Page 14 of Sick of You

Dr. Donaldson and I shook our heads.

“He’ll be good for the project.” She turned to me. “I take it you’re in?”

I glanced at Dr. Donaldson, but he was not confused. I had the sinking feeling this might have something to do with whatever he’d been dancing around more elaborately than Fred Astaire. “In what?” I asked Dr. Ambrose.

She also looked to Dr. Donaldson. His eyebrows flickered as if he were confused, not an expression I’d seen from him often. “The guidelines?” he prompted me.

“Wait, what?”

Dr. Ambrose turned back to me. “We’d like you on the task force.”

“Me? I’m just a fellow.” They couldn’t seriously expect someone who wasn’t even (quite) done with their medical training to help with something that was sure to be extensive, especially not when Dr. Donaldson was right there.

“It will be a good prep for your new job,” Dr. Ambrose tried.

I tried to ignore the nagging tug at my gut. She wasn’t wrong, although I didn’t know how she knew about my job already. But I didn’t feel creeped out. I felt... anxious.

“I’m only here for a few more weeks,” I finally said.

“That’s enough time to get us started. And our phase of the project is intended to be brief anyway.” She held up aone minutefinger and stepped to the hallway.

Dr. Donaldson shifted. “I should have told you sooner.”

“You knew about this?”

He nodded without making eye contact. “It was my idea. A final feather for your cap.”

“Thanks.” My voice did not sound grateful. But I was. I should have been, anyway—grateful someone as smart as Dr. Donaldson wanted to help me. He and Dr. Ambrose both did, apparently. I should accept.

So why did I not feel great about any of this?

“Adesina!” Dr. Ambrose called down the hallway. She turned back to us for a moment. “Good, you’ll have time to meet Urban Health’s new guy before the Health Department arrives.” She leaned out of the door again without waiting for an answer from us. “Where have you two been?”

“Halfway ’round the hospital, it seems, looking for ID.” Dr. Okafor from Urban Health walked in and smiled at me. “And here we are. Have you been hiding away here the whole time?”

Before Dr. Donaldson or I could answer, someone else followed Dr. Okafor into the conference room, and I froze. Was my mind playing tricks on me, or was that... ?

Davis Hardcastle.

As ready as I’d ever be on the first day of a new job, I walked into the conference room—and my heart fell.

“You!” Dr. Cassidy Croft said it like an accusation.

I edged out a forced laugh. “Last I checked, yep.” I turned what I hoped was an amused smile on Dr. Donaldson. “Of all the hospitals in all the Philadelphias...”

A weak joke couldn’t smooth this over. I hadn’t bothered Googling her because I’d stupidly assumed they’d be at one of the other dozen facilities they’d mentioned.

Dr. Donaldson, her wouldn’t-be boyfriend, crossed from the coffee service. At least he was offering a hand. “Dr. Hardcastle, I presume?”

“No, no.” I shook his hand. “Just an assistant director.” His attempt at humor was generous—Dr. Croft had to have told him my suspicions yesterday.

Dr. Okafor’s wide eyes stood out against her dark skin. “You two have already met, I see?”

“We flew in together,” Dr. Donaldson supplied. “Along with—” He gestured to Dr. Croft.

Dr. Okafor finally finished the introduction: “Apparently you know our senior fellow, Dr. Croft.” She turned to Dr. Croft. “Mr. Hardcastle will be joining me as assistant director.”

“Of Urban Health?” Dr. Croft blinked in stunned silence. “You can’t—is this a joke?”

---