“Ohhh,” she coos. “You’re dating a co-worker. Is that against policy or do they just add that in for drama on TV?”
“We work in different departments, so it’s okay.” We get in line and Gemma silences her phone, which keeps dinging with text messages.
“So how mad are you?”
“I’m not mad. I’m worried. He’s out on an assignment and, uh, did something risky and I won’t be able to hear back from him until tonight.”
“Ahh, got it.” We move up in the line. Gemma’s lips curve into a sympathetic smile. “I worry too,” she says softly. “I feel like anyone I care about is going to die. The therapist told me it was normal and would go away, but here I am, twenty-four and still worrying I’m cursed.”
“I feel that way too sometimes,” I admit.
“Have you been subconsciously punishing yourself by not letting yourself develop real relationships?”
“Is that something your therapist told you?”
“Yeah. And it was kinda true until I graduated and got a job at Silver Living. I was a bit of a loner before.”
“I was too. Still am, if I’m being honest.”
She playfully elbows me. “At least you have a boyfriend.”
I smile. “True. You’re not seeing anyone?”
She shakes her head. “I just went through a string of losers and am taking a break for a bit. And by that I mean I’m having as many no-strings summer flings as I can.”
“Sounds fun.”
“In theory,” she says with a laugh. “I’ve never had a one-night stand before. So here’s hoping the guys aren’t all freaks.”
“Being a freak might not be a bad thing.”
She wiggles her eyebrows. “I like the way you think.” We go up to the counter, order our coffees, and snag a table in the back while we wait. “Have you and your boyfriend been together long?”
“Not too long.”
“You seem to really care about him.”
She really is nosey, and while I didn’t mind at first, I can’t get into a round of Twenty Questions with her about my “boyfriend.” First of all, I don’t have just one boyfriend, and second, my boyfriends aren’t quite human.
“How was the night shift?” I change the subject before she digs deeper.
“Huh?”
“You said you worked the night shift.”
“Oh. Right. I did.” She forces a smile and looks away. “It was hectic, as always. But I like working nights because management isn’t there.”
“That would be a nice perk.”
“It has its drawbacks, but I’d much rather deal with that than have the director of nurses breathing down my neck. She’s a terrible human being. Our supply closet just happens to run low every time she takes a vacation. I’d report her to the state board of nursing if I wasn’t worried about losing my job.”
“If you got fired because you reported something, you’d have a big lawsuit on your hands. That’s illegal.”
She taps her chin. “You’re making it sound tempting. Get my asshole boss out of the pictureandsue her. What am I waiting for?”
We both laugh. “Seriously, though, if you think she’s doing shady stuff, report her ass. Running low on supplies makes your job harder, and it’s not good for your patients. You have to stand up for those who can’t, right?”
Gemma suddenly gets fidgety and looks like she’s going to throw up.
