The Doctor Who Has No Chance (Soulless 11)

“I got a dog,” I said. “And I’m going to ask Sicily to marry me.”

She quickly scarfed down the bite she’d taken so she could get the words out of her mouth. “Oh my god, you got a dog?”

I shot Derek an incredulous look. “Again, that’s what matters?”

Derek shrugged. “Like I said, Sicily makes sense. The dog…not so much.”

I walked Daisy home afterward, ignoring her protests that she was just fine on her own. “How are things with you?”

“Good. Heard a rumor that my director may be retiring, and I want that job.”

“Yeah? Isn’t that just administrative paperwork?”

“No, actually. They’re the ones who decide which patients to take, and they take point on the entire process. It’s the career of my dreams, really.”

“Wow. You think the rumor is true?”

“My boss is pretty old, in his midseventies now. He’s in great shape, but I’m sure he wants to spend time with his grandchildren and stuff like that. So, I think the possibility of his retiring is completely feasible.”

“You think you’d be a candidate?”

“Totally. I’ve busted my ass there since I started. I go above and beyond for my patients, not because of a possible promotion, but because I really care. I have an ass that doesn’t quit, and everyone there knows it. I’d love to be more involved, because I don’t always agree with my colleagues, and I would love to override their decisions if I could. It just saves money and gives patients answers quicker.”

“How does the hiring process go? Do they accept applications? Will they only hire internally?”

“Internally. So, I don’t have to worry about them choosing a boss from outside the organization. As for applying, I really don’t know. I haven’t worked there long enough to have seen the process before my current director. I imagine he would just choose someone based on his own discretion. All of my colleagues would want the position, so there’s no reason to apply.”

“Well, if the rumors are true, I hope you get it. You deserve it.”

She gave me a playful nudge in the side. “Thanks, brother. My boss knows about you and Dad, so I mean…I have more credibility than my colleagues. Maybe he’ll take that into consideration. Maybe he won’t.”

We approached the outside of her building.

She turned to me to say goodbye. “So, when are you going to get the ring?”

“Does that mean I have your approval?”

She rolled her eyes. “I love Sicily. She’s perfect for you. Even if I didn’t personally like her, there’s no denying that her heart is always in the right place with you. That woman has got to love you to put up with all that bullshit you put her through.”

“Yeah, she’s definitely into me.”

She rolled her eyes again. “You want me to help you get a ring? Ooh…get her a big-ass diamond. Something simple but big. She’ll love that.”

“You know, I was actually thinking of doing something small and simple.”

“Uh, why? Not doing too hot at work?”

“No,” I said with a chuckle. “I just don’t think that’s really her. I did that with Catherine, and it just seems…superficial. Sicily would rather have a cheaper ring and give the rest to charity if she had the choice.”

She nodded slowly. “True. That’s pretty sweet.”

“So, I think I’m gonna do something nice but on the smaller side.”

“You know her best. Tell Mom and Dad?”

I shook my head. “Not yet.” I wondered how Daisy was doing after the breakup with Mason. She never talked about it and acted like she was perfectly fine, which was probably just a front, but I didn’t want to call her out on it. If that was how she dealt with her heartbreak, then I would let her be.

“Did you tell them about the dog?”

I shook my head. “Didn’t mention that either.”

“They’re just going to care about the dog,” she said with a laugh. “When can I meet her, by the way?”

“Whenever. She’s pretty scared around men, so I’m trying to get her to trust me right now. It’s taking some time.”

“Take her to work with you.”

“She’s not potty trained.”

She shrugged. “Whatever. Being around people all day who are nice to her will probably help her calm down. Just like you want your dog to get used to other dogs, you want her to get reacquainted with humans. Seeing stranger after stranger being nice to her will probably teach her that people are good, even if they weren’t before.”

When I took Riley to work, it actually worked.

In the morning, she just stuck to a couch in the corner, but as the day progressed and more strangers were nice to her, she started to walk around and shake her tail. She even followed two women into my office and sat on the floor in front of the couch so she could be close to them.