I snort.“Next week.”
I slide out the dental tools and check that we have what we need for our first patient.
“So did you watch the final of the dance competition over the weekend?”
“Come on, you know I don’t watch that stuff.I watch very sensible documentaries about nature or whatever.”
I smile to myself and keep sorting.
“So, you did.”
“IfI did, I was forced.”
I chuckle this time.
For the past three weeks I’ve raved about the couples and their performances, the gossip about their love lives and who I think is going to win.Jackson and Mindy, obviously.
“Well, youmighthave missed a fantastic episode.”I don’t bother naming the show—he totally watched it.“The couple who areclearlyhaving an affair got kicked out.”
“Because of the affair?”His eyes lift from his computer screen, and I want to high-five myself for getting his full attention.
“Hard to know.Either way, my money is still on Jindy.Or is it Mackson.”
“Jindy.”He smirks and returns to the screen.
I bark out a laugh.“I knew it!You are just as obsessed.”
“Not obsessed, I just know when to appease my wife.”Brad winks quickly at me.“And yeah, that other couple is totally having an affair.Also, we never had this conversation.”
I know when to stop.
“I heard nothing.”
“Good girl.I have a reputation to uphold around here.”
I smile to myself and keep working.
He’s a handsome man.A little older than me, but let’s just say almost every woman in the office and every patient has a crush on him.
Brad pushes his chair away from the desk and glides the short distance to the dental chair.“Can you get our first patient?”
The morning flies by, and then finally one of my favorite patients arrives.
Louisa.
She’s been a patient for almost eighteen months, and I know she’s excited to get her braces off today.At fifteen, it’s such a hard age to be messing with appearance, but she’s about to walk out with a perfect smile for the rest of her life.
Opening the door, I glance around the waiting room until I find her.We have five dentists and two orthodontists, so it’s a busy practice.
“Louisa?”
“Hey!”She jumps up, her face lifting from her phone.
I notice she’s alone.“No mom today?”
“She has an appointment, so dropped me off and is picking me up afterward,” Louisa replies quickly in that teenage way.
“Okay.”I lead her down the hall and into the dentist’s office.“Fingers crossed for today.”
