“Priorities.” Gabriel grinned.
“And Dr. Quinton Wesley, our youngest partner and most enthusiastic emergency physician, who is happily eager to witness this unfolding disaster.”
“It’s an honor,” Quinton said, pressing his hand to his heart.
“And together,” Fitz concluded, gesturing to all of them like a ringmaster, “we are Clinically Approved. Julien’s worstnightmare, finest colleagues, and sometimes reluctant best friends.”
“It’s so nice to meet you all!” I said brightly. “Julien talks about you constantly.”
“He does?” Nathan looked delighted.
“No, I don’t,” Julien said quickly.
“He does,” I insisted. “He says you’re all very talented and that he trusts you completely, even though you drive him crazy sometimes.”
There was a moment of surprised silence.
“Aww,” Fitz said, his voice softening. “Julien. You do care.”
“I’m going to murder you,” Julien said. “All of you. I’m going to murder you and make it look like an accident.”
“See?” I said to the group. “He’s very precise. Even his murder threats are well-planned.”
Hayden choked on a laugh.
“Mrs. Darcy,” Gabriel said, his eyes twinkling, “I think you’re going to fit in perfectly here.”
“Stop,” Julien said, his voice rising. “Stop talking to my wife. Stop encouraging her. Stop”—he gestured wildly at all of them—“whatever this is!”
“This is called ‘being friendly,’” Fitz deadpanned. “You should try it sometime.”
“I am FRIENDLY!”
“You once made a patient cry because they were three minutes late.”
“They were FIVE minutes late, and I didn’t make them cry; they were just...”
“Terrified of you?” Nathan suggested.
“Intimidated by your intensity?” Quinton added.
“Concerned about your blood pressure?” Gabriel offered.
“I DO NOT HAVE BLOOD PRESSURE ISSUES.”
“Yet,” Fitz murmured.
Julien turned to me, his expression one of complete desperation. “Athena. Please. Tell them you’re leaving.”
“But I just got here,” I whispered hopefully. “And everyone’s being so welcoming. The universe clearly wants me to—”
“The universe,” Julien interrupted, his voice very quiet and very dangerous, “can mind its own damn business.”
“The universeisits own business,” I pointed out. “That’s kind of the whole point.”
Behind Julien, all four doctors were now openly grinning.
“I like her,” Hayden said.
