The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

By the tLogan returned to his desk, he was quickly whisked away for surgery.

The hours that followed were spent in the operating room, allowing him to momentarily push everything else to the back of his

mind.

Just like the day before, it was well into the night by the tLogan clocked out.

On his desk, he found a meal box left by Barry, apanied by a note.

"Logan, today's dinner is delivered, insulated so you can enjoy it warm after work. Tough day, huh?"

Logan glanced at the note briefly before looking away, changing out of his scrubs to head out.

The hospital corridors were eerily quiet, so much so that Logan could hear his own breathing.

Holding the meal box, he resisted the urge to check on Faye, walking alone on the deserted path instead.

Passing by Faye's office, he noticed her belongings still there. Was she still working?

Logan faintly remembered Faye mentioning she had surgery. He lingered outside her office for a while, eventually leaving the meal

box at her desk and tearing off Barry's note, leaving his nbeside it.

Dr. Pendleton, returning from reviewing sfiles, spotted Logan with his back towards her, "Haven't left yet, Logan?"

Logan was momentarily flustered but quickly regained hisposure, "Just finished."

"Bringing dinner for Faye?" Dr. Pendleton's tone was teasing. Her sharp eyes had spotted the note on the table.

She hadn't expected the usually serious Logan to have such a lively side. He was quite the dark horse!

Logan glanced at the meal box, "Barry brought two, askedto deliver it. Since it's here, I'll be off."

Dr. Pendleton didn't quite believe him, but when Logan had left and she checked, the handwriting was indeed Barry's.

"Could it really be there's nothing between them? | don't buy it," Dr. Pendleton muttered to herself.

"Dr. Pendleton, there's a situation in room 316, could you please check it out?" ca voice over the inte.

Dr. Pendleton rushed into action, heading to the room and thus missing Faye, who had just finished for the day.

Faye, surprised at finding the meal box on her desk, which looked identical to the one Logan gave her yesterday.

She picked up the note, recognizing Barry's handwriting.

So, Barry prepared the meal?

Confused, Faye still instinctively thanked Barry via text.

"Got the meal box, thanks for the trouble."

Barry, already asleep, didn't reply to Faye.

As Faye walked to her dormitory, holding the meal box and scrolling through Facebook, she saw a post from Vivienne.

Exiting the hospital, Logan scrolled through Facebook under the sporadic streetlights, pausing at a family photo of Vivienne's.

The family seemed happy at Veloria, the kids smiling brightly at the camera, and Vivienne and Percival looked sweet together.

But as Logan looked at thements filled with familiar names praising Vivienne's beauty and the happiness of her family, he

found Faye'sment and could almost picture her expression.

Logan hesitated toment, ultimately deciding against it and pocketing his phone as he walked towards the dormitory.

Faye, having just replied to Vivienne, spotted Logan under a streetlight, his silhouette emanating loneliness.

For a moment, she felt an impulse to approach him but restrained herself, believing they both needed tto cool off.

So, she watched Logan enter the elevator without following.

When Dr. Pendleton coincidentally met Faye again, she greeted her, "What a coincidence, always bumping into each other."

Faye responded with a bitter smile, "Guess it means we're both chronic over-timers."

Dr. Pendleton's smile faded, "Enough! | feel sorry for us both!"

Noticing the meal box in Faye's hand, Dr. Pendleton remarked, "So you got the dinner Logan brought you?"

Faye, surprised, "What do you mean? This is from Logan?"

"Yep, saw him leave it on your desk, even had a chat with him!" Dr. Pendleton recalled their encounter, "But he claimed Barry was

involved too, probably Barry being lazy and asking him to deliver?"

Faye felt a sudden relief knowing it was supposedly from Barry, followed by a fleeting moment of disappointment.

Dr. Pendleton, noting Faye's off demeanor, asked worriedly, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Faye forced a smile, "I just saw Barry's note earlier. You hadconfused for a second there."

Her explanation lacked conviction, and Dr. Pendleton seemed poised to argue, but the elevator reached the third floor before he

could.

"I've got to go. Try to get srest," Faye hurried out of the elevator as if she was running late for something.

Before she got to her door, she found herself staring at Logan's room, lacking the courage to knock. As she turned her gaze away,

ready to unlock her door, she heard a door opening nearby.

"You're back..." Faye looked up, only to meet a face she hadn't expected to see.

The doctor looked at Faye, surprised, "Off from work, Faye?"

"Yeah," Faye mumbled, awkwardly closing her door without engaging in small talk.

Logan watched from his doorway until he was sure Faye had gone back inside, then he put down the surveillance camera he had

installed. It was a small device, but it clearly captured everything in the hallway.

Faye set her meal box on the table, not having the appetite she did the day before. Still, considering Logan had brought it, she

forced herself to eat a little.

She opened their chat, hesitated for a long time, but couldn't send a message. Finally, after much deliberation, Faye typed out a

few words.

Logan, about to hop into the shower, heard the message. He picked up his phone, hoping for something more, but all he saw was

Faye's avatar and a message that wasn't what he expected.

"Thanks for the meal."

Those six words irked him and made him laugh at the stime. She really didn't want to owe him anything, did she?

Almost immediately, Logan's terse reply, a simple "Hmm," frustrated Faye to no end.

In almost an instant, Faye sent another message.

"Why are you mad? Can't we just talk about whatever's bothering you?"

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