Page 29 of Private Exhibit
Devon looked up, recognizing the voice. It was Dr. Graeden Crawford. They'd met briefly last week after the doctor had treated Hayden Ross, right around the time Devon andHayden had finally discovered their lifelong connection. “Doctor Crawford!”
“How are you?” the man asked with an easy smile. He adjusted his glasses and approached the desk. “Bokin told me he hired someone, but I honestly couldn't believe it. I didn't think anyone was willing to work with Gerard anymore. And when Bokin mentioned your name…” The doctor shook his head. “So how's it going?”
“Pretty well,” Devon admitted. “I like the work. It beats waiting tables.”
Dr. Crawford laughed. “Oh gods, I remember those days. Working my way through med school. I don't miss that one bit.” He looked around. “Gerard treating you alright?”
Devon instantly thought of the scene at the club and felt himself blushing. “Um, yeah.”Oh gods. Come on. Focus. Be professional.“He's actually pretty nice–”
The door to the morgue slammed open.
Devon yelped, his heart lurching at the suddenness of it.
Dr. Gerard stood framed in the doorway. He gave Devon a look of apology, then turned a glare on the other man in the room. “Crawford,” he bit off. “I thought I heard your voice. What the fuck are you doing here?”
Dr. Crawford gave him a patient smile. “I heard Devon was working here and came to see how he was doing.”
“He's fine,” Dr. Gerard snapped. “You can go now.”
“Actually, while I'm here,” Dr. Crawford said, “I wanted to see if I could help you with–”
“You're the last person I'd ever come to for help,” Dr. Gerard ground out. “Now, leave.”
“Gerard, really–”
“And if you're here about the office,” Dr. Gerard went on, “you'll just have to wait. Devon will get to the files when he gets to them. I'm not going to rush him. Now, go.”
“Gerard–”
“I said get. The fuck. Out!”
Dr. Crawford didn't even flinch. “Look, I know I was a bit of a dick in the past, and I've made my apologies for that. But is this really necessary?”
Dr. Gerard stormed over and got right into the other doctor's face, his entire body looking coiled with tension, ready to strike.
Dr. Crawford rolled his eyes and sighed. “Very well.” He took a step back and looked at Devon. “Are you alright being here?”
Devon looked from one man to the other, feeling almost suffocated by the palpable strain in the room. Still, he nodded. For whatever reason, no mater how angry Dr. Gerard looked, Devon wasn't the least bit afraid of the man. “I'm fine.”
“You sure?”
Devon nodded again.
“Alright,” the doctor said, opening the door. “I'm right upstairs if you ever need anything.”
“He doesn't need anything from you,” Dr. Gerard spat.
Dr. Crawford shot the other man a look, then gave Devon a kind smile before walking out the door.
Dr. Gerard clenched his hands into fists, muttering curses under his breath as he stormed back towards the morgue. He started to slam the door, then caught it at the last second and eased it shut instead.
Devon let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
He made a beeline for the washroom, his bladder suddenly screaming at him. Whether it was from an attack or just a result of the tension in the room, he wasn't sure. Either way, the relief was immense once he was done. Devon found himself sitting there for a long moment, holding his head in his hands, even rocking slightly while he took slow, deep breaths.
He washed his hands, avoiding so much as glancing at the mirror, then returned to the office.
There was no sign of Dr. Gerard. Devon pressed his ear to the door into the morgue, straining to listen. All he heard were the faint sounds of pacing. Devon stepped back with a grimace.
