"Oh, okay." For some reason, I couldn't seem to shake my disappointment. "I can still catch the subway."
Jean smiled broadly. "It's no problem, Doc. Really. It's on my way."
I still wondered how Jean knew where I lived.
"Well, come on then." I started walking down the corridor. I was starting to get to the point that I didn't care who drove me home as long as someone did.
Jean talked all the way down the corridor to the elevator, the ride down to the parking garage, and the walk to his little green sedan. I nodded and grunted here and there to let him know I was listening, even if I wasn't. Not really. I was so tired my eyeballs ached. I wanted a shower and then my bed, in that order. I didn't even care about eating something, although I knew I should.
By the time we pulled up in front of my place, I was ready to tape Jean's mouth shut. I knew he was just being friendly, but the man really needed to shut up. I needed peace and quiet, not conversation.
"Thank you for the ride, Jean," I said as I reached for the door handle.
"Want to go out for coffee sometime?"
Not really.
"Maybe sometime," I said in the most noncommittal way I could while not being rude.
"Great." Jean grinned. "Then it's a date."
Oh, hell, no.
"Jean, it's not a date. It's just coffee."
I wanted to be very clear about that.
The smile fell. "Yeah, but—"
I wanted to groan.
"I don't date people I work with, Jean. It never ends well." I climbed out of the car and then held on to the doorframe as I looked back inside. "We work together, Jean. We can be friends, but we are not going to date."
"But you can date that police officer?"
I frowned. "That who?"
"That police officer back at the hospital," Jean replied. "The one who tried to take you home."
My frown deepened, but my eyes narrowed. "Did Officer Wu really get detained?"
Jean paled. "Of course he did."
I seriously doubted it.
"Thank you for the ride, Jean." I slammed the door and turned away. I heard the tires on Jean's car spin out before he went tearing off down the street.
This was exactly why I didn't date my co-workers.
I shook my head as I walked up the front steps of my brownstone. Jean was going to be impossible to work with after this. I could feel it in my bones. Why he suddenly thought we'd start dating was a mystery. I'd never shown any interest in the man nor felt any from him.
It was weird.
I let myself in, made sure the door was locked behind me, and then set my briefcase down next to the entry table and tossed my keys into the bowl on top before heading to the stairs.
My shower was calling to me.
Desperately.
