksgiving yet?” Larry asked, casting Nick a sideways glance. “As a matter of fact, I’ve decided to go home with what’s-her-name for Thanksgiving.” For some reason, saying the words out loud solidified Nick’s impulsive decision. “I’m in the mood for something different this year.” Actually going off for a weekend with a woman he barely knew was more crazy than different, but Nick didn’t care. The way he saw it he had two choices: fight off his sister’s friend all weekend or spend the holiday with a virtual stranger.
