Page 121 of Undeniably Enemies

“No, ma’am. I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t trust him alone with my sister either.”

“Thank you, Dr. Kincaid. We appreciate your time and your honesty. We will discuss the matters at hand and have a decision about the next steps on Monday.”

Shit. That doesn’t sound good.

I mean, it doesn’t sound good for Marshall either, but it still doesn’t sound good for me.

Understanding that I’m being dismissed, I stand. “Thank you for your time.”

“Miss Fritz, you’re free to go as well. Callan, would you mind sticking around for a few minutes?”

“Of course not.” He gives me a look that’s meant to be reassuring, and I walk out of the room, glancing back for Wren,who isn’t far behind me. The heavy door shuts, and I take her by the wrist, and without wasting a second, I drag her away from the executive area of the hospital and onto the elevator.

“Jack—” she starts, but I cut her off with a sharp shake of my head.

Not here. Not yet.

We reach the first floor, and I walk us out of the building and down toward the river. The wind whips violently, twisting her ponytail around as it catches and tugs. Wren wraps her arms around her body to fight the cold, and I shirk out of my coat and toss it over her shoulders.

“What just happened in there? Why were you there, and why didn’t you say anything to me about doing that?”

36

It was my fault. Jack could say what he wanted, but it was the truth, and deep down, we both knew it. It was my idea to keep us a secret. My idea to hold our relationship back from not only our families and friends but from work. Thinking about it now, my reasons for that feel trite and childish. Selfish.

And that selfishness is costing Jack everything.

Of all the people to find us out, it had to be Dr. Marshall. A world-class scumbag who hides his true sleaze beneath a jovial smile and easy charm. I know his kind. Growing up Fritz, we have a sixth sense for creeps like him. He’s the sort who openly gropes women while convincing you it was an accident or it didn’t happen if we give him a look or call him out on it, and if we don’t, he continues it, thinking it’s his right or wanted or simply not caring if it isn’t as long as he’s not stopped.

But men like Dr. Marshall get off on having power and using it to harm instead of help. It infuriates me to no end. And I can’t let him do that to Jack. Jack deserves better. He works his ass off, does everything for everyone, and neverasks for anything in return. I won’t let this be another disappointment he has to survive.

When Jack left for Callan’s, I felt helpless.

It was that old feeling. That restless sea of churning waves in my gut,I have to fix this, but I can’tfeeling. Reciting all my facts about the number four wasn’t going to see me through. Neither was baking or even cleaning, though I tried both. There’s nothing worse than feeling helpless, especially when all you want to do is right the wrong you created for your loved one.

That’s what led me to the board this morning and now out here with Jack.

*Sometime around midnight*

Jack moves beneath me,just starting to finally doze off despite how troubled his mind is. I can’t fall asleep. He told me about his conversation with Callan and everyone else. He was getting chief. It was going to be his, but despite the upbeat spin he tried to sell me, I could tell he was devastated.

He doesn’t think he’ll be fired, but it’s not enough.

What we did wasn’t wrong. Not much happened until after I was done with my rotation, and we’re consenting adults. The problem is, that doesn’t always matter in situations like this. There are ethical guidelines for a reason, and the hospital doesn’t fuck around with that. Student-teacher relationships aren’t allowed, and if they exist, they must be disclosed.

I don’t want them to take chief from him.

I want it to be his.

And I don’t want chief to go to Dr. Marshall.

My guilt that he’ll lose it because of me is eating me alive.

How is he not furious with me?

He could be, and I wouldn’t blame him for it.

Instead, his breathing grows deeper, though not quite even or calm, and his hand is still touching me as it does every night we sleep together. I think about all the things he’s done for me. All the ways he’s helped me through something no one else has been able to help me through.

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