The Queen of Hearts(37)

Bemused, X sent Ethan an apologetic look. “Well, how about one of our other students, then, Mrs. A? Zadie Fletcher is here too. She can take care of it for you.”

“Oh my dear. That would be wonderful.” Mrs. Andreozzi beamed, swiveling this time to address her IV pole.

Val, the charge nurse from the TICU, poked her head in the door.

“Excuse me, Dr. X,” she said. “Edict’s family is back.”

“Right. I’ll come talk with him, but see if you can get Lara Danielson from OB here too, and one of the neurosurgery guys. Zadie, get this drain removed for Mrs. Andreozzi. And, Speedy?”

“Yes, Dr. X?” said Ethan, smirking slightly.

“Order Mrs. A an ophthalmology consult.”

—

We split up, X heading back toward the TICU to talk with Edict’s father.

After the removal of Mrs. Andreozzi’s drain, I wrote a note in the chart and waited for X.

“Jesus, last night was a bloodbath,” X said, appearing at the nurses’ station. We walked back down the hall toward the TICU. “Those are two cases I’ll definitely remember—a pregnant gunshot victim and a near beheading by a pi?ata.”

“How did her dad take it?” I asked.

“Not well,” he said. His face rearranged itself into a blank mask. “I gave him my call room, actually, so he could try to get it together without twenty strangers watching.”

“Oh no,” I replied, casting about for something to distract him from the pain of relaying so much grief. “Well, Dr. Markey was right. You were brilliant in the OR yesterday.” After Lima’s case had ended, Dr. Markey had praised Dr. X for his tenacity and skill.

“Are you thinking of going into vascular surgery?” I continued.

“No. I’m doing an HPB fellowship next year. I thought you knew that,” said X, jerking out of his reverie. “At Duke.” At my befuddled expression, he added, “Hepatopancreatobiliary. That’s liver, gallbladder and pancreatic surgery.”

“I know what hepatopanc— I know what that means,” I squeaked. “I didn’t know you were leaving though. Will I . . . see you next year?”

“Next year is a long time away, Z,” he replied carelessly, but then, noticing my crestfallen face, added, “But I hope so.”

There was an awkward pause.

I stole a glance at him. His eyes closed briefly and his jaw twitched. He was clearly exhibiting symptoms of a universal male malady, namely, the panic that occurs when confronted with the prospect of discussing the relationship. Nevertheless, this was overdue; we had been dating for nearly a month. I took a deep breath and plunged in.

“I don’t want you to be acting under the misimpression that there is some sort of serflike droit du seigneur situation going on here.”

“Some . . . serf du what?”

“I’m not a . . . hospital booty call,” I said.

“Oh. Certainly not.”

“I mean, it’s not like I’m some fawning nurse’s assistant or something.”

A trace of a smile had emerged on his face. “Well, I am Chief X. It wouldn’t kill you to fawn a little.”

“I did say you were brilliant in the OR,” I reminded him.

“Correct. I am brilliant in many situations. As you well know.”

“Yes, yes, your brilliance is acknowledged.”

His smile widened; then a slightly rueful look passed over his handsome face. “Every time I think I’m going to— Well, never mind.”

“What?”

“Nothing. You are adorable. Do you know that?”

“Thank you. So are you. I just want us to be clear that this is going somewhere.”

The wistful look was replaced by seriousness. He stopped walking and leaned up against the wall outside the TICU. “Zadie, you know we have to keep this on the down low. Dr. Markham would have my balls removed and donated to the cadaver lab if there was even a rumor that I was fu—involved with a student on the service. I like living dangerously as much as the next guy, but. Well. You shouldn’t even bring it up with your merry band of girlfriends. You understand, right?”

“I’m off the service tomorrow.”

“And trauma surgery’s loss is internal medicine’s gain. I mean it, Z.” He chucked me under the chin, then glanced around and gave me a light kiss, followed by a wicked grin. “You’ve been an outstanding student, and I’d say that even if you hadn’t seduced and attacked me. Let’s get Edict taken care of. I’ll let you do the line and reintubation all by yourself, okay? Then I’ll help you with your intern chores, as promised. We can talk about the rest of this tonight.”

“Great!” My weariness fell away at the thought of two procedures, one of them brand-new. I’d been angling to get an intubation in before I rotated off the service.

“Let’s hit it.” He smacked the button on the wall to open the TICU doors. “Oh, and, Zadie . . . ?”

“Yes?”

“I recommend you wash up a bit. You have blood on your nose.”





Chapter Fifteen


    THE ASS PHOTO


   Zadie, Present Day


Another hot day. It was hard to dress professionally when you were melting. I had settled on a sleeveless pale pink rayon shirt that I dressed up with an enormous gold-and-tourmaline necklace. I didn’t wear a white coat since some children found them alarming, so my arms were on display. But that was okay because I’d been working out with Aaron, Emma’s trainer, once a week. He was a sadistic demon straight from hell. My arms were looking good, though. I’d never have achieved that on my own.