“Yeah?” She gives me a tiny smile. “How are you going to make sure of that?”
I swallow and pull my hand away. “For one thing, you’re going to be a physician.” I lower my voice. “But also, I would give you my own clothes now. I’ll walk out of this clinic in my underwear if you need me to.”
She laughs. The bright sound cuts across the guilt covering me. “God, that is so tempting. Would you actually do that?”
“Without question. I’m sure I would get some looks, but it’s the least I could do.”
“My secondhand embarrassment would be too strong to allow it,” she says. “But I appreciate the offer all the same. You can stick to buying me new clothes if you want.”
“Done.” I angle myself so I’m fully facing her. “You have anything else in mind?”
“No. You want to take me shopping, Pretty Woman style?”
“Sounds like a good time.”
“Well.” She turns back to her computer. Her soft lips purse. God, she’s so beautiful. “I don’t think I need any other material stuff from you. Or apologies, for that matter. Your debt is paid.”
I swear my heart stops for a minute. “Wait, what? That’s it? Does that mean what I think it does?”
“It just means I’m leaving the past alone for now. Forgive, but don’t forget. All that. I’m not saying I’m going to fall in love with you now or anything like that.”
There’s been an ember of hope burning in my chest, but her words snuff it out again. She’s forgiving me, maybe, but thatdoesn’t mean she’ll give me a real chance. Still, this feels like a step in the right direction.
“I’ll take it.” I lean in so that I’m next to her ear. “Can I see you this weekend? Please? I’m not on call.”
“You free Sunday night?”
“Hell yeah.”
I’m close to her now, and I startle when George speaks up behind me.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he says.
Kendall’s eyes widen next to me. I turn to look at George, who inspects us with a grin on his face. His ruddy face fills with glee. Shit.
“No worries,” Kendall says. Her skin is a little pale, but she’s otherwise composed. “We were just talking about shopping. Grant here wants to wear cowboy boots and chaps in the OR, and I was trying to talk him out of it.”
I laugh despite the pounding of my heart. “I was thinking a hat too,” I say. “Just go all in.”
“Sure,” George says. His eyes ping back and forth between us. “I’m just documenting. Don’t mind me.”
I look at Kendall, whose color has returned somewhat. “It’s okay,” I mouth at her.
She shakes her head.
How can I reassure her? I’ll think of something. I’m not going to let that weasel derail us.
I knock on Kendall’s door, then stuff my hands in my pockets. It’s almost dark by the time I make it over to her apartment. I’ve got to be up in ten hours for our first surgical case, but I’m accustomed to the sleep deficit.
The cool autumn air blows across the back of my neck.When she opens the door, my eyes snag on her skimpy blue pajamas, but a shot of alarm pierces me when I see her face. She’s got a pale cast and shadows under her eyes. Her frown pulls at her cheeks.
“What’s wrong?” I step inside, desperate to remedy whatever’s hurting her.
“You can come on in and sit down,” she says. “You probably don’t want the whole story.”
I follow her into her living room. I’ve been here before, but I’m struck again by her place: She’s got a penchant for immaculate cleanliness, and pieces of pink, gold, and white decor brighten the room. Fresh flowers perch on her kitchen counter. I make a mental note that she likes them, that I could bring her some.
She sits on her couch. I note the heating pad on the floor, and the bottle of ibuprofen on her end table. I’m not as smart as I thought I was, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out what the problem is.
