Page 33 of Forbidden Doctor

“I’d love to,” he said slowly.

I knew the rest of the people in the locker room were watching us, but I didn’t care. With a feeling of empowerment in my heart, I typed my number into George’s phone, and told him to text me.

He was still smiling when I left the room.

* * *

A new rumor began circulating amongst the interns, and it had nothing to do with my father or my affiliation to Dr. Adrian Price.

Instead, it suggested that the ice queen was melting, acknowledging her peers, and even going out with one of them. I didn’t mind that rumor as much. I held my decisions with me like a spare battery, and I powered through scut work, running to and from labs, checking patient details, and speaking to families. I felt like I was finally able to solely focus on my job—Adrian’s presence wasn’t looming over me like a dark cloud, making me wonder how it would end for us. I was worried, once, when I saw him in the cafeteria, but he just smiled, said “hey”, and moved on with his day. There was an echo of longing, but I knew I couldn’t expect it to disappear in the space of a day. There was something else there as well—the knowledge that I’d be okay without him.

Days passed, my heart settled into a rhythm, and I didn’t even wish ill will against Melissa. I began to appreciate her presence, as someone who was taking care of Adrian.

I was growing again, becoming a more mature version of myself.

* * *

It took a while for George and I to plan our date.

We both worked unsociable hours and ended up planning to meet after a shift ended. It was strange saying goodbye to him in the locker room but knowing I’d see him later in the evening. Jack teased me mercilessly, walking back with me. He was convinced George and I would become a couple, and I couldn’t admit that I had the same hopes. I’d always heard that the best way to get over someone was to get under someone new, but I wasn’t going to do that with George. We’d take our time, learn what we could about each other, and when I knew my heart had healed, when I knew I was ready, maybe then I’d sleep with him. I told Jack as much, and he just scoffed and said we’d be sleeping together before the end of the month.

Jack left me at my door and carried on to his house. I stepped through my door and thought that if I was going to be bringing someone around more often, I’d probably need to change things up a bit. My living area was depressing to me, the occupant, so I couldn’t even imagine what a date would think if I’d brought them home.

Before I even started changing, I pulled out some framed photos. I arranged them on the desk and smiled back at my family’s bright grins. I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t put the pictures out before. They’d already added personality to the room. Then I brought out a couple of my battered Dan Brown books and set them on the coffee table. I didn’t know what else to do. I wasn’t someone that really invested in chachkas, and the space still looked bare. I figured I’d have to take a trip to a thrift store and see if I couldn’t liven the place up a bit. I’d read something on the internet about fairy lights making everything look cozy and homey, so I added those to my mental shopping list.

I had to get dressed though—I didn’t want to be late for my date.

I carefully picked out my clothes. We were going for drinks in a chic little bar, and I knew the reputation of the place. I was grateful it was about as far from somewhere my father would have chosen as possible. I pulled out the little black dress I had bought back in college and examined it. I was pretty sure it would still fit, and I knew it would be perfect.

Maybe dresses weren’t my thing, but I knew how to make myself look good on occasion. I slipped it on and clasped the halter neck, so it sat on my clavicles. It felt exactly the way I remembered, and I smiled at myself in the mirror. Already, the girl in the reflection looked less like an exhausted intern and more like a casual twenty-something ready for a night out. I dragged panty hose up my legs, appreciating the way they smoothed out the imperfections of my skin, and stepped into a pair of black high heels that would normally be way too high for me on any given day. I made sure my makeup was done to the nines, with gentle eye shadow, winged eyeliner, and a dark red lipstick. My hair was straightened and tied up into a glorified ponytail, with small strands hanging around my face and a braid going up one side.

When I finally stepped back in front of the mirror, I didn’t recognize the girl looking back at me. For a moment, a deep sadness washed over me. I was doing all this for George because I wanted things to go well, because I wanted him to like me. I remembered the first time I’d met Adrian outside of work and the tiny amount of effort I’d put in. Sure, I’d swiped on some makeup and made sure my clothes weren’t completely horrific, but I hadn’t felt the need to go to such extremes. I’d only ever been myself with him, and Adrian had never asked for anything else, in mannerisms or words. Could I really build any kind of connection with another human when I’d found the one person I knew could have made my life beautiful?

Yes. I would have to because Adrian was no longer an option. He’d never really been one, but my brain was fond of reminding me that it was my fault that we were only “friends”.

I put away my negative thoughts and told myself that there was no shame in making an effort. I left the house. I wanted to turn and head to the park, but that wasn’t the plan. There would be time to stare out at the water and hope that my love life wouldn’t always be so preoccupying. The time just wasn’t at that moment.

It was a thirty minute walk to the bar, so I decided to get a cab instead of doing that in heels. The ride was quiet, with the driver a surly man that looked like Friday nights were the bane of his existence. I figured they probably were for most taxi drivers.

I stepped out and there was already a bouncer at the door of the bar. I handed him my ID, and he eyed me up before waving me inside. I was early, as planned, so I grabbed a Bacardi and Coke and headed to one of the tall tables. They always made me feel somewhat like a child, with my legs swinging, so I crossed my legs, sipped at my drink, and waited for my date to arrive. I made sure to keep my eyes glued to my phone and not open myself up for any unwanted advances. I had forgotten what it felt like to go out in the city at night, the way eyes followed you, and raising your head revealed all the men you didn’t want interested in you.

Thankfully, George didn’t take long. He walked over with a whiskey, and I wondered if he actually liked the stuff or if he thought it made him look intelligent. He was a surgical intern at one of the best teaching hospitals in the USA, and he had consistently been praised among the staff as one of the best interns—I had no doubts about his intelligence that the presence of whiskey would solve.

Apparently, he liked it though, because he sipped at it without batting an eye and asked me how I was.

“I’m good.” I laughed. “Pretty much the same since I saw you a few hours ago.”

“Yeah,” he chuckled, blushing, “I should have figured it would have been hard for a lot to change in that time.”

We lapsed into an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes. What were we supposed to talk about? I didn’t know how I was supposed to create a bond when nothing was coming to mind. If we couldn’t even talk to each other, then it wasnevergoing to work.

“You’re on Dr. Toyah’s rotation now, right?” George asked suddenly, like talking about work was a lightbulb moment.

“Yes,” I said, latching on to the conversation topic.

“Lucky,” George groaned. “I’mdesperateto work in general! It’s kind of my dream.”

He let out a nervous chuckle like I might have found his dream lame.

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