“Alright.” She smiled at me, but her eyes showed her disappointment, like she didn’t want me to leave.
I ignored it, ignored what Mason had said, and stepped into the hallway.
“Dex?”
“Hmm?” I turned back around, disappointed that I had to look at her rocking body and those emerald green eyes that looked like they belonged in a cartoon rather than reality.
“I know that was…a bit weird, but I think you did great.”
My eyebrows furrowed. “Are we talking about the same thing here?”
She released a quiet chuckle. “I know it was bumpy, but I think it’s really sweet that you care so much about your sister. Yeah, you may have come off as an asshole a little bit, but it’s just because you care—a lot.”
I cared too goddamn much. That was my problem—with everything. “Thanks.” I grabbed the coat and put it on before I turned to leave again. “Thanks for joining me. It was definitely better than going through it alone.”
Her eyes had their own special smile. “You’ll never have to do anything alone, not when you have me.”
The office was quiet because it was lunchtime. I had thirty minutes to eat and go over paperwork before the next person came in. Most offices had an hour lunch, but we simply didn’t have that kind of time.
My door was open, so I heard voices from the lobby.
“Hey, Sicily.” His deep voice carried into my office, immediately recognizable because that voice had been an essential part of my life. “How are you?”
“I’m good, Dr. Hamilton,” she responded. “How are you?”
“Please, call me Deacon.”
“Alright,” she said. “You guys are all alike.”
Dad didn’t respond to that. “Is my son available? I’m at the hospital today and have a break. Thought I’d stop by.”
I didn’t make Sicily go through the motions. “Dad, come in.”
His footsteps became louder and louder as he approached the open doorway. He stepped into my office, wearing his blue scrubs, his watch, and his wedding ring, and scanned the room. “You’ve got a nice setup.”
“Thanks.” I got to my feet and gave him a quick hug. “You want to split some lasagna?”
He ignored the question altogether and took a seat on the couch across from me.
I sat back down and continued to eat. “Have some downtime? Never seen that happen before.”
His knees were wide apart as he sat comfortably on the couch, one elbow propped on the armrest. He looked out the window for a moment before he turned back to me. “We never have time. We make time.” His closed knuckles propped against his cheek. “How’s it going over here?”
I leaned back and continued to eat. “You know, too many patients and too little time.”
“But you never turn anyone away, right?”
“I do my best, Dad.”
He gave a slight nod in approval. “Good.”
“How are things with you?”
He considered the question for a long time before he answered. “My research team recently got approval from the FDA for a new drug that’s effective against a certain type of cancer cells, and I’ve administered it to my patients during this round, and it seems to be working.”
“That’s great, Dad.”
He nodded. “Yeah, I’m hopeful. You have surgery tomorrow?”
“Yep. A couple, actually.”
He looked at me, his eyes open with an observant stare, like he just liked to look at me sometimes.
I was used to it at this point. “How are you and Mom?”
“Good. Finished our Christmas shopping.”
Oh shit, I totally forgot about Christmas.
“Are you coming to the cabin?”
“Ugh…I don’t even know what my schedule is.” I turned to the doorway. “Sic? Do you have my schedule for the month?” I honestly didn’t know what the date even was. I knew the day of the week, but that was it.
Sicily walked in a moment later and handed me the paper she printed out. “I didn’t schedule you for the week since Christmas falls on a Wednesday this year.”
I took the paper and stared at it.
Dad turned to her. “What are your plans?”
“I’ll stay with my parents in Connecticut,” she said. “My brother will probably come down too. What about you guys?”
“We usually spend the holidays at our cabin in Connecticut,” he answered. “Looks like we’ll be in the same—”
“This isn’t going to work.” I looked up at her. “I can’t just take this time off. That’s so many appointments and surgeries that are off the table. I just need the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth off. That’s it.” I set the paper on the coffee table.
Sicily brought her hands together in front of her waist, in a long sweater dress with high boots, a belt keeping the fabric tight around her waist. She looked like a supermodel…like always. “Dex, I think it’s acceptable to take the week off. You’ve been working a lot, and it would be nice for you to spend time with your family.”
“Uncle Tucker will be joining us,” Dad said. “He’d love to see you.”