Page 28 of Seduction
Before walking to the penthouse, I stopped by my place and checked my mail. It had the test results from a DNA test I had taken back in March or April. I had forgotten all about it. I had taken the test because I was hoping to find connections to relatives on my father’s side of my family. And maybe I would score the gold medal and find out who my sperm donor was. I felt more nervous about seeing those results than learning whether I would be moving to Boston at the end of my residency or not.
My fingers were crossed that Sparrow would be inside when I entered the penthouse, but he wasn’t. I even searched each room to confirm his absence. I was too tired after that long, arduous shift to eat right away, so I stripped off my clothes and went straight to bed.
* * *
I wokeup around midnight to pee. My stomach growled, so I dragged my tired body into the kitchen. A single white rose wrapped in gold leafy paper and a note card were on the island. I immediately hurried over to read the card.
This was missed with your breakfast.
J. Sparrow
I feltmy entire face collapse into a frown. That was just super weird. The only time he’d spoken to me was on the fourth-floor terrace. We shouldn’t let others know we were flirting with each other, falling into some sort of hot and heavy relationship, but he could’ve at least sought me out other than just running into me on the patio to say hello, good morning, or good night.
I smelled the rose then found a tall glass, filled it with water, and placed the beautiful flower in the liquid. Then I ordered room service before going back to bed.
* * *
My next twoshifts were again action-packed. I saw Dr. Sparrow three times in one day and six in the next. On each occasion, he pretended as if I didn’t exist. And I hadn’t ended up on his service yet. However, each morning, there were roses with my breakfast. The guy was the master of mixed messages.
It was day four of living in the penthouse after getting the message that my apartment wouldn’t be inhabitable for seven to fourteen days. All had gone just as it had on the previous day, only at the end of my shift, on my way to the care station, I ran into someone else I wanted to avoid in the hallway.
Court slapped both hands on her cheeks. “Oh my God, there you are,” she said, rolling theRsound on her tongue like a Valley girl. “I’ve haven’t seen you in, like, forever.”
I forced a smile. “Actually, I saw you earlier this week.” I didn’t want to talk to her since I was ready to finish handoffs then go to Sparrow’s penthouse, order food, and go directly to bed.
“Listen,” she said, taking me by the arm in a friendly way. “Rich and I were talking, and I thought Greg Carrol should be your date for the party. What do you think?”
I was already out of work mode, reserving what was left of my brain power for handoffs. So I was barely able to process what she had said. “Who?” I asked.
“Greg Carrol? Tight end. Hot guy. He saw you before, and he’s into you.”
I glared at her. “No.” Although I sounded tired, there should’ve been no doubt I meant what I said.
“Hello, Court,” Dr. Sparrow said from behind us.
The sound of his voice made me jump before I turned to face him.
“Hi, Dr. Sparrow. I was just talking to Dr. Ross. I think she should go on a date with a hot football player. Don’t you?”
I wanted to faint or, even better, be transported out of the moment.
“Only Dr. Ross can answer that question,” he said and winked at me. “Good night, ladies.” Then he continued up the hallway.
Court and I watched him go.
“That man, that man. My God, he’s so hot. So hot.” She rubbed the back of her neck as if Dr. Sparrow had just made her feverish. “Anyway, where was I? Right. Greg Carrol.”
I ripped my gaze off Dr. Sparrow and snapped a hand in front of my face to stop her. “I said no.”
“Come on,” she pleaded, back to her charming little Valley girl act.
I had no time for it. “No more fucking athletes,” I said and continued my journey to the care station.
I thought I would find Dr. Sparrow there, charting or following up on a patient, but I didn’t.
I searched the area a few times, taking my time finishing up, wondering where he was.
