“Both,” I grumble at her. I walk toward her grandmother’s room. “Come with me.”
I don’t look back to see if she’s following. I step into her grandmother’s room, a frail-looking woman with a shock of curly white hair on her head. She looks up and smiles at me.
“You again,” she says.
Ruby steps in behind me. I glance back at her and she’s frowning, wondering what her grandmother means.
“Hello, Dot,” I say, taking her chart. “Still alive?”
“Still alive,” she confirms. “Make any new friends today?”
“None,” I say.
“To nobody’s surprise.”
Ruby is gaping at us both. I grin a little at Dot. I like the old woman, she’s got a lot of spirit, although she really isn’t doing well. The chart tells a deep story, a complicated story.
It’s like Finnegan’s Wake, that insane, practically unreadable book by James Joyce. It makes no sense at first, just a jumble of random words and garbage on a page, unless you learn it, really learn it. Not a lot of doctors do in this place.
I’ve studied the charts of thousands of people. To me, it’s like reading fucking poetry.
“I’m going to take over your case from now on,” I say to Dot. “Is that okay?”
She shrugs. “Fine by me. You have an awful bedside manner, though.”
“I know,” I grunt.
“But I think that other guy’s gonna kill me.”
I grin at her and Ruby gasps. “Grandmom!” she says.
“What, it’s true,” Dot says, shrugging. “He’s a moron.”
I look back at Ruby. “Told you.”
Ruby gapes at the two of us. The old woman laughs a little and coughs, hand to her mouth. I listen closely to her chest, not happy with what I’m hearing.
“I’ll keep you around, Dot,” I tell her. “But I can’t promise I’ll make you smile.”
“Keep me alive and you can be the biggest asshole in the world,” she says.
“Grandmom.” Ruby laughs, shaking her head.
“Don’t bother with her, dear,” Dot says to me. “Ruby’s never heard me talk like that before. But I’m just speaking your language.”
“I appreciate it,” I say, and put her chart back down. “I’ll be back to check on you later.”
“Okay.”
I leave the room. Ruby comes out a few minutes later, shaking her head.
“Why’d you do that?” she asks.
“Come to dinner with me.”
The words leave my mouth before I have a chance to think about them. She frowns, clearly surprised.
“Isn’t that a conflict of interest?” she asks.
“Absolutely. Come to dinner with me anyway.”
“I don’t know.”
I step closer to her, heart racing. I want this girl so badly I’m willing to break any rule to get her. It’s fucked and stupid and I can’t turn back now.
“I want this,” I say softly. “Come to dinner with me.”
“Okay,” she says back.
“Good. I’ll pick you up from here tomorrow night after my shift. I get done at eight.”
“Okay, yeah,” she says. “Are you sure you want to take my grandmother on?”
“No,” I admit. “I have too many patients as it is. But I’m the best fucking chance your grandmother has at leaving this place.”
I turn and leave without another word. There’s nothing left to say.
I can feel her staring after me, and I can’t help but smile.
I don’t know what’s come over me. I don’t normally do shit like this, but Ruby, well… she’s beautiful. She’s alluring.
She’s going to be my new plaything.3Ruby“That doctor really is an asshole.”
I laugh stupidly, shaking my head. Grandmom is sitting up in bed, grinning at me. This is the happiest I’ve seen her since she came to this place over a week ago.
“You’re feeling better though, right?”
“Sure am,” she says. “Whatever he has me on seems to be doing the trick.”
Relief floods me. “That’s great.”
“The man has the personality of a linebacker, but he knows his stuff. All the nurses say so.”
“Really?” I ask, trying not to sound too curious.
Grandmom laughs softly. “They all say he’s an egomaniac and a jerk. They say everyone hates him, even his bosses.”
“So why is he still here?” I wonder aloud.
“He’s good,” Grandmom says. “At least, that’s what my nurse said this morning. I don’t know about that, I just like his confidence. That other doctor was a moron.” She makes a face.
I laugh again, not used to this new woman. “I’m just happy you’re feeling better.”
“Me too, dear.”
The door opens and we both look over as Dr. Hill steps into the room. “Ladies,” he says, looking impeccable and gorgeous.
“Hi,” I say, smiling a little. I’m wearing a burgundy dress with a loose skirt and knee-high boots. He’s still in his usual doctor outfit.
He walks over and grabs Grandmom’s chart. He glances over it and up at her. “Feeling okay?” he asks.
“Fine,” she says. “Better.”
“Good. Tell the nurses if you feel like you might barf.” He looks at me. “Ready?”
I nod and stand. “Ready.”
“Have fun, kids,” Grandmom says.
He nods at her and leaves the room. I hurry to keep up with him, glancing back at Grandmom as I step out the door.