Page 95 of Give Me What You Will

“Actually… It has become wildly successful. So much so, we’ve been having high schools from outside the district start calling, asking for more help.”

Stunned, Sam frowned. “I thought it was just a call-back hotline for teens in crisis?”

“It is, but Walsh has been doing a lot more than that.” John pulled his glasses off, pinching the brim of his nose. “He managed to rope Wyatt in, too. Apparently, they have been doing the hotline not only while spending their precious time here, but on their off hours, too, becoming para-counselors to these kids.” He cursed. “I swear, when those two are in the same room together, it’s always trouble.”

Sam smirked, liking how flustered John was at the mere mention of Wyatt. “I thought we were the cool ones.”

John’s shoulders relaxed, tossing him a smile. The crinkles around his eyes deepened. “For a while there, we were. Then those two got put on night shift together, became best friends, and now Walsh may be temporarily pulled from the ED.”

“Well, that’s news,” Sam commented, glancing back at Walsh, who now looked thoroughly put out. “He doesn’t seem happy about it.”

“Oh, he is not. He hasn’t stopped complaining. I’ve never heard so many Irish curse words in my life. Learned one yesterday about having an itch with no fingernails.”

“What?”

“Doesn’t matter,” John waved a dismissive hand, continuing to watch Walsh and Tanya like it was a tennis match.

“That beard,” Sam remarked, shaking his head and trying not to laugh. “I thought my mustache was bad.”

“We’ve had a few patients complain about it, thinking they’re being treated by an unhoused person rather than their doctor. It doesn’t help that he seems intent on being more, well, dickish than usual.”

Steph, the charge nurse, rounded the corner and spotted the two, grinning. “My favorite duo. Gentlemen,” she followed their gaze and nodded knowingly. “I see… This is about last night, isn’t it?”

“What happened last night?” John asked.

“That actor came in. Total bedlam in here last night. Made a big damn mess in the ED. Nicole said they had paparazzi posing as patients, tryin’ to sneak in. I ain’t never seen Nicole upset like that in the twenty years I’ve worked with her, and she was madder than Hades when we shift changed this mornin’.”

“Jesus, that sucks. Glad I missed it. What actor?” Sam asked.

“Gio…” Steph frowned, her pretty face pinching as she tried to remember.

“Gio Vega?” John asked, stunned, mouth agape.

“Yeah, that one,” Steph replied, then smirked at John. “Since when do you know celebrities?”

“Since Wyatt. You haven’t heard of Gio Vega?” His dark blue eyes darted between Steph and Sam, and they both shook their heads. “He’s in that show that went viral. There’s been talk about it winning a Peabody. The other actors in the show are also megastars now, too. It’s called, shit…” He trailed off, scrubbing his temple, trying to remember.

Steph whipped out her phone and began speed typing. “Got it. Show’s called Love is Never Enough, about a group of friends navigating career, love, and sexuality. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 98%,” she whistled, impressed. “Audience scores are 100%. So, it’s good.”

“We love it,” John exclaimed, referring to him and his partner, Wyatt. “Gio plays the best character on it. He has to confront his sexual identity and religious identity after falling in love. It’s surprisingly good. He’s a fantastic actor.”

Sam smiled at him, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you talk about anything other than work since I’ve met you.”

John chuckled, flushing.

“I’m telling Wyatt you have a celebrity crush,” Sam added.

“Oh, he is very aware.”

“Yeah, well, Mr. Vega’s team called this hospital this morning, according to Nicole, and rumor has it he wasn’t a big fan of our Dr. Walsh,” Steph informed them.

“I am shocked by the news that someone didn’t like Walsh,” Sam drawled sarcastically.

Steph pulled up a video that Nicole had sent her in a text message of Gio Vega cursing profusely as he exited the hospital, his face flushed, with paparazzi snapping photos of him as he spoke in rapid-fire Spanish to his assistant while being escorted into his waiting car. Someone online had translated what he said and reposted it.

“He’s a self-righteous prick! I’m never coming here again—worst hospital in LA—I swear to…!” The car slammed shut, luckily drowning out whatever else the megastar celebrity had to say about Saint Sierra Hospital and Dr. Walsh.

Steph closed the video and glanced over her shoulder at Walsh. “Video went viral a couple of hours ago. So, I’m assuming that’s why Tanya’s down here.”