Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
I touch the tip of my tongue to the spot on my lip that Eloise can’t seem to keep her teeth from.
“It’s not from an injection.” I narrow my eyes. “Are you sure you’re medical license is real?”
“As real as real can be.” He steps back to widen his stance. “Everything you see here is one hundred percent the real deal.”
“Good to know.” I look up to see which elevator will make its descent first.
“A wild one did that to you.” He pokes an elbow into my ribs. “It’s from a woman, isn’t it?”
I ignore that to circle back to the reason I’m nurturing my practice. “My granddad left me a bundle, Evan. It’s a hell of a lot easier to put it to good use at my practice.”
“Are you telling me that you’re a real life Dr. Robin Hood?”
I bark out a laugh. “I didn’t steal my fortune from anyone.”
“But, you are helping people who don’t have the means to get the help they require?”
That’s a simple way of putting it, so I nod. “Something like that.”
“I want in on this.” He pats my shoulder. “I doubt like hell my bank account rivals yours but I’m willing to put in some time helping anyone who you think may need a consult.”
“If you’re willing to do house calls, I can use the help.”
“House calls?” Confusion edges the question. “I’m all in for going old school, but I need my equipment to diagnose anything in my field.”
“I know.” I pat his shoulder. “I’m talking a few spare hours a week to visit people who don’t have access to health care. Think common colds, urinary tract infections, eczema. The list goes on.”
I don’t spell out that I’m on a first name basis with many of the people in this city who don’t have a place to call home, but he gets it. I can see that in his expression.
“You’re a goddamn saint, Gaines.” His expression turns serious. “Do people know what a good man you are?”
“The ones who matter do.” I glance over his shoulder to see Dr. Sexton on the approach. “They’re the only ones I care about.”
Logan passes us without a word to me, but he’s got a greeting for the man standing next to me. “Good afternoon, Dr. Scott.”
“Hey, Logan,” Evan responds before Logan rounds the corner.
I drop a gaze to my watch as the elevator sounds its impending arrival.
“You two went to medical school together, right?” Evan asks. “You and Logan did.”
“Sure did.”
“You must have done something to piss him off because I’ve yet to see him acknowledge you.”
He leaves out the part about me pretending Dr. Sexton doesn’t exist unless I’m forced to.
I shrug that off because I won’t dive back into that mess. It’s a closed book now. Our friendship ended in a way that doesn’t offer a path for repairing it.
“Who needs him?” Evan laughs. “So, the drink? Tonight, or…”
“I’ll let you know,” I interrupt him because I want more time with Eloise. “I’ll text you.”
“Works for me.” He jerks a thumb over his shoulder. “I’m heading to the ED waiting room. I heard they restocked the vending machines.”
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Eloise
I pick up the condom package from the floor of my bedroom. I didn’t notice it when I was heading out to school this morning. I also didn’t make my bed.
The sheets are still a tangled mess.
They’re a reminder of what happened between Gaines and I before we parted to face our day apart.
My phone chimes so I take off out of the room in search of it.
I find it resting on the couch next to my tote. I dropped it all there, along with the cardigan I was wearing when I got home from my ice cream date with Pen.
Even though I’m hoping it’s Gaines, I feel no disappointment when I see who sent me a text message.
Stevie: Guess what? Guess what?
I type out and send the obvious response.
Eloise: What?
I watch the three dots bounce on the screen as she types a reply.
Stevie: I got an A+ on my report about Gaines. Mom says I can pick a treat, so do you want to go for ice cream?
The last thing I need is more ice cream, but I can’t turn the little sweetheart done, so I don’t.
Eloise: I’d love to. Name the place and time.
While I wait for her response, I tug my knitting project out of my tote. It’s a school assignment so I’ll set it aside to focus on Pen’s dress tonight. That is, if I don’t fall into bed early with a stomachache from eating too much ice cream.
I look at my phone as soon as it signals an incoming message.
Stevie: Gaines wants ice cream too, so meet us at his hospital in 30 minutes, K?
A slow smile creeps over my lips as I type out my reply and send it.