“Well, yes. I introduced myself to Dr. Rye after our session with him this morning was over,” I said, feeling my face get warm again. “We’re from the same town, so we started to talk about home. He had to go, but wants to continue our conversation. Carol, Dr. Rye asked me to get a drink with him tonight!”
I was elated, but she didn’t seem convinced. However, she did seem somewhat amused.
“Seriously?” she asked.
“I was pretty surprised, too.” I laughed. “Is it wrong that I’m kind of excited to go? I mean, I’m freaking out, I’m so nervous. But, I think this could be really good for me.”
“How so?” she asked. “Are you going to hook up with him?”
My eyes widened. “I wasn’t planning on it. I was kind of hoping that he’d be able to mentor me and perhaps get me on as a surgeon in the future with CUIMC or one of the other hospitals.”
She let out a dry guffaw. “You’re so naïve. It’s actually kind of cute.”
I frowned. “Yeah?”
“Sit down,” she said, pointing me toward the couch.
I plopped down on the sofa and she sat in the recliner, tucking her feet underneath her thighs.
“What do you really know about Dr. Damon Rye?” she asked.
“A fair amount,” I said. “I’m from the same town. I know that he was a big deal in high school, but I was middle school at the time. He used to have massive parties when his parents were out of town, even though all the kids were older than him, he was really popular and well liked. I remember being able to hear the music from my house.”
“And what else?” she asked.
“Well, he’s making quite a name for himself in the medical field,” I said. “He’s only four years older than us, and he’s made top surgeon at CUIMC and is regarded as the top in the field. I’ve read a few interviews that he’s done for different papers and magazines. He really knows his stuff. He’s a lot smarter than well, everyone, I guess. I mean he did graduate high school at sixteen, and college at nineteen. Med school by twenty-one, and he’s been the leading surgeon on the CUIMC staff for the last three years.”
“Okay, so you know about his personal life way back then, and his professional life today. You’ve got to know more than that. Even I’ve heard about his reputation here.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Like what?”
“You haven’t heard the stories?”
I shrugged. “I guess not.”
Carol sighed and shook her head. “Normally, I don’t really give a crap about these kinds of rumors. But, you’re my friend, and I want you to know what you’re getting yourself into, okay? You’re a big girl who can make her own decisions, but you should have all of the facts first.”
“I thought you said they were rumors.”
She bit her lip. “Same thing. Do you know that he’s been sleeping with some of the other interns?”
“What?” I gasped.
“Yep. I heard that Mikayla Stevens went down on him in the stairwell of the hospital one night. He arrived for a ‘tutoring session’ that was really just a way for her to thank him for allowing her to turn her paper in late.”
I furrowed my brow. “He doesn’t seem to care about how we do on the assignments he gives us, I suppose because if we don’t know it, we’ll fail and drop out, and that’s on us, not him. I take the assignments seriously, but I know that no one else does.”
“I heard that he used to go over to NYU to scope out hot girls. When he was a med student, he would go to frat parties and bring sorority girls back to his apartment.”
“And?”
“And he would have sex with them and never call them again. Sometimes, he had multiple girls with him at once.”
I stifled a giggle. I figured that someone like Damon Rye was a player. I really wasn’t surprised by what she was telling me.
“Am I supposed to be outraged?” I asked. “It’s not like he’s doing anything nefarious. I’m not a complete prude, am I?”
Carol scoffed. “When was the last time you hooked up with a guy?”
I thought for a minute. “I made out with a guy at a party three weeks ago.”
“You just made out?” she asked. “I think I’ve proved my point. What happens when you get to the bar tonight and he tries to get into your pants? You act like you’re just going to talk about medical stuff, but this guy is known for sleeping with co-eds and interns. Surgeons don’t meet their interns alone in bars. He’s trying to fuck you. I just want you to know what you’re getting yourself into. You don’t seem like the type to fuck a player. Remember, you still have to go to sessions with him and listen to him speak for a few more weeks. It’s going to be awkward when he’s ditched you for the next one.”
I hadn’t really thought about that side of the upcoming meeting. The bar he chose was a sultry cocktail spot, far different than the noisy college bars. This place was meant for a more adult, more upscale crowd. We also weren’t meeting to talk in a coffee shop or somewhere with fewer implications. I could see how Carol would be concerned about this.
But, when I thought about getting drinks with Damon, I honestly didn’t care if things panned out. Best case scenario, our relationship would come in handy one day. But, if I only went to drinks and flirted with a hot guy, that would be enough for me. Damon was dead sexy and had a cool confidence that I had never seen before. He didn’t try too hard like all of the college guys I knew. Damon could act as if he owned the city, because one day, he probably would. He had the attitude that he could back up with surgical skill. I was attracted to that.
Back in high school, someone like Damon wouldn’t have given me the time of day. I often fantasized about what it would be like to go on a date with a popular guy. I was always jealous of the Prom Queen types who could land a hot guy. I wanted in on the fun. Finally, it seemed as though I was about to get my chance. I didn’t necessarily plan on sleeping with Damon, but if we ended up kissing at the end of the night, I wouldn’t mind. I tried to focus on getting good career advice from him, but my mind kept wandering into different avenues. I wanted to know what it was like to go on a date with an up and coming surgical wizard.
“Are you going to have sex with him?” Carol asked. “If he invites you back to his place and starts taking your clothes off, will you let him?”
I pursed my lips, trying not to giggle. “Probably not.”
Carol gave me a judgmental look. “You’re not taking me seriously, are you?”
I shrugged. “I’m listening. I just think you’re worrying for nothing. I mean, it’s not like I’m in danger. He’s not a pervert— he’s just a playboy. If I don’t want to hook up with him, I won’t. I can’t belie
ve I even have to think about this. Honestly, it’s absurd to assume that someone like Dr. Damon Rye would want to hook up with me. Honestly, I’m really not concerned about it. We’re just going to have a drink and talk about life back home. That’s it and that’s all.”
“If you say so,” Carol said, getting up from her seat. She walked back toward her room. “But, if things get weird and you want me to rescue you, just call. I’ll be here.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary, but thanks,” I said. “You’re a good friend.”
“I’m trying, anyway,” she said, one corner of her mouth forced into a smirk. “I’ve got to study now. I’ve got a History test tomorrow and I’ve hardly studied.”
“Good luck,” I replied, as I hauled my backpack into my room. I got a few books out and began to work on the cancer document he assigned, but my mind kept wandering.
I went to my closet and started to sift through clothes. Nothing seemed right for this occasion. I timidly knocked on Carol’s door.
“Hey,” I said, peeking into her room. “Can I borrow something to wear tonight?”
She sighed dramatically, but still let me rifle through her wardrobe. When I found something that I thought would work, I gave a quick thank you and scurried out.
I wasn’t sure what Carol’s issue with Damon was. After all, she had never interacted with him. I was the one who grew up down the street from him. I suspected it was jealousy. I was going out with a hot, successful surgeon and she was staying in with a test to study for. We liked to commiserate about our lack of potential suitors and now I finally had one. It made sense to me that she might be a little envious of the fact that I was in a position to score if I wanted to, and she wasn’t.
I did my best to finish the assignments I had in the hour before I had to get ready. In the end though, I decided to give up and just get ready for drinks with Damon. I hopped in the shower and quickly scrubbed down, worried that I wouldn’t have enough time to be perfect. As I washed myself, I tried to imagine what he looked like in the nude. He was an athletic guy, so I assumed he was lean and muscular. I had only ever seen him in dress clothes for the past six years or so.