Page 64 of Shark Bait

The blanket falls off, and the doctor points. “I love your cowboy boots.”

“Thanks. They’re from Shark.”

“The asshole has good taste.”

“Don’t give him too much credit.”

Dr. Gruber smiles and extends a hand. “Nice to meet you, Troy.”

“I never told you my name.”

“Your friend Valerina did. Said if I could get you to do the ultrasound, she would bake me cannoli.”

“You bribe far too easily, Dr. Gruber.”

He opens the door for me. “You only say that because you haven’t tried her cannoli.”

“How do you know I haven’t tried it?” I walk into the hallway, leaving the blanket behind.

“If you had, you’d know it’s a fair bribe.” He leads me down the stairs.

“That good, huh?”

“Better than good.” We turn the corner and walk down the long hallway until he stops at the last door on the left. “The best.” He points at the door. “This is your stop. Before you go, I’m wondering if you’d agree to see me again? Say, daily, for about twenty-five minutes? Like a short check-in with a friend.”

“No loony bin for me?”

“Not yet,” he says.

“Only twenty-five minutes?”

“We start small. Get to know each other.”

“I already know I like you, Dr. Gruber, but I don’t know how long I’m staying on the island.”

“We can meet over the phone.”

“Let’s do that, then,” I say, and he knocks on the door. “Tatiana. Your patient is ready.”

Shark opens the door.

TWENTY-TWO

GENDER REVEAL

SHARK

Things are working out exactly the way I predicted they would when I couldn’t get the engagement ring off her finger without waking her up.

Or cutting off her finger, which isn’t an option with Troy because I like her fingers and because the lack of a finger would make her not want to speak to me ever again. At least now I have a chance.

At least, I think I do.

I followed the women to the hospital only to find out Troy’s had a dark episode and ended up huddling in the corner of Tatiana’s office. Dr. Gruber, who knows me as Mike, is walking her in for an ultrasound.

“Mike,” Dr. Gruber greets me and extends a hand.

I shake it. “Fancy seeing you here.”

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