Page 41 of Anatomy of a Meet Cute
“Such an easy ask,” Dr.Franklin mumbled.
“I know, but I’ve thought long and hard about this, and do we really want our future parents meeting in the covered parking lot?”
Dr.Franklin smirked at her joke. “If I recall correctly, the chaplains have been asking to fix up the space behind the chapel for some time. If you all would be willing to use some of your funds to fix it up, I think I could convince them to share.”
“We can do that.” Sam practically bounced to the end of her chair, she was so eager to make this work.
“Don’t get excited. The chapel is located in the old hospital wing, and I don’t think it has seen a renovation since I was in med school—”
“So ten years ago?” Sam grinned.
“Don’t push it. You are already getting what you want.” Dr.Franklin smiled, then let his expression grow serious. “Anyway, it is going to need some work. And I want to be clear that I’m holding you and Dr.Gao responsible for the program from start to finish. If so much as a speck of paint seems out of place, I will put a stop to this. The last thing this hospital needs is some new It Program nonsense to ding our reputation. Got it?”
“I completely understand, and I won’t let you down,” Sam said, feeling joy bubble up inside herself, despite his stern warning.
“All right then. Send me an email with your needs so I can forward it to our director of operations.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, Dr.Franklin,” Sam said, jumping up from her chair before the attending had the chance to change his mind.
“After you send that email, head home, Dr.Holbrook. Tomorrow looks to be a busy one,” Dr.Franklin called after her.
Sam paused at the door and waved. “Of course, sir. Thank you for this opportunity. I won’t let you down.”
“Good night.” Dr.Franklin shook his head and half smiled before turning his attention back to his email.
Grinning like a cat that caught a mouse, Sam walked three steps away from the office door before bouncing up and down in a half dance, half skip. The interaction with Dr.Franklin hadn’t been nearly as bad as she had anticipated. In fact, if she had to grade it, she would give ita six out of ten. Not good but still above average. She should celebrate. She rounded the corner to the fellows’ office, trying to figure out what kind of takeout she could afford that also felt special. Whatever it was, she should probably order enough for Jehan and Duke. Remembering that she should text Grant, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone. Looking down, she quickly typed out,
It worked!
After hitting send, she tapped over to the group text to ask her roommates what they wanted for dinner.
“What worked?”
Sam jumped halfway out of her very practical running sneakers, clutching her phone with one hand and a stitch in her chest with the other. Standing halfway down the hall was Grant, holding his phone, the corners of his mouth turned up.
“This is the second time you have sent my heart racing. Are you trying to do this to me?” Sam asked, feeling her shoulders relax as she laughed.
“Not in this precise way, no.” Grant shrugged, his expression hovering somewhere between mischievous and matter of fact.
The image of him sweaty and shirtless rocked Sam’s consciousness so hard she had to close her eyes. She could imagine the feel of his breath on her neck, the feel of his skin against her own, electricity pulsing between them.
“Sam?”
The sound of his voice shot her back to reality. Forcing her eyes open wide, she looked at him and bit down hard on her lower lip to make herself focus. Until this moment, Sam had thought that a steamy fantasy flashing before someone’s eyes was only the stuff of TV shows. It was just unfortunate timing that she only learned the truth right now.
“You okay?”
“Ha. Yeah.” Sam’s laugh sounded as dazed as she felt. Clearing her throat, she tried again. “Sorry, just spaced out.”
Spaced out?Sam kicked herself. As if she could space out with a walking sex dream in front of her.
“You just texted me that something worked?” Grant said, rolling his shoulders forward ever so slightly. For a brief moment, Sam wondered if he was also trying to find his footing with her and whatever their new, potentially less antagonistic relationship was at the moment.
“Yes! Your advice for managing Dr.Franklin worked. He is going to help with the room.” Sam was pleased with herself for sounding less breathless than she felt. Inside, it felt like she had sprinted a three-hour marathon.
“Oh. Good.” Grant’s eyebrows shot up with surprise, as if he hadn’t expected her to text over something so trivial, but he quickly masked the expression with his usual no-nonsense demeanor. Clearing his throat, he said, “So I actually hoped I’d run into you.”
“Why’s that? Trying to scare me to death so you won’t have to work with me on this project?”
