Hotshot Doc(2)

“I don’t know. That name doesn’t ring a bell. Dr. Russell, you said? That might be him. Who cares.” I’m utilizing my very best acting skills to throw her off the scent. Then, I try a second method: distraction. “Your sandwich is ready!”

She drags the laptop into the kitchen and takes a spot at the table across from me, a small smirk in place. I eat on my own, munching in silence. Meanwhile, Josie’s sandwich goes untouched. Her eyes are narrowed at the screen as she scrolls and types away. She’s a private detective desperate for a new lead. I half-expect her to whip out a magnifying glass and grow a mustache.

“He doesn’t have any social media accounts, which is extremely annoying. I checked the UT Southwestern alumni page, but they don’t post pictures.”

“Why does it matter? Eat your food.”

She levels me with an annoyed glare, holding eye contact as she takes a massive bite of her sandwich, and then she gets back to the mission at hand with her cheeks puffed up like a chipmunk.

I know why my sister has latched onto Dr. Russell like this. In the six years since I’ve taken guardianship of her, I haven’t been on many dates. I haven’t been interested in guys in general. Romance has taken the back seat in my life—no, worse: romance has become those aluminum cans trailing by strings behind my car. My lips have not felt human contact in so long I can’t quite remember how kissing works. Do you just stick your tongue in and go for it? Hopefully it’s like riding a bike or I’m screwed.

Josie has been worried about me for a while.

Just last week she told me she felt bad that I’ve had to give up so much of my life for her.

Of course, I protested.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I love having you here. You know that.”

“You’ve sacrificed a lot for me.”

“Oh c’mon. No I haven’t.”

“You don’t have any friends.”

“I have Ms. Murphy next door.”

“She’s an old coot who wears crystals around her neck.”

“I don’t appreciate you calling my very best friend an old coot.”

She doesn’t pause to laugh. “You had to quit college because of me.”

“Big deal. I love the job I have now.”

“And you never go out.”

“Not true.”

“The last time you went on a date, I was still a preteen.”

“Surely that can’t be…”

I didn’t finish my thought because she wasn’t kidding. It really has been that long.

The truth is I have had to sacrifice a lot of things to take care of Josie. For all intents and purposes, I live the life of a single mom. My days are consumed with tasks like laundry, cooking, and cleaning. I have to make sure Josie is staying on top of her grades and getting to school on time while also not growing out of her jeans so quickly she has to walk down the halls at school in high-waters. I don’t go out to bars on Friday nights. I don’t give myself the opportunity to meet people. I work and I save every penny I earn so one day I’ll be able to afford a down payment on a house and move us out of this hovel we’ve squeezed into for the last few years.

Still, lack of romantic relationships aside, it’s not a bad life. In fact, it’s a pretty great one.

Josie just doesn’t see it that way.

She turns the computer around so I’m forced to see the image of Dr. Russell she’s blown up to epic proportions. I refuse to give in to her demands to acknowledge his hotness. Instead, I go cross-eyed and stick out my tongue in the hopes of making her laugh.

Her sigh tells me she thinks I’m deeply hopeless. “If you had an ounce of courage you would march up to this doctor and ask him out on a date tomorrow morning.”

Ha ha ha. I laugh at that idea all the way through the rest of dinner, and while I do the dishes, and after as I drag a canvas bag filled with our dirty clothes to the laundromat down the street, and as I sit in front of those ancient machines watching them swirl around and around.

Josie has no idea what she’s talking about.

Dr. Russell doesn’t know I exist. We’ve never talked. He’s the youngest, most hotshot surgeon at the hospital, and he has a reputation for being the most aggressive, rude doctor in all the land.

I’d be better off trying to pin down Dr. McDreamy than attempting to date him.





Chapter 2





MATT



“I’d like to put in my two weeks’ notice.”

I glance up from the mountain of paperwork on my desk to see Kirt, my brand-new surgical assistant, standing at the door of my office. He’s wringing out his hands. A bead of sweat rolls down his forehead.

“Why?”

His gaze jerks to me and his eyes widen in fear. “Why?”

He didn’t think he’d have to explain himself. He’s about to lose his bowels on my carpet.

I toss my pen onto my desk and lean back in my chair. This is the last thing I was expecting him to say. I thought we had a good thing going. I’ve only made him cry twice.

“I know you’re a great surgeon.” My expression must harden because he amends his statement. “The best surgeon! Truly! It’s why I took this job. I figured if I stuck it out with you for a few months, you’d give me a good letter of recommendation for my next job. Honestly, I thought this was a Devil Wears Prada situation—”