I almost had myself convinced that it was new when I noticed a platinum band around his fourth finger—and a daintier one around hers.
Huh. Would not have guessed that.
“I’m done,” she said quietly.
It made me wonder when Whit would be done. Brie was off somewhere with friends tonight which meant we could break out the toys and be as loud as we wanted. Whit didn’t love making a lot of noise when Brie was around.
“Then I’m taking you home,” Stremmel replied. To O’Rourke, he said, “Find a way to not be obnoxious.”
“I haven’t a clue what you mean,” O’Rourke said.
Shaking his head, Stremmel led Shapiro to the hall. “Hang in there, Hazlette,” he called. “And you know exactly what I mean, O’Rourke. Behave yourself.”
Watching them leave was like looking into the future. I could see me and Whit walking out of here after talking sense into some hyper residents over thirteen types of pie. We’d have the wedding bands too though they didn’t have to match. Whit’s style was too precise for that. Maybe we’d go home to a babysitter looking after our kid. Or a beagle. I’d be good either way. Brie would have her own room, preferably one far away from ours and with a private entrance for the ungodly hours she kept, and Dr. Mercer would have her own house keys, a dedicated seat at our table, and a steady supply of her preferred bottle of wine.
Whatever it was, I’d give it to Whit. I’d give her everything I could.
O’Rourke glanced at his watch. “Time for my next act. I gotta shoot my shot with Aldritch tonight.”
I almost choked on my beer. “You fucking what?”
He rooted around the nut bowl. “I hit her up about once a month though I haven’t gotten any traction. I don’t think she’s sold on the whole workplace romance thing but I can change her mind.”
There was fire in my chest. Burning straight through tendon and bone. I could barely see past the flames. “You won’t but I’d like to see you try.”
His gaze gradually lifted from the nuts to me. I watched him replaying my words in his head while he studied me, and I knew it was a mistake. I knew I should’ve choked on the beer and the fire and shoved down every territorial urge rather than walk my way into this kind of quicksand.
But it was out there now and there was no missing what I’d meant.
He shook some nuts around his palm, his brows gathered tight. “At least now I know why I’ve struck out.”
Because I couldn’t help myself, I said, “Stop swinging.”
He stared at me for an endless moment that twisted my gut into a knot. “Okay, Hazlette. All right. Good thing we straightened that out.” He held out the nut hand. “How about I promise to keep it cordial with Dr. A and we never speak of this again? That way you won’t have to glare at me like you’re thinking of gagging me with my own ball sack?”
I shook his hand harder than necessary. He attempted the same but I had at least thirty pounds of muscle on him and he was smart enough to know it. He made a solid attempt at staring me down but it didn’t work. There was nothing in the world more important than Whitney and I didn’t care who knew it.
This was new for me. I’d never reacted this way before. Never sensed that I’d actually explode into a ball of fire if I had to watch someone trying to pick up the person I was with. Never wanted to make it as clear as the fucking dawn that someonebelongedto me. Never felt so much for someone that I was willing to risk everything, including a sweetheart setup in trauma surgery.
Right here, right now, it didn’t matter to me if I’d blown it with O’Rourke. It was stupid and irresponsible but I couldn’t bring myself to care.
“Good talking to you, then,” O’Rourke said, finally pulling away. “We’re all right, yeah? I didn’t know and”—he tipped his head to the side, his face scrunched like he was trying very hard to hear something—“I don’t think it’s common knowledge.”
“It’s not and I’d prefer if you kept it that way.” It sounded like a threat.
He scooped the last of the cashews into his hand and tossed them into his mouth. “Yeah. No sweat. So, we’re good? You’re gonna be my guy. I won’t be able to sleep tonight if we’re not settled.”
My jaw flexed. It was for the best that I hadn’t burned this bridge. “We’re good.”
“Then I’m gonna go find someone else to play doctor with tonight.” He bobbed his head as he scanned the kitchen. “See you later, man.”
After a fascinating conversation with Acevedo about all the docs who’d lived in my apartment building in recent years, he, Stremmel, and Shapiro included, I realized Whit and Dr. Mercer had left the family room. As I made a pass through the other rooms stuffed with sleep-deprived residents in search of Whit, my phone buzzed.
Whitney
I’m outside. A few doors down, closer to the top of the street. Ordered a car. It’ll be here in 10.
Henry
