I almost roll my eyes at his proposal.
“Umm, thanks, Emmy, but I have to keep up with the paperwork and rush some labs. Maybe another time.” The last thing I wanna do is talk about what happened. Everybody in the hospital has talked enough.
“Just let Ogre Ford to do his own paperwork.”
“It doesn’t work like that. Dr. Ford expects me to be ahead with the paperwork at all times. Maybe I’ll catch you later.”
I smile and turn to leave, but he’s faster and catches my wrist and turns me around.
“Hey, hey! Come on, London, don’t let a friend hang high and dry. There’s no
emergency going on.”
“I...” I try to slip from his grip and go do my job before...
“What the fuck are you doing to my nurse, Shaw?” ... before Zach sees us and throws a temper tantrum.
“Take a hike, Ford, me and London are gonna grab lunch and you’re not welcome to sit with us.”
“London has a job to do. I sent her to the lab, now take your hand off.” If we had a testosterone detector, right now it would explode.
“Me and the lady are having a private conversation.”
“Have a private conversation on your own fucking time. And find your own damn lady.”
Before I get to say anything, I’m pulled away from Doctor Shaw, right into Zach’s arms, and somehow his lips get on mine. Out with the rules. Zach’s hands are on my hips, pulling me close to him, devouring my mouth. I’m not being kissed, I’m being branded.
Dr. Zachary Ford took me off the market.
...And since then we started a thing. We’re not dating, never been on an actual date, but there’s a lot of sex going on. A. Lot. Sometimes we end up at his apartment - I don’t want to wake Paris up with my newly discovered sexy screams - sometimes it happens in the hospital. I’m always terrified someone is gonna walk in on us but, as always, he takes pleasure in my discomfort.
The rules are definitely out the window and I actually miss them because a no rule Zachary is unpredictable. One minute he’s yelling me into the ground and the other he kisses me in some corner. No matter what, Zach has my head spinning.
Today I can’t spend my time going crazy about him, I have Paris on my back.
“So, I have the cake and the candy bar ready, oh, and I talked to a guy to send the flowers a few hours before the party so they stay fresh. London, are you with me?”
“Yes, cake, flowers, you got it.”
“I need you to double-check with the catering company. It’s really important, babe. Mom and dad will have been married for thirty years, and dad is turning fifty. I wanna throw them the perfect party.”
“Paris, I promise I’ll do everything on the list. I already paid for everything and marked myself for a day off at work. I love them too; I want this party to be great.”
“Oh, my sweet cousin ...” She comes around our kitchen table and hugs me from behind. “We love you! I’m sorry for busting your ass, I just...mom and dad are not used to me being organized. I’m trying to score points with them.”
I ignore her tight grip on my shoulders and shake my head smiling.
“Paris you are squishing the stuffing out of me. What do you mean Aunt Jacqueline thinks you are not organized? They moved to Florida when you were eighteen, they trust you.”
She plops her butt onto the table, next to my coffee cup.
“I refused to move, what were they supposed to do? You know mom called me five times a day for a year when she moved. Once when I slept in and didn’t hear the phone, she called the cops on me.”
“You’re kidding!”
“Nope. Truth is I’m sloppy. Hey, did I ever thank you for moving in and saving me from a life of hoarding and unfinished laundry?”
We both know she saved me when she proposed that I move here. I was alone, sad, and overworked. Having Paris around is the best cure for depression, and I’m grateful for having it. Plus, next weekend I’ll see my aunt and uncle and, by God, I love those people.
“So,” she says and gives me a naughty smile. Oh, no, I know what’s coming. “Are you bringing your stud to the party?”
“My what?”
“The hot, buff doctor that’s been keeping you away from your bed? Is he coming to the party?”
Shit!
“No. No, he is not. We’re not exactly a couple.”
“Oh, really? Then why do I see you making more walks of shame than a stripper?” My mouth flies open and my cheeks start burning.
“I... I don’t...”
“No worries, I love that you have fun. And now is the perfect time to show the man the dress he paid for.”
“Paris, he’s not coming. I’m not even going to invite him because it’s not like that.” Her all-knowing smile is so annoying. “I have to go to work. Text me if you need me to pick up some extra things for the party.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“And where have you two been all morning?” James Sullivan asks, sipping from his herbal tea and meticulously looking at us.
“They probably had sex in the fourth-floor break room. Nobody ever goes there.”
“Jessica!” Wendy cries out.
“What? We did it!”
I almost spit out my diet coke listening to the conversation between Monroe one and Monroe two. I should be getting used to Jessica by now, she is one outspoken person. It’s funny when the subject is not my sexual encounters with - what did Paris call him? - my stud?
“Yeah, that’s what we did.” Zach says and everyone turns to look at us while he puts his arm over my shoulders.
We’re all outside sitting around one of the cafeteria tables. I guess I’m part of the gang now? I can’t really say.
“No, we didn’t. Stop! He had two transplants back to back and I was busy prepping for him.”
They were still laughing at my embarrassment when Tatiana popped up from somewhere.
Yes! Saved by the fairy.
“Hey, Tati!”
“Hey, Love! Doctors,” she said smiling to all of them and getting the same response, even from Zach. Tatiana is just too bright not to be welcomed everywhere. “I can’t stay, we have three kids coming into the ER.”
“Do you need me?” said Jessica dropping the fruit salad - ahem, James’ fruit salad. Tati turns to me and gives me the thumbs up.
“No, it’s not surgical, a fever and a rash. Anyway, I wanted to tell you that the new schedule is up and your day off was approved. You have the green light for that big thing.”
“Awesome! Thanks for telling me.”
“Sure, I have to run, I’ll catch you later.” She got lost as fast as she appeared. And the conversation started floating around the table again.
I took a sip from my coke and looked up at Zach, who was gawking at me with curiosity and a hint of annoyance.
“What did I do now?”
“Nothing. What’s this big thing you need a day off for?” Oh...
“I have plans and it’s going to be an all-night thing. I need the next day to recover.” I don’t know what I’m doing wrong but his annoyance turned into anger.
“Is there a problem with me taking a day off, Dr. Ford?”