Touché.
“I thought Carter was supposed to be the nice one,” I grouse, picking up the laminated menu on the table and pretending to peruse it when I actually know the damn thing by heart.
“He is, I guess.” She shrugs. “I don’t know.”
“Well, you’d never know it. He’s… intense.”
“Ever since he came back from Virginia Beach last year, he’s been kind of different. He was in love with his best friend and fellow resident down there and he never made his play for her. Then she met someone else. I think that did something weird to him. He was far more easy going before that happened. That or he’s just a dick who enjoys the power trip of being an attending.”
“I smarted off to him in the OR yesterday. I don’t even know why. It’s like my mouth got the best of me.”
Rina laughs, flagging down the waitress. “Two cosmos, please.”
“Rina—”
Her green eyes meet mine, her nose scrunching up. “Too much?”
Is it? I wouldn’t mind, but yeah. I don’t think hard alcohol after the week I’ve had is wise. I turn to the waitress. “I’ll have a Sauvignon Blanc instead, and we’ll have one of every appetizer. Thank you.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to just order for you like that.”
I wave Rina away. “It’s fine. I might have done it if I haven’t had the longest week ever. I’m afraid of overdoing it. My new fellow third year, Janet Johnson, is like something out of Heathers. The bitchy rich girl who thinks she owns everything and everyone, and doesn’t seem to know her stuff as well as she pretends. She’s been here for a couple months and I bet she still can’t decipher a vagina from an asshole without a map and a flashlight. I had to pick up her slack all week and her residents weren’t much help either. Honestly, who transfers programs going into their third year?”
“Did you mention that to Carter?”
I shake my head. “Can’t and you know it. Then I look like I’m complaining or can’t handle the work. The worst thing a resident can ever do with her attending is show weakness.”
Rina snorts, falling back in her chair as she appraises me. “Now you understand why I’m a nurse.” She runs her hands through her long blonde hair, looking just as tired as I am. “Are you coming for Sunday dinner at my parents’?”
“I think so. Oliver mentioned it to me last night when he called to ask if it was too soon to actually make Amelia his real fiancée.”
Rina cackles the way I did on the phone when he asked.
Oliver got himself involved in quite the scandal when he and Amelia pretended to be engaged at our ten-year high school reunion. Since it’s Oliver, a guy who was photographed with a different woman on his arm every other day of the week, the media was all over one of their favorite Fritz bachelors suddenly being engaged. The two of them kept up the charade in order to keep the media and his mom happy, but they ended up falling in love. Amelia is still wearing the ring, but it’s more of a placeholder Oliver is anxious to fill.
“He can’t do that yet. They’ve only been together a few months.”
“I know. That’s exactly what I told him. Besides, I doubt… Amelia! Hey!” I throw Rina a quick oh shit, I hope she didn’t hear any of that glance before jumping out of the booth to give the petite redhead a hug. “So glad you’re here.”
“Me too.” She huffs. “I feel like it took forever to get out of the house. Oliver is like having a puppy, he needs constant love and attention and whines when you go out. He’s probably chewing up my shoes as we speak.” Amelia drops into her seat and despite her teasing words, there is no hiding the happy smile on her face.
“Didn’t you just get a real puppy?”
“Yes, only Gulliver already weighs more than Layla, so calling that beast a puppy seems wrong. He’s also better behaved than Oliver. Where are the others?”
“On their way,” Rina explains. “They too have puppies that require love and attention before they can escape. I had to put mine on a leash and promise dirty sex when I come home before I could sneak out.”
“Mine doesn’t seem to have that problem,” I let slip when I likely shouldn’t have. Still, I can’t help but feel the sting of jealousy at their words.
Both wince before quickly covering up their reactions. “How is Tony?” Amelia asks, staring down at the menu, unable to meet my eyes.
“Good. Out at a work thing tonight.”
“Have you guys set a date yet?”
This time, instead of a sting, it’s a straight-up sucker punch. The truth is, I can’t remember the last time Tony and I talked about our wedding or even setting a date. He proposed, we got engaged, and that’s how we’ve been ever since.
Generally, people have stopped asking me now that Tony and I have been engaged for over a year and a half and still aren’t married nor have a date to be. But Amelia hasn’t asked yet. Not once and I’m curious if this is Oliver or her. Oliver was riding me a little about it last night, but Oliver is my best friend and he can get away with it.
Octavia too has made all sorts of offers to me including the Fritz compound, their Vineyard home, or even their yacht for potential wedding venues. It’s sweet and wonderful and since my family doesn’t care if I marry him or anyone else or die miserable and alone, it’s a comfort to know I have them in my corner.
But it doesn’t make it hurt any less.
“He wants to make partner first and we think that will happen by the fall. Plus, this year of my residency will be insane. Maybe next spring or summer?” Yes, it comes out as a question because I’m completely pulling that out of my ass. And yes, I perpetually blame our busy schedules for our lack of planned nuptials, but deep down, part of me wonders if that’s just the bullshit I’ve been feeding myself. If we’ll continue like this, stalled and stuck in some relationship purgatory, resting on our excuses that don’t always add up to a valid reason.
Her head pops up. “Oh, that’s exciting. Not the insane residency part obviously. It would be hilarious to see Oliver as your maid of honor.”
“It would be awesome,” Rina chimes in. “Though I don’t think I’d want him there for the bachelorette party.”
I crinkle my nose at that, as does Amelia, grateful that our drinks and some of the food arrive just in time and Amelia orders herself a cosmo to match Rina’s.
“Is Carter still running you crazy?” Amelia questions, popping some truffle fries into her mouth.
“That’s one word for what that man does to me,” I droll. “He pushes me harder than any other resident, including his fourth-years. Thank God I have a good intern this year or I’d really be screwed.”
“Maybe Carter does that because he sees the most potential in you?” Amelia offers with a hopeful smile. “You did say he lets you fly solo a lot.”
I take a sip of my wine, setting my glass down, but holding it in my hand. “He does and I’m grateful for that. He’s an amazing doctor and attending and I learn so much from him. I just wish all of our interactions weren’t as tense as they always are.”