Eloise

“Look at you, showing up at work in the same clothes you wore yesterday,” Marcy says the second I walk through the door.

“Good morning, Marcy.” Maybe if I ignore the comment, she’ll drop it.

I walk by the reception desk and beeline down the hall, and bump straight into my mother.

“Oops, eager to start work today?” my mom asks.

Marcy’s snort carries down the hall.

“It’s Friday, my favorite day of the week.”

“All set for dinner tomorrow? I’m making a rack of lamb.”

“That’s a nice anniversary dinner. Of course I’m coming.”

“You can bring someone, if you like. There’ll be plenty of food.”

“I still don’t have anyone to bring since you asked me that yesterday.”

Marcy erupts in a fit of laughter, I turn around and glare at her.

“Anyway, I’d better get ready for my day.”

“Sure thing, sweetie.”

I enter my room, and close the door behind me. Marcy had better get over this fast, my nerves can’t take it.

A moment later, she comes into my room without knocking first.

“What is it?” I ask.

“We need to talk.” She perches against my desk.

My heart pounds against my ribs but I look at her as coldly and calmly as I can.

“About?”

“You know exactly what about. That sexy man you committed a crime in here with yesterday.”

“It wasn’t a crime. Don’t be stupid.”

“Maybe not, but what you did with him was unethical and against the rules of this medical practice. I have no choice but to raise the matter with the owners.”

“The owners? You mean my parents?”

“Your relationship with them is neither here nor there.”

“Come on. You’re being ridiculous.” I stop myself before I start calling her names. Like tit and bitch.

“I don’t think I am. You’ve put me in a bad position, and I don’t like it.”

“So forget you ever saw anything and we’ll forget all about this.”

“I don’t think the image of your bare ass laid over the table is anything I can forget anytime soon.”

“Please, we both know what your eyes are on and it sure wasn’t me.”

“God, he’s hot. Where did you find him?”

“I went to school with him. We’ve known each other since we were kids.”

Marcy’s shoulders drop and she frowns. She doesn’t say anything and I raise my eyebrows at her, challenging her. I don’t know where she expected me to say I found Gabe, but my elementary school apparently wasn’t it. Perhaps she expected me to say somewhere like a tattoo parlor.

“Are you lying?”

“Nope. He sat behind me in Mrs. Singleton’s class.”

“I have to set up the coffee machine, but this isn’t finished,” she says, and slinks out of the room.

I throw myself back in the chair, flinging my arms out to the sides. Once the pounding of my heart has calmed, I dig my phone out of my backpack and text Gabe.

Marcy’s on the rampage. She noticed my clothes right away and is threatening to tell my parents about what happened.

He texts back straightaway.

Fuck her.

My first patient arrives, a woman who dislocated her shoulder in a car accident months ago, and still in pain from it.

After she leaves, I open the folder to jot down some notes. As I lean over the desk, Marcy barges into the room. My heart rate immediately skyrockets.

“Anyway, I’ve been thinking about our little conundrum and I’ve concluded it’s only fair of me to give you the chance to tell your parents first.”

“Why can’t we just forget the whole thing? Why are you being like this?”

“I have to follow the rules. I have no choice. I could lose my job if I don’t. I’ll give you until Tuesday.”

I don’t say anything in response, and she leaves the room. Maybe I should’ve shown her some of Gabe’s drawings, to get under her skin as much as she’s under mine.

I pick up my phone again, but this time I send a text to Sophie.

Marcy walked in on Gabe fucking me at work, and now she’s giving me until Tuesday to tell Mom and Dad about him.

-OMFG you didn’t tell me you’d had sex with him.

I’ve been busy having more sex with him. Little orgasm problem long gone.

-And Marcy saw one of the sessions?

Yes, and now she’s holding it over my head and I don’t know what to do.

-l literally cannot stop laughing.

You’re really supportive.

-Did my straight-laced big sister really let that hunk of man do her in her office?

I find him impossible to say no to.

-How sweet. Now what are you going to do?

Whatever my super smart med school sister tells me to do.

I toss the phone on the desk and my next patient arrives. It’s Mrs. Bletchley, one of my mother’s friends. She’s been seeing me for a sore lower back for over a year, but never does her exercises.

“How are you feeling today?” I ask.

“My back is killing me today. The pain is so bad that I’m going to see the doctor later about increasing my painkillers.”

“Have you done your exercises?”

“Once or twice.”

Figures. Marcy’s put me in a bad mood, and I don’t feel my normal sympathy.

“You should sign up for a Pilates class. Studies have shown that they’re more effective for back pain than painkillers are.”

My phone beeps, drawing my attention from Mrs. Bletchley. Is it a text from Sophie or Gabe? Most likely Sophie. I wonder what she thinks I should do.

I realize Mrs. Bletchley’s been talking but I have no idea what she’s been saying.

“Why don’t we get you on the bed today, and I’ll try some acupuncture on the area. Maybe that will bring you some relief. I’ll let you get your top off, and comfortable on the bed under the blanket. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

I grab my phone and leave the room. The text is from Sophie.

Bring him to dinner tomorrow.

My finger taps the screen as I contemplate the idea. It might work. I type out a quick text to Gabe.

Want to come with me to my parents’ anniversary dinner tomorrow?

Marcy appears at the end of the hall, and I rush back into my room. Mrs. Bletchley is still struggling to get the flimsy blanket pulled up to her shoulders as she lies on her stomach.

I massage the areas for five minutes, stick her with the acupuncture needles, grab my phone and hurry out of the room again.

Nothing.

I have to give the needles time to work. Normally I’d go chat to Marcy. Today, I decide to hide in the staff room. I make myself a strong cup of coffee to calm my nerves.

The phone is in my hand, and I jump when it beeps. It’s Gabe. This text is one word.

No.

My heart sinks. That really could’ve solved my problem. I realize now that I’m going to have to tell them tomorrow and I really could’ve used him there for support. I text Sophie again.

Gabe won’t come to dinner tomorrow.

-Why not?

I don’t know, I didn’t ask.

-So ask.

I can’t help notice the time in the corner of the screen. I have to get back to Mrs. Bletchley. But first I send Gabe a quick text.

Why not?

He doesn’t respond right away, and I go back to my patient. There’s still no word from him by lunch. I’ve chewed away the fingernails on my left hand.

I sent Sophie another text.

He’s not going to come, what do I do?

-Don’t worry, I’ll be there for you.