Page 65 of The Night Shift
‘Don’t worry,’ she said. He really did appear to be agonised about having caught her virtually naked– and she wouldn’t have heard him knocking at the door with the hand-dryer on. He’d probably just assumed he could come in. Still, she kept her arms folded tightly across her body until the door had thudded shut and then raced to the wire shelving unit that housed the piles of clean green scrubs, pulling off the first set she could get her hands on and covering her body as quickly as possible, damp underwear and all.
‘Is it okay for me to wear the green ones?’ she asked when she arrived in the coffee room a moment later. ‘Are they not just for the surgical staff?’
He shrugged, clearly relieved that she’d chosen not to mention his unwelcome interruption. ‘I don’t think it matters,’ he said. ‘Besides, didn’t you say you’re doing surgery for your next block in a few months? You look the part already.’
He noticed that her mug was still full. ‘Do you not want the coffee?’
‘It’s just a bit strong. I’ll make myself another.’
‘No, it’s fine.’ He took the mug and poured the contents down the sink. ‘I’ll make it.’ He gestured to one of the low seats near the radiator where a navy hoodie was draped. ‘Sit down,’ he said. ‘Get yourself warm. You can borrow my jumper if you like.’
‘Thanks.’ It felt a bit strange pulling on a stranger’s clothes but it was warm and very soft, Violet thought it might be cashmere. It smelled strongly of an expensive aftershave– amber and leather and bergamot– probably a Tom Ford. Dev had tried something similar when he’d had a bonus at work, although it ended up giving him a migraine. The smell was okay if you didn’t mind that sort of thing– unfortunately Violet did, but again, it was kind of him to offer. Barney was evidently more considerate and thoughtful than he’d first seemed.
‘Tell me more about your friend, Marvin,’ he said now as he handed her a fresh mug of slightly paler coffee, and despite her initial reservations Violet found herself pleasantly distracted by their conversation. They talked about Marvin’s operation and his recovery. Barney told her about similar cases he’d seen in theatre, knife injuries, the occasional gunshot wound, and although she was partially aware that he was showing off, dropping procedures into conversation like little surgical humble-brags, she didn’t begrudge him the opportunity– God knows you needed to celebrate the things you were good at in this line of work. He did sit a little bit too close for comfort and occasionally touched her knee or shoulder but he seemed to be making a genuine effort to put her at ease. After all, he wasn’t to know she had issues with her personal space. When her phone started buzzing and she pulled it out of her pocket she was surprised to see that half an hour had already gone by. She frowned at the screen for a moment before answering. It was Gus.
‘Hi,’ she said.
‘Violet. Where are you? I’ve been messaging. I need to talk to you about something.’
‘Oh. Do you?’
He faltered. ‘Yes. I– can I come to you? Are you still at home or…? Did you get my message? I’m sorry about dinner– I…’
‘I got your message,’ she interrupted, her voice neutral. ‘I’m at the hospital– I’m in the coffee room next to theatre two.’
‘Oh,’ he sounded surprised. ‘Okay. Can I meet you there? I’m two minutes away.’
‘Of course,’ she said. ‘You can do whatever you want.’
‘Right. Yes.’ He paused. ‘I’ll see you in a second.’
She disconnected the call. ‘That was Gus,’ she said to Barney.
He shrugged. ‘None of my business. Although– if you want to talk, I’m a good listener.’
‘I think if I need to talk to anyone it should be him first,’ she said.
He nodded. ‘I guess you knew what you were getting into– what with him being engaged and everything. I was a bit surprised to see you two together last night but, as I say, none of my business.’
‘No,’ she said, her voice tight. ‘You’re right. It isn’t. But just for the record– he’d broken off the engagement. They’ve split up, him and Amelia. I wouldn’t be with someone who was still attached. I don’t do that.’
Barney was looking at her with the same expression she saw Anjali use when breaking bad news to a patient’s family. ‘Is that what he told you?’ he said. ‘That they’d split up?’
‘Yes,’ said Violet, folding her arms across her chest. ‘And I believe him.’
Barney nodded. ‘I can see that,’ he said. ‘And I know how convincing Dr Gus Jovic can be. But honestly, Violet, it’s the oldest trick in the book, isn’t it? The “my soon-to-be wife doesn’t understand me”line. I’m surprised you’d fall for it. You seem pretty level-headed.’ He sighed as if she’d disappointed him.
‘Theyhadsplit up,’ she said.
Barney shrugged. ‘He certainly didn’t share that information with anyone else. I think maybe you’ve been?—’
‘Theyhad,’ she interrupted. ‘Theyhave.’ Tears were threatening again and she started to feel furious with herself.
‘Violet.’ Barney’s voice was kind, soothing. ‘You wouldn’t be the first girl to make this kind of mistake. It’s easily done. Gus probably didn’t even believe he was lying– he just maybe neglected to give you the whole truth?’
‘No,’ she said with conviction. ‘That’s not what happened. Anyway. We’re not talking about it– you and I. Okay?’
‘Sure.’ He spread his hands out in apology. ‘Of course. It’s just I hate to see girls like you getting hurt. I’ve known Gus a while. Since medical school. He– uhm– he’s always had a bit of a way with the ladies. Likes the attention. Maybe this little fling’—he gestured towards her—'was to prove to himself that he’d still got it? I dunno. Pre-wedding jitters maybe. You hear about it, don’t you? But…’ He put his hand on her knee, left it there for a second. ‘We’re not talking about it. You’re right.’
