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Suzie glances at the counter and empty recliner. “I swear I did. I must be losing it.” She turns to our patient. “I need to retire one of these days.”
I peel my sweaty gloves off and wash my hands. “Don’t you dare. You retire, and we’ll riot in the streets,” I call over myshoulder. “I’ll run and get linens and a new gown, be back in just a minute.”
Opening the door to the hall, a waft of air-conditioned air hits me, drying up the sweat beads that formed from being stuck in a stuffy room. Ryan leans against the exact cabinets I need to look in, casually chatting with a young girl who doesn’t even look old enough to work here.
Her hands are both on him, gripping his forearm as she giggles. Freaking giggles at whatever he is saying. He makes no effort to pull out of her grasp.
Hot, unbridled jealousy fills my veins and I hate myself for it.She’s stunning.Younger than me, taller than me, prettier than me. She’s wearing an adorable floral skirt that shows off her long, tanned legs, and I’m stuck wearing my oldest pair of faded scrubs that have questionable human fluids splattered on them.
I tell myself I can’t be mad at him. He isn’t my boyfriend, I know that, but a small part of me thought that after the other night maybe something was forming between us. Or he would at least have the decency to wait a week before finding his next interest, considering a few hours ago I was ready to fuck him in the dictation room.
I knew this would happen, but instead of a busty clinic nurse, he chose a gorgeous gift shop employee.
“Excuse me,” I mumble, prompting them to move to the side so I can get out new sheets and a fresh gown. They adjust enough to let me in but stay engrossed in their conversation.
“Wow, that issocool. I love going to the beach,” she says in a breathy voice.
Of course, she does.She’s so precious.
“Yeah, I’ve been spending summers on the lake as much as possible since I graduated med school,” he responds.
How convenient.When he graduated med school, she was probably in kindergarten. Is he flirting with her? Is he flirtingwith her in front of me? I know I told him I wasn’t looking for a relationship, wasn’t ready for sex with him, but I’ll be damned if this doesn’t sting.I’m trying to keep my cool but can’t control the slamming of cabinet doors as I shut them.
“It’d be fun to check out the cove together sometime,” she says cutely. Ryan isn’t looking at her anymore, nor does he respond to her. Out of the corner of my eye, I can tell he’s staring at me, and she takes notice. “Well, I better get going. Have a good day, Dr. Ryan.”
“You too, Krissy.”
She leaves and I mutter under my breath, “You too, Krissy,” mimicking his goodbye to her.
I don’t have to even glance his way to see the shit-eating expression he wears. He stands in my peripheral, facing my side before leaning down to rest an elbow on the cabinet I’m still mindlessly searching through.
“What do you want?” I spit out.
“Oh, nothing,” he says, “just wanted to see how my favorite nurse is holding up.”
“I think it’s great what you’re doing.”
“And what am I doing, exactly?”
“She seems great. Can she even drive yet? Maybe you could take her out for a nice dinner, and afterward help her fill out college applications.”
Ryan pauses for a minute, brows furrowed and glances down the hall where the young blonde was last seen before letting out a big laugh. “You’re not serious.”
“Never am.”
“Lain—”
He doesn’t get the rest of my name out before I pivot away from him, fire fueling my veins as I storm to the supply room to find the right size gown I need.
I hate this feeling.
This jealous, insecure rage inside my chest tells me I’m damaged goods. That I’m not good enough for him, and my feelings are a hell of a lot stronger than I realized. In my experience, men love to play the good guy card until someone cuter comes along. Pushing open the door with both hands, I’m too caught in a cloud of misery to notice Ryan barging in directly behind me.
“What was that all about?” he demands, his voice a whisper-shout.
I ignore him and start sifting through the stack of gowns. He moves beside me, standing close enough I can feel the puffs of his breath through the wisps of my hair that have fallen free from my bun.
“What can I help you with, Dr. Ryan?” I mumble, attempting to keep my voice calm.
