“We’re not debating faith and science again,” Tori said as she set the tray down. “Put that away for tonight. Aldritch just got here. Hazlette, get off the dating apps and grab another chair, would you?”
Everything inside me sank. It was a fully unnecessary reaction and I resented everything about it, especially since Iexpected Henry to be dating. Why wouldn’t he? He was young and in a new town and…single. He was single. He should be getting out there. No reason not to.
He jerked his head up and stared at me, frozen for a moment before gaining his feet. “I’m not on any dating apps.” He said this to Tori while keeping his eyes on me. “You know that.”
I refused to do anything with that comment. Anything at all.
“Yeah, but maybe you should be,” Cami said. “Might help with that sleep issue you’ve been having, if you know what I mean.”
I couldn’t help but glance his way as he plucked a chair from an empty table. He rolled those dark eyes with those thick, dark lashes and shook his head, saying, “Everyone knows what you mean, CCD, but I’m fine.”
I forced a quick smile and glanced around the table as everyone shuffled to accommodate another seat. “I can’t stay too long, but I wanted to pop in and congratulate you on a great start to this rotation.”
As I settled between Jenelle and Ansari, Tori started distributing drinks from her tray. “I ordered everything that sounded good, so we have loads of extras.” She rattled off the names and detailed descriptions of all the remaining beers and glanced at me. “What would you like?”
I pointed to the pale golden beer because she’d mentioned that one first and all the others had blended together in a blur of terminology that meant very little to me. “You know your way around beers, I take it?”
“No, I just remember things,” she replied.
Jenelle leaned in, whispering, “Her recall is ridiculous. Basically, if she’s read it, she doesn’t forget it. It’s been driving me crazy all week.”
I nodded as I took a sip. “How is it that you’ve made it all the way to your fifth year without realizing you’re not the only smartest person in the room?”
She scoffed. “My year is full of idiots.”
“Right.” I gave her a sympathetic nod though they were far from idiots. Jenelle was both exceptionally bright and talented, which was a combination few could truly claim. Instinct and being quick on your feet usually filled in the gaps where others fell short.
Cami held up her glass of dark brown beer. “Hazlette, it’s your turn to make the toast.”
He paused for a long second before reaching for his glass. He seemed to consider it for another second, blinking slowly. Then, “Here’s to one week down.” His gaze circled the group, eventually stopping on me. “Only seven to go.”
As we clinked our glasses together, I found myself coming out of my seat to reach Henry’s. When we finally connected, we stayed there, staring at each other while everyone toasted around us. Eventually, he said, “Fifty-one days.”
I pulled back like I’d been startled, beer sloshing over the rim and onto my fingers. I turned my attention to Ansari, who seemed to be drinking soda, and tapped my glass to his.
He responded with, “Yes. Thank you.”
I devoted all my attention to the next sip. By my math, I was over the legal limit for heavy glances shared with Henry and now it was time to go. If I stayed much longer, I’d slip up again. I knew I would. And it didn’t matter that we had a table between us and all these people watching. We’d had an auditorium around us the other day and that hadn’t stopped a damn thing. All I had to do was stand up and?—
“Dr. Aldritch, have you been to Salem? Can you give us any insider info?” Cami rubbed her palms together. “My family takes spooky season very seriously. I know it’s different around herethan where I’m from but I’m hoping it will treat some of my homesickness.”
Okay, so I wasn’t leaving just yet. Five more minutes wouldn’t kill me if I focused only on Cami. “Where are you from?”
“I grew up in Houston, though my mom’s family is from the Rio Grande Valley, near Brownsville. We love a good Día de los Muertos season.”
“I did a fellowship at Baylor,” I said.
“I went to Baylor! For med school! You know my city?” she cried, her dark brown eyes wide and shining like she might burst into tears at any second.
“I was only there a short time, but yeah, it was great,” I said. “I spent a lot of time at an ice house on Alabama. And the food was incredible. There’s nothing quite like it around here.”
“I’ll cook for you,” she said, nearly bouncing out of her seat. “I always make too much anyway because my husband’s residency is in New York and I haven’t figured out how to cook for one. I give these guys all the extras. I’ll bring you some too.”
Before I could decline because I didn’t need anyone thinking I made my residents fetch my lunch, Tori said, “True story. She’s feeding most of the surgical ICU nurses too.”
“This is the first time in years that I’m living alone,” Cami replied with a shrug. “I don’t know another way.”
“So, you want to go to Salem?” I asked.
