Page 14 of Intense
“Dr. Miller. A word?” My tone is clipped.
But I’m furious.
The past couple of days, she’s been acting differently. Less confrontational, which, to most, would be a good thing.
To me? It means something’s up.
And the fact she nearly fucked up a cardiac bypass in there, something I’ve seen her do on many occasions over the years, is unacceptable.
It’s not like her.
She follows me into the locker room. I shut the door behind her, but she doesn’t turn to face me.
“What the fuck was that in there?” I hiss.
She turns and frowns but stays quiet. I don’t like this version of her. I like the spunky, sassy, nothing-held-back Stephanie. That one keeps me on my toes.
This quiet, reserved version?
Makes me livid.
Over the past nearly six years, I’ve become accustomed to many versions of Stephanie. All of which seem to hate my guts, but all equally fascinating versions of her.
“Oh, come on, Dr. Miller. I know you can speak. Tell me.”
I step in front of her, and she slowly looks up, into my eyes.
“I’m just exhausted.”
“Go on vacation then. Don’t offer to do a surgery when you clearly can’t concentrate.”
She scowls at me.
“What would you have done if I wasn’t there to save your ass, Stephanie? Seriously?”
She rolls her eyes, and I have to physically stop myself from pinning her against the lockers. I can’t fucking stand when someone rolls their eyes at me.
“Dr. Quinn is always there to save the day.” There it is, that spite on her tongue.
She’s returning. And that stirs something inside my chest.
“Someone has to be, clearly. Whatever’s going on, get it fixed. If it starts to impact your work, I’ll have no choice but to write you up.”
Her eyes go wide.
Ah, there it is—fear. That rare flicker I barely ever see from her, but when I do?
I bask in it. And threatening the one thing she loves most in the world seems to bring it out.
“It won’t happen again, Dr. Quinn.”
I shake my head.
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Dr. Miller.”
She scowls at me, like I’m the worst person in the world to her.
Just as I suspect I have been since day one.
