“I don’t think it’ll work like that for Nick. He’s always been different from his brothers. He’ll never grow up.”
“No one thought Ryan would ever grow up, until he met Chris…”
“Ryan always had a big heart, so did Ian. I knew that behind their tough-guy exteriors were two men with a lot to give. Nick doesn’t have an exterior, though: he’s exactly what you see. The only good thing about Nick O’Connor is that he can’t lie.”
“I’d like to believe you, Casey, but I can feel the sadness in your words. It could start to drag you down.”
“Not as much as you do,” I say, winding him up.
“Touché,” he says, before carrying on. “Of course…”
“What?”
“To be honest, I get you. That beautiful tanned arse isn’t easy to forget.”
“Martin…”
“Just wanted to show my appreciation.”
“I think the entire world has shown their appreciation for Nick O’Connor’s arse.”
“In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen arse cheeks so perfect and—”
“Can we change the subject now? Thinking about his bum is not helping me right now.”
“It’s not helping me either, I’m just about to go on shift. Let’s talk about the surgeon instead,” he says, nodding behind him, where Luke is sitting at one of the hospital cafeteria’s tables with his colleagues. “He dulls down all of my fantasies.”
“Well, I like him,” I say, less convincingly than I’d hoped.
“Do you also like the fact he ignores you when you’re both at work?”
“He doesn’t ignore me, it’s just—”
“That he’s a surgeon and you’re just a physio?”
“You’re a doctor and you’re sitting here with me.”
“Because I’m not an arsehole with an oversized ego.”
“I’m not so sure about that.”
“He doesn’t do it for your benefit, you know.”
“Don’t start…”
“Has he at least shagged you yet?”
“Martin!”
“He’s not gay by any chance?”
“God, no!”
He shrugs. “Just asking… I’m curious as to why he hasn’t laid a finger on you yet.”
I’m curious about that too, but I’m not going to mention it, or he’ll start another investigation on my life.
“He’s just not that kind of guy.”
