It didn’t take long for HR to wrap up their investigation. He was fired, and Xander’s attorneys continued to go after him.
We finally got the original version of the video, and Damon signed papers under oath he hadn’t distributed the footage to anyone besides HR and this was the only copy.
It has been a few months since my accident, and Xander and I are in a comfortable routine. Since we are in most of the same surgeries, we leave for work and come home together almost every day. Even though we are together most of the day, Xander stillfinds moments to leave blueberry muffins, coffee, or other little gifts for me in my locker.
I’m about to close it when my phone beeps. The notification says, “NYSurgeon is waiting for you to make your next move.”
I pause for a moment, thinking about all the memories I made with Xander playing this game. As tough as it was at times, there was a lot of laughter, too.
I open up the board and read my letters. Smiling, I write “heartbeat” and throw my phone in my locker.
Xander is already looking at the list for the day. He groans and turns to me. “Charlotte, you need to win rock, paper, scissors today. I can’t do it again.”
I laugh. “It was only a three-hour surgery. It could have been longer.”
Xander puts his hand on my back and guides me out of the locker room. We are halfway down the hall when he says, “Hey, I have something to show you tonight. Don’t make any plans.”
“What’s that?”
He grins at me. “I’m not telling you.”
“You’re going to make me wonder all day what it can be?”
He laughs. “Yep.”
“You’re evil.”
He kisses me on the top of my head and opens the door to the operating room. Tabi smirks at me, and I smirk back as she puts ourgloves on us.
Our day goes quickly, and after we shower and change, I pull out my phone and see a notification that Xander has just created a sixty-seven-point word. I write, “Nice job.”
“Good to see you’re back.”
“I won’t be going anywhere again.”
“I’m going to give you some extra dessert tonight for writing that.”
I laugh out loud, and Tabi looks at me. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing.”
Xander has his bag, and he grabs mine. “Have a great night, Tabi.”
“You, too.” She smiles at him and smirks at me again.
We’re walking down the hall, and Xander leans into me. “You’re smoking hot.”
I shake my head. He tells me that every day. “So, where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
He guides me into the parking garage and opens the car passenger door for me.
“You’re making me nervous,” I tell him when he gets in the driver’s side.
“Don’t be nervous. It’s nothing bad. So what do you rate the pus factor from patient number three today?”
I shrug. “It was kind of disappointing. I give it a five point three but was expecting more like an eight.”
