But to Reid.
The press of his palms on the backs of my thighs, and the sound he made when I sank down on his mouth. The way he didn’t rush, just held me there and took his time. That deep, low rumble he made against my skin that unraveled something inside me I didn’t even know was knotted.
I force myself back to the task in front of me, tightening the suture with just a little more force than necessary.
This is ridiculous. It’s been days since I last saw him, and I have things to do, responsibilities to maintain. The last thing I need is to be flustered over a man who can make me forget what day it is with one look and two fingers.
Still, every time a memory pops into my head unannounced, heat simmers under my skin.
“Dr. Park?” the junior says quietly, eyes wide behind his shield.
I blink. I’ve already finished the last stitch.
“Good job,” I say stiffly, stepping back to peel off my gloves and strip the gown. “Get the post-op forms started. I’ll sign off in ten.”
My voice comes out flat and probably a little too cold. He doesn’t deserve that—he’s just learning. I pause in the scrub room, letting the hot water run over my hands, and feel the weight of my own annoyance pressing down on my sternum.
I don’t like snapping, but I don’t like slipping. In my job, you can’t afford it, especially while operating.
By the time I towel off and clip my hair back again, I’m more composed. But the fatigue clings to me like lint, and I know it’s only going to get worse before it gets better.
Back at my station in the ortho wing of the hospital, the admin stack has doubled. Of course it has. Jenny doesn’t even look up from her desk when I pass her by with a groan. She just smirks faintly, like my exhaustion is personally satisfying.
I ignore her.
We all know Jenny has a thing for Dr. Moreno, and has never loved the idea of me being the resident attached to his rotation for almost two years. She assumes proximity means something when it doesn’t, but nothing I say will ever change her mind. And to be honest, I’ve given up caring.
I pull my phone out of my lab coat before I even realize what I’m doing.
His name is still at the top of my messages, not that we’ve texted much. A few scattered things since the last time—mostly surface-level, just enough to pretend we’re not thinking about the next time we want to fuck each other’s brains out.
But he’s at the Moreno Clinic today, getting cleared by Heidi. I know because I checked the schedule, checked the Storm’s road game calendar, and made a note of it without meaning to.
I thought I could conveniently bump into him today. That it would be casual. I could say hello in passing and congratulatehim on his clearance, then savor the way those navy specks in his eyes darken as they perused me for a moment.
Except I’m still at the hospital, and I’m not going to make it in time.
I stare at my phone for a moment.
Fuck it.
Me:Hope you pass your test, Hutch. Don’t forget to stretch.
I hit send before I can talk myself out of it and shove the phone back into my coat pocket like it might bite me. Ten minutes later, while I’m reviewing discharge notes, it buzzes.
REID HUTCHISON:Worried about me, Doc?
I roll my eyes, but my fingers move faster than my brain as I make my way back to my locker.
Me:Only if you blow your knee out again and make me do paperwork.
REID HUTCHISON:Think I’ll just stick to blowing your brains when I make you cum.
My throat goes dry, and scramble to pocket my phone before I can even attempt to respond. Instead, I press my forehead to the cool metal of the locker door.
“You good?”
I jump, looking up to see Elodie, my favorite surgical nurse.
