Page 6 of Dirty Doctor
He’sfurious.
Doctor Jones nods, a polite smile curling his features. “Great. I’ll prepare the discharge paperwork so that Dr. Hastings has it when he comes on in the morning. For now, rest up and try to get some sleep.”
I thank him, and he leaves the room without saying anything else. Slowly, I sneak a glance at Luke.
“Is there a reason you want me to stay? Am I dying? Has the world ended out there?” I joke, looking out the window. It’s pitch-black outside, and I cock my head and smile. “Perhaps a nuclear winter?”
His lips twitch, almost forming a smile.Almost.
“Sleep well, Langley.”
CHAPTERFIVE
LUKE
“Doctor Hastings.”
I grind my teeth together and hide my frown as I spin around, giving Marc a tight smile and holding my hand out. He ignores it and places his hands in his pockets.
Prick.
“Marc. How are you?” I drop my outstretched hand.
“Fine, you know, the usual.” He flashes me a polite smile. “Ms. Williams is your sister, I get that. But is there another reason you’re questioning another doctor’s assessment?” He tilts his head. “Come on, man. We went to med school together. I know you still have hard feelings because of what happened with Bianca, but it’s been years now. We’re all adults, right?” He takes a step forward and claps me on the back. It takes everything inside me to hold my hand back so I don’t clock him in the face.
“She’s… It’s complicated,” I answer, hating myself for the vague answer. “I’ve known her since she was eight. Her life is a mess. She doesn’t take care of herself. If we discharge her—”
Marc places a condescending hand on my arm. “We’re doctors. Not therapists. If you’re so worried, you could always check on her as her brother.” He smiles and backs away, moving on to the next patient. “Get some sleep, Doctor Hastings. You look like shit.”
Sighing, I walk back to my room, grabbing my things and stuffing them into my overnight bag. It was silly to think I should stay overnight. Of course she’ll be fine. She’s always fine. I grab my phone and send Helena and Dad a quick update that Langley is being discharged tomorrow. Closing the door behind me, I pull my jacket on and say goodnight to the nurses. I’m just about to turn the corner when someone calls my name from behind me.
“Luke?”
I turn around slowly to face my stepsister. She looks so… vulnerable in her hospital gown. My brows furrow as I take a step toward her.
“Langley, you should—”
“Why don’t you want me to leave tomorrow?” she asks, and for some reason, visions of her as a traumatized eight-year-old flash through my mind. She wraps her arms around herself and glares at me. I stifle a laugh as her nostrils flare delicately.
“You heard me. I don’t think your results have improved enough to discharge you.”
She laughs and shakes her head. “You forget I’ve known you for nearly twenty years. You don’t think I know when you’re lying?” Her eyes flick down to my clenched fists, and I release them, frowning at her. “You clench your fists whenever you lie, Luke. You’re so by the book that even the tiniest lie bothers you, and you physically recoil from the act.”
A flash of anger runs through me, hot and quick. “You don’t know me, Langley. Not anymore.”
“Tell me why you don’t want me to leave.” There’s a hint of worry in her voice. “You’d tell me if something was wrong, wouldn’t you?”
I sag a bit, sighing heavily. Running my fingers through my hair, I take another step closer.Shit.I should’ve remembered, should’ve predicted this. Her father—she was a child. A child who watched her father die of a terminal illness.
“Of course. I promise you, it’s nothing that can’t be fixed with some rest and relaxation.”
The relief is evident on her face. “Okay. I just thought—”
“When you walk out of here tomorrow, who knows the next time I’ll see you?” I blurt, my voice low and rough. My words must startle her, because her blue eyes widen and her cheeks redden. Truth be told, they startle me too. “I haven’t seen you in, what, a year? It took you passing out in themiddle of a fucking streetfor us to see each other?” I hiss.
“Luke—”
“Get some sleep, Langley,” I growl, twisting around and walking away from her.
