Page 89 of Trust Me

“What are you celebrating?” I asked.

“Mom got a new job.”

“Lee,” she scolded. “I was going to tell him.”

“I’m just excited for you, sweetie.”

“A new job?” I interrupted. “At a different hospital?”

Feeling eyes on me, I looked over at Oli and smiled. He returned it, then escaped into the kitchen.

“At a private practice,” she replied. “It’s such a nice place. Very upscale. The doctor who owns it is so nice.”

“His RN moved out of state, so he needed a replacement,” Dad chimed in.

“Were you applying for jobs?” I asked.

“No, actually. Dr. Matteo came into the ER the other morning with chest pain. Very early, three AM or something. He was impressed with my bedside manner, so he asked if I’d think about leaving. Of course, I said yes. He brought both me and Dad to his office this afternoon for a tour.”

“He hired her on the spot,” he added proudly.

Movement drew my gaze back to Oli. He had a knife that was way too big for what he was doing, and I pursed my lips as he used it to cut through the tape on the box.

With a sigh, I walked over to him. He narrowed his eyes, so I didn’t say anything, but just being closer made me feel less concerned about him cutting off a finger. Having a mom who worked in a hospital did wonders for my imagination.

“He’s a doctor,” I noted. “Why’d he go to the ER for chest pain if it was nothing?”

“Better to be safe than sorry. Anyway, he was perfectly fine. Just a worrier.”

“Huh, okay. I’m happy for you, Mom. Does it pay well?”

“Better than the hospital. Much better. And I’ll work regular hours. No weekends unless there’s an emergency.”

“That’s amazing. You deserve it.”

“Now my woman can support her deadbeat husband,” Dad joked.

Both of them laughed. It was more joyful than I’d heard in a while. With my mom’s schedule, they hadn’t spent much meaningful time together in too long. This would be really good for them.

“Broku.”

I looked at what Oli was holding up. Putting a hand over the phone, I laughed a little. “There goes our rent, huh?”

The thing was big and looked heavy. This one I recognized, only because we’d been watching Attack on Titan. I wouldn’t admit that I sort of wanted it on my nightstand. That would make me a bit of a hypocrite.

“Is that your roommate?” Mom asked.

“No.”

“I can see right through you, Dean. Put him on the phone.”

“Absolutely not.”

“We’ve only got a few minutes,” Dad said. “Listen to your mother.”

“I thought you’d always be on my side,” I grumbled as I put it on speaker. “Oli, say hi.”

When he grabbed the phone, he danced away from me.