Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80651 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80651 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“A&E almost had three more admissions.” He smirked and carried on. I didn’t dare even catch his eye. I’m sure I was emitting waves of lustful vibes as it was.
As we crossed the corridor to the exit, Veronica let out a small groan. “He even smells good, doesn’t he? How can you concentrate with him around? It must be terrible. Wanna swap?” She laughed and we headed out to sit under the small patch of grass in front of the car park.
“You really think the foundation award has already been decided?” I asked.
Veronica looked at me. “Do I believe Gilly? No. Do I think they get a feel for the candidates during the first rotation? Absolutely.”
I took a forkful of halloumi and nodded.
“Do I think you’re a candidate? I do.”
I let out a small laugh. That wasn’t going to happen. I didn’t want it to. I just wanted to stay focused and keep my head down. But the more and more time I spent with Jacob, the less likely that was. Jacob was occupying more of my headspace than he should. I was concerned what shift he was on and whether I’d be working with him, and then I was concerned that someone had realized we were sleeping together. My focus was all over the place. And then there was the constant concern that people were going to suspect. The worry hung over me like the sword of Damocles.
Things weren’t going to plan. In my life, they rarely did.
Twenty-Seven
Sutton
I lay back on the picnic blanket, staring up at the fluttering bright green leaves overhead.
“Champagne in the park. This is one of the most romantic afternoons ever,” I said.
“Agreed,” Parker said. “Don’t tell Tristan.”
I laughed. “I promise.”
It had been Parker’s idea to picnic on Hampstead Heath, and it was one of her better ones. “I much prefer to be under a tree sipping champagne than hanging off one, holding on for dear life.”
“We’re not trying to distract you now. I’m trying to relax you.”
“You’re a good friend.” I felt shitty that I’d not told her about Jacob. It had just happened so quickly and work was so frantic, I’d hardly seen Parker since it happened.
“That sounds ominous.”
“Does it?” I sat up. “It’s not meant to. But I do have something to share with you.”
“I hope it’s about Jacob.”
“How did you know?” I asked.
“I’m so pleased you gave in. Tell me what happened.”
I told her what had happened at the offsite and how I would go over to his place after my shift. How I’d gone to Norfolk and met his family. Jacob and I had initially said no friends or family should know, but going to Norfolk had already violated that rule. It seemed only fair that Parker should know. She was as close to family as it got for me. “He’s wonderful. Really wonderful.”
“Don’t let there be a but,” Parker said.
“Of course there’s a but. A big but.” I fell back onto the blanket.
“Surely you can let it be complicated. Or choose to let it be simple.”
“Life is never easy. For a start, he’s my boss. I’ve worked hard to get where I am. I don’t want people to look at me and think I owe any of it to the fact that I was sleeping with my boss. I just want to stay in my lane and get through the next two years unscathed.”
“Who cares what they think?”
“Me,” I said. I loved Parker but she’d had opportunities in life that meant when something good happened to her, she never questioned it. Our backgrounds were very different. “And not just me, but everyone who gives me a job from now to the end of time will be wondering if I’m less good at my job because of the way I got into med school. So it’s important I don’t add fuel to the fire. I don’t want people thinking I had to sleep with the boss to get by.”
Parker groaned. “People are arseholes.”
“You know that’s what some people will say.”
“I get it,” Parker said. “But it can’t be career over if you two get discovered, surely.”
I shrugged. “Maybe not career over, but there’d be a question mark over my head. And after all the work I’ve put in, I don’t deserve that. I can’t help thinking that when it’s all over, I’m going to regret it.”
“Maybe it’s never over.”
I laughed. “What? You think I’m going to marry this guy?”
“Maybe,” she said.
I shook my head. Only Parker could say something like that. “Not going to happen. It’s all too easy with Jacob. There’s bound to be something that will derail us at some point. I just don’t know if . . .” Whitney’s “Didn’t We Almost Have It All” started playing in my head. You could take the girl out of the salon but never the salon music out of the girl. “I don’t know if the ride will be worth the fall. But at the same time . . .” Jacob would be at work now. Maybe he’d be in the dining room at this very moment. I’d not seen him out of the hospital for three nights and I missed him. How was that possible? He was going to come round to my place after his shift. Maybe I’d cook for him.