Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 157032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
The group laughs.
Don’t look at him. Do not look at him. Don’t fucking look at him.
How about I put a hot poker up your ass, dipshit? Does that count as a hot date?
Because it’s totally doable.
He starts his rounds and I follow at the back of the group. He’s being his usual, witty, fun self, while I’m over here internally drowning in blood from my broken, furious heart.
We get to Gloria’s room and Cameron smiles cheekily. “How is my favorite girl today?” He smiles.
She frowns and fake coughs. “Not too good today, doctor.”
He picks up her chart and reads it as he softly takes her hand in his. Gloria smiles up at him. I snap my eyes away in disgust.
Watching him here being so kind and fun with everyone while he totally ignores me is hard to take. Maybe I should ask for a transfer to Jameson’s team?
Yeah, maybe that’s a good idea. I’m going to have to think on that one. The morning rounds seem to take forever and we stop at the café for the usual midmorning coffee where we all sit together. I glance at the spare tables around us and consider sitting somewhere else, but I know it will stand out to the others that something is wrong.
I stand behind Cameron as he waits in line. Amber is beside him, and if she isn’t careful, I’m going to king hit this bitch.
“Where do you like to go out Dr. Stanton?” She smiles. “I’m new to town and you know… it’s so hard to find descent places to go?”
“Yeah,” he replies, distracted. “I mostly go to friends’ houses and private parties.”
“Oh, really. Are there any parties coming up?” she asks as she runs her fingers through her hair.
The hairs on the back of my neck prickle and I roll my eyes. Please, give me a break.
She’s as subtle as a Mac Truck. I order my coffee and see some of the nurses from reception sitting over in the courtyard. I wave and smile.
Thank God, I’m saved. I’ll go and make conversation with them. I wait for my coffee and head over.
“Hello, Ashley,” they all chirp happily.
“Hi.” I smile. I love these four girls. They’re older, probably mid forties, and really nice. They’re all married with kids and have been around the hospital for years. “How have you all been?” I smile as I take a seat.
“Oh, good,” Tracey replies. “The damn plumbing is playing up, though, and a hot shower is hit and miss.”
“Oh no.” I frown. “That sucks.”
“Did you call that plumber I told you about?” Christine asks her.
I glance over and see Cameron deep in conversation with Amber. I come back to the plumbing conversation.
“He didn’t turn up and he spent all that time quoting. I just found it bizzare.” Tracey shakes her head.
Cameron laughs and I bite my lip so hard I taste blood. I swear to God, I’m going to lose my shit any second.
“Oh, man, will you look at him?” Tracey whispers.
The women all glance over and pretend not to look.
“Who?” I frown.
“Dr. Love.” Christine rolls her eyes and points to Cameron with her chin.
My stomach sinks and I glance back at them only to see Amber throw her had back and release the fakest laugh I’ve ever heard.
“Don’t you ever get involved with him, Ashley. He’s trouble,” Christine tells me.
I fake a smile and sip my coffee. I can’t help myself. I have to ask. “Why is that?”
“He breaks more hearts than he mends.”
“Bit of a player is he?” I ask.
“The worst kind. He sees more nurses in this hospital than patients. Every unmarried nurse in this hospital is in love with him, and he picks and chooses between them to use as his latest play toy.”
My heartbeat thuds.
“He treats them like crap, too,” Tracey whispers. “I don’t know why they put up with it,” she whispers.
I glance back over and right on cue, Amber and he laugh again.
“Treats them like crap?” I frown.
“Yes, tells them straight up that it’s just sex so don’t get any ideas about trying to snag him as their own.”
My heart runs out the bottom of my scrubs and onto the floor in a puddle.
How many women has he slept with?
How many women feel like I do about him?
I was just a number.
I sip my coffee, but I don’t taste it. My taste buds are dying by the second along with my pride.
Oh God, this is a mess. I can’t sit here any longer. I can’t take watching him over there with her, so I stand in a rush. “Catch you later, girls, I have to go make a call.”
I rush out of the cafeteria and down to the courtyard. I need to take back some control. I can feel my life slipping through my fingers. I take out my phone and dial Eliza’s number. She answers on the first ring.