Chapter 16
Saturday evening, Gavin glanced around Zoe’s fancy work party, holding a glass of punch in his hands. The nonalcoholic kind, available because apparently he wasn’t the only person who didn’t want to booze it up. Then again, with the many doctors hanging around the place, it made sense some of them might have to be sober if on call.
“So, Gavin. Nice to see you again.” Mark Swanson—his archenemy. Not really, but he felt the need to laugh.
“Igor. How’s it hanging?”
Swanson blinked. “Igor?”
“The brains behind the Frankenstein outfit, or so I once witnessed during an incredibly bad musical about the guy, the doctor, and a bean.”
“Ah. So I’m not the only one who was forced to watchFrank Got Beans But Igor Got Brains. A theatrical masterpiece, or a mistake? You decide.”
Gavin blinked. “You saw that?”
“My sister forced me to go as her date many, many years ago. Sadly, hers stood her up when he realized she planned to watch a musical. Of course, the guy was sixteen and had better taste than amateur theater. I wanted to scrape my own eyes and ears out after the spectacle.”
Gavin laughed. “It was awful. My mom made me go because my little brother played the part of the bean.”
Swanson actually cracked a smile. “Does he still act?”
“Hell no. Thank God. Just graduated high school a few years ago. He’s figuring out what to do next.”
“A rough age.” Swanson nodded, then glanced around. “I take it you’re here with Zoe?”
“Yep. She’s…mingling.”
“She’s good at that. Keeps the peace around here often enough.” He grimaced when Cleo Brewer walked by. “Unlike others.” Beyond the loathing in the guy’s eyes, Gavin saw heated interest.So, that’s the way the wind blows, eh, Swanson?
“But she’s so tiny,” he said, lifting his glass at Cleo. “How can she make trouble?”
Swanson raised a brow. “You’ve met her, and you have to ask?”
Zoe’s friend had a mouth on her Gavin appreciated. “Good point.”
“So what do you do at the gym, Gavin? I know you were a Marine.”
“Ama Marine.”
“Excuse me?”
“Haven’t you heard, once a Marine, always a Marine?”
“No, but then, I’ve been stuck in business and medical texts for way too much of my life, it seems. I tend to miss a lot.”
Gavin considered the guy. Medical texts? “Are you a doctor? I thought Zoe said you were a clinic manager.”
“I am. I tried a year of medical school before realizing it wasn’t my thing. So I went back for a master’s in business. Now I’m invested in the medical group, doing my best to get rid of our laggy procedures. Our clinics are top-notch.”
“So I hear.” Zoe loved her job. “But you know, you don’t look like you spend too much time in books. You look like you work out.”
“It helps me balance. The job can get stressful.”
“I’ll bet. Being in the Corps, exercise was part of the job. But I’ve found it really helps me deal with everything better.”
Swanson nodded. “Exactly. There are so many benefits to exercise and good nutrition. I’m not talking diet fads or fitting into pant sizes. I’m talking about the coexistence of physical and mental well-being.”
“Huh. Makes sense.”
