Page 397 of The Doctors Will See You Now

He nodded his amusement, his gaze finally lifting to mine. “That I am.”

“You mean to tell me Harry’s meat has never touched your lips?”

“Very nice, Char.” His eyes were all grimace and disgust, but his lips crested into a smirk. “My appetite is just ravenous now.”

I giggled. “Would you like my recommendations?”

He quirked a brow. “Do I have a choice?”

“No,” I said with a smile. “But sometimes it’s nice to feel like you have a choice, isn’t it?”

Nick grinned. “Have you just given away one of womankind’s greatest secrets? You all just make it seem like we have a choice, like we have some kind of control, but in reality, you’ve chosen everything for us?”

I avoided outing the sisterhood with an innocent smack of my lips and proceeded to give him my Harry’s spiel. “For a newbie, I suggest going for the double cheeseburger and fries. Just so you don’t get overwhelmed by the goodness. But, if you’re feeling real frisky, I highly recommend the Frisco melt.”

“And what is the Harry’s veteran getting?”

“Obviously, the best damn thing on the menu.”

“Do tell what that is,” he demanded, but I shook my head.

“Nuh-uh. That’s top secret, Harry’s VIP kind of information.”

Before he could take the witty banter further, Suzy Q arrived back at our table, setting down two fresh water glasses and napkin covered silverware. “Have we decided?”

“I’ll have what she’s having,” Nick announced cleverly, and I quirked a teasing brow.

“But I haven’t even ordered yet.”

“I know, but I figured it’s best to order the same thing as the woman who seems to know Harry’s meat better than anyone else.”

A barking laugh left my lips. “Ew, gross,” I muttered, and Suzy Q just stared at the two of us like we were crazy.

“Fine,” I acquiesced before our waitress just up and left us to our inside-jokes-focused conversation with none of Harry’s meat for either of us. “We’ll have two Frisco melts, a large order of fries, and two chocolate milk shakes.”

She jotted down our order on her notepad and shouted, over her shoulder and toward the kitchen, “I need two number sevens, a jumbo fry, and two choco shakes!” Once the chef dinged the small silver bell in response, she slid her pen and notepad back into her apron. “Is there anything else I can get ya’s?”

“I think we’re all set,” Nick answered. “Thanks.”

As our waitress walked toward the kitchen, he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and tucked me in close to his side. “You look beautiful tonight, Char.”

I smiled. “So do you.”

“Isn’t it amazing what a good hangover can do for your skin complexion?” he teased, and I giggled.

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic. There’s no way your hangover was that bad.”

He raised his brow. “Trust me, it was bad. I would’ve canceled surgeries if I’d had an OR schedule today.”

“Sheesh,” I muttered. “I guess that means we need to work on making your drinking game strong.”

“Hell no.” He laughed and shook his head in two determined side-to-side motions. “I’ll stay alcohol-free, thank you very much.”

“If it makes you feel any better, my morning started out a little rough, too.”

“I guess that does make me feel a little better. It also enlightens me to the fact that you aren’t ashamed to lie for your own amusement.” He shook his head and did his best to change his voice to that of a woman. “Oh, I’m fine. Hungover? Ha-ha-ha. No, sir. I have the blood of a goddess and the heartiness of a god.”

I laughed and covered my mouth with two fingers when the rolling waves refused to stop. “I’m sorry I told you I was fine when you were suffering.” I cleared my throat and bumped up the volume on my faux melancholy. “I only puked twelve times,” I lied again, and his eyes widened in concern.