Page 24 of Dr. Intern

“Just family stuff,” I answer, cutting his stitches off. “My parents abruptly sold their house, and I’ve got to be out in the next week.”

Parker pauses, looking at me thoughtfully. “That sucks man, I’m sorry.”

I shrug it off. “It is what it is.”

“You know where you want to move?” he asks, his scrub nurse pulling the headlamp off his face.

“No clue. Feels like I already live at the hospital anyway, so it’s not like it fucking matters.”

Parker's midnight blue eyes narrow as if a thought has come to him, but he’s not sure if he should voice it. “You know . . .”

I grab a fresh suture set and prepare to close. “Yes?”

“My condo has two extra bedrooms and all of my old furniture is still around. You could stay there for a while.”

I laugh at his suggestion. “Dude, I bet your mortgage is insane. I can’t afford that shit.”

The man used to live in the penthouse of one of the nicest condos in Midtown. I’ve got a decent amount in my savings but not nearly enough to pay his bills. Probably not even enough to cover one month’s payment.

“The condo’s paid off.” Parker tilts his head, indicating that I should start working. “You’d be doing me a favor, actually.”

“How do you figure?”

Parker’s gaze lingers on me, not scrutinizing my surgical technique, but gauging my reaction to his next words.

“I’ve been worried about Claire since the funeral,” he begins. I can sense his hesitation and doubt he wants to talk about this at all, let alone in such a public setting. “I think she’s struggling, and I need someone to keep an eye on her.”

My pulse quickens at his mention of Claire, and I have to force myself to focus on my hands so I don’t look up at him. “You want me to spy on your sister?”

He corrects me. “Not spy. Just look after her. I don’t have time right now.”

“And you think I do?” I ask skeptically.

We just talked about how I spend all of my time at the hospital. He can’t think I have the capacity for this, can he?

“No, but at least you’ll be around more than me. It’s a win-win. You need a place to stay, and I need someone to check in on her.”

I’m doing my best here to find a reason to refuse.

“Why not have Caroline move in?” I suggest. “It’s not like University Hospital is that far away.”

“She’s locked into a lease for the next year. Plus, I’m pretty sure they would kill each other,” he responds with a slight chuckle.

I glance at Parker, noting the genuine concern on his face. “And you think we won’t?”

“I think you’re the most patient guy I know. If anyone can handle Claire, it’s you.”

I want to do a lot more than handle her . . . but I’m pretty sure she wants nothing to do with me, and I highly doubt this will go as smoothly as he thinks. The first thing that comes to mind is yelling—lots of yelling.

“Let me think about it,” I reply. “Have you even talked to her about this?”

“I’ll handle it.”

Chapter 10

Claire

It’s been a month since Mom left us, and I wish I could say that the hurt in my heart has gotten any less prominent. But the truth is, the hole in my chest isn’t healing at the rate I thought it would. I still feel a gaping emptiness inside.

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