“I’m going to try. I’ve had a lot of PTO so I don’t know if Alan will let me.”
“Oh, god. Yeah. It’s Asswipe Alan. Ugh. He’s such a jerk.” She pulled a face. “Sorry if he says no.”
“You meanwhen,” I said wryly, but inside, dread began to gather. I could feel it settle at the base of my throat.
“Maybe someone sucked his cock last night and he won’t be a dick today?”
“Sharon!”
She wafted a hand. “You know he’s only cheerful when he gets laid.”
“That’s why he’s the yearlong Grinch?”
“Exactly.”
“Well, we can hope.” I waved at her and made my way to the ER, ignoring pointed looks from colleagues, who took in the state of me but veered around me.
Ahh, the joys of New York.
By the time I reached my department, my skin crawled from the looks but also with anxiety.
I considered myself fortunate that I found Alan quickly as he hovered by the nurse’s station.
“Kitty? Jesus,” he greeted, eyes raking over the myriad bruises on my face. “What happened to you?”
“Mugging,” I said briskly. “I’m screwed, Alan. I can barely bend down without falling over?—”
“We’re short tonight, Kitty. I need you to pull yourself together and think about the team.”
So, no sex for Asswipe Alan last night.Bastard.
“It’s not that I’m not thinking about the team. I can’t do the job! You know I wouldn’t ask for time off if I didn’t need it.”
“You sure that isn’t makeup? I’ve seen what you girls can do nowadays.”
I gaped at him. “Are you for real?” I swiped at my cheek, where there was a cluster of bruises. Even as I winced in discomfort, I growled, “There. No makeup. Happy now?”
“This has nothing to do with happiness, Kitty. We’re down Janey because she has the flu—”Or so she sayswent unspoken, but I heard it anyway. “—and we can’t afford for you not to be on your A game.”
“Are you looking at me right now?” I snarled. “How can I be on my A game when neither of my eyelids will open fully!”
“I don’t appreciate your tone. I want you to head to the lockers and get ready for your shift, Kitty. That’s an order.”
When his beeper buzzed, I knew that was the end of our conversation and I could feel the panic in my chest start to take over.
This wasn’t me.
I wasn’t this person.
I hit people with lamps and I stabbed them in the foot and I?—
My cell rang.
I jerked out of the train of thought then felt that strange gathering of emotion in my throat begin to unravel when I saw his name on my phone screen.
Stan.
Unable to help myself, I rushed out of the department, uncaring that it hurt every joint in my being, uncaring that I shouldn’t run, uncaring that it made me dizzy.
