Page 50 of The Doctor's Simple Life

Fortunately, Reece had a heart underneath all that swagger. I think Mikey is the kind of person who will never change from being what he is.

And what that is, is deeply irritating.

I didn’t want to do this, but Giselle swept me aside and told me it would be a big honor to look after the owner of Silverbell General, and that Reece would enjoy the surprise. I wanted to say no — I evensaidno — but then she turned her big, wide eyes on me, and I felt bad about it.

A stupid mistake, really. I know better than not to look out for myself, but it’s too late now. Here I am with Mikey, babysitting him as we wait for Reece to get here. Dealing with all his derogatory jokes and unfunny banter.

I texted Reece earlier to tell him to meet me after work, at Giselle’s behest. I don’t know why they couldn’t have just arranged to meet on their own, but I guess Mikey showing up here was a surprise or something. I guess he thought it would be fun to come and torment Reece because he thinks he’s having such a horrible time here.

Part of me can’t wait for him to be proved wrong, but most of me doesn’t want to be trapped in a small room with a man who thinks that because I’m a nurse in a small town, I must be completely stupid.

So far, he’s asked me about MRIs, X-rays, taking blood and, most insultingly of all, our policy on washing our hands. I’m trying to remain professional, but it took all the strength I had not to shoot back at him the fact that hand washing was proposed way back in 1847 by Ignaz Semmelweis and that we’ve been keeping up with the times pretty well since then.

Honestly, I think I could say anything at all and he wouldn’t notice. Mikey’s the kind of guy who loves the sound of his own voice and doesn’t care if anyone else is trying to speak or if anyone else is even listening.

God forbid he pay attention to a lesser being.

It’s a blessing when Reece finally arrives. He swings into the office with a grin, expecting to see only me. He’s wearing one of the blue polos he likes because he thinks they make him look smart without effort. I told him once that they made him look like an idiot, and he just rolled his eyes.

And then he sees Mikey, and his face falls.

“Hey, Reece,” says Mikey with that huge, smarmy grin.

Reece’s mouth drops open. “Mikey? What in hell are you doing here?”

They approach each other like circling dogs marking out their territory, then grin at each other and embrace, slapping each other on the back like some weird sign of affection.

I stand and grimace in the corner. I got one single look from Reece, but he hasn’t said hello. He hasn’t looked at me since he noticed his old friend.

“How the hell have you been?” asks Mikey. “You’re looking fine.”

“I’m feeling fine. See, Mikey, I told you I could do this. I’m thriving here. Living my best life. I don’t need you guys.”

Mikey’s smile turns predatory. “So how is life in a small town treating you, then? What have you found here that’s worth thriving for?” He grins in a way that looks like he’s expecting Reece to say nasty things about the town and spill the beans on whatever torrid affair he’s been having.

Reece glances at me for a fraction of a second, and I hold my breath. “Well, you know how it is out here. Small town, small people. But I’ve been showing them what real fun is like. Little people need a real man to show them a good time.”

I can’t contain my gasp, though neither of the men seem to hear it over their laughter.

I thought he had been about to tell Mikey how much he liked it here. I thought he had told me that it had been way less horrible here than he’d been expecting. He was going to come through for us and defend the town against the bigots who can’t see that we’re real people too.

I thought we meant more to him than whatever he’s standing here telling Mikey now.

Reece glances over to look at me again. He must see the shock and hurt written all over my face, but he doesn’t even bother to notice.

He just turns back to the conversation. It’s like, all of a sudden, I’ve become invisible to him.

Suddenly, I’m realizing just how stupid I’ve been to fall for his tricks. All this time, I thought he was changing. But Giselle was right, damn her. This was all some joke to him. Chatting up a local girl and acting all nice to her so she can get called stupid for believing it later, that’s all this ever was.

I’m just going to fade into some funny story of his.

And if he thinks he’s getting the satisfaction of seeing my heart break, he’s wrong. I’m not giving him anything.

“Well, if you’re all set making fun of me in my town, I’ll get going then,” I say as nonchalantly as I can. I will not let myself get hurt by a person who doesn’t care about me and never was going to.

Finally, Reece looks at me, his eyebrows furrowed as if he doesn’t understand where this attitude has come from. I clench my fists to stop myself from saying something else, something I might regret.

“Come on, Sienna,” Reece whines. “We need to show Mikey all the best parts of this town. You have to come out with us.”

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