“Is he still threatening to trade you?” Shane asked.
“After the fight and my suspension? In a word, yes. Old man Bells—” the man glanced at me, and I kept my eyes on the door, feigning like Iwasn’tlistening to every single word of their conversation. “Let’s just say he’s got a screw or two loose. But whatever, I’m here to show the world cancer sucks and all. It’s a good cause, sure. I just hate dealing with doctors.”
Well, maybe doctors hate you too, ever think of that?
Natalie folded her arms. “What do you have against doctors?”
I cheered her on, as she’d just stolen my talking point. I liked this girl already.
Dustin shrugged. “We hold them up to this crazy standard of wisdom, but what do they actually know? I sometimes wonder if they even do things in their patients’ best interests. It’s all about those Benjamins. Prescribe the expensive drugs, keep people coming back. Don’t get me started on the painkiller epidemic. It’s gotten out of hand back home in Middletown.”
Take the thing one doctor did—overprescribe painkillers—and blame all doctors. Sounds reasonable.
Dustin shrugged and added. “Plus, they don’t know how to just let loose and have a good time.”
Clearly, you’ve never hung out with me and Phoebe on Karaoke Thursdays.
“That seems a little harsh, don’t you think?” Shane interjected. “Doctors do a lot of good too.”
“Sure, they do some good surgeries and stuff. I’ll give you that. They’re nottotallyuseless. But there’s a ton who just have no idea what they’re talking about.” Dustin said, his tone sounding definitive.
I felt amped, and I couldn’t help it. I turned around, hand on my hips. Normally, I might not have cared.
People talked crap about doctors. I knew this.
But the fact that one of the esteemed celebrity guests for the CSC was putting down my profession in public truly irked me.
“Hi,” I said with a giant, fake smile. “I’m a doctor, actually. So glad you could make it for the conference.” My tone oozed sarcasm.
I was surprised when Dustin smirked and didn’t budge.
“You’rea doctor?” he remarked, his tone emphasizing his surprise.
I nodded.
He ran his eyes up and down my red dress, and I hated to admit that this asshole had just made my skin tingle like he was shooting lasers out of his gorgeous blue eyes, which landed on my face after they were done exploring the rest of me.
He smirked. “An audition for an ER extra doesn’t count, just so you know.”
The elevator dinged for the first floor—finally—and my nostrils flared. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means I don’t believe you.”
“Why not?”
“There are no doctors as hot as you.”
I opened my mouth, wanting to spit out a quick come back, but words failed me. I couldn’t figure out if he meant it as an insult or a compliment.
I was flummoxed for words, and he stuck a hand out. “Nice to meet you. I’m Dustin?—”
“LeBlanc,” I completed his name for him. “I know who you are.”
“Well, that’s flattering. You know all about me.”
“I also know you’re also an idiot,” I blurted out.
He didn’t miss a beat, and the smile didn’t even leave his face. “Takes one to know one.” He winked.
