I rush into Lance’s office, not bothering to worry about who sees or hears. Everything will come to light soon enough.
“Not you again,” he says, dead-panning. “I hope you brought sushi. From the place you hate.”
“No, but I brought news.”
“Gossip? Out with it then.”
“Gossip about myself,” I laugh. “Harlow and I are together. Like, in a relationship.”
He looks at me skeptically. “I know I’m expected to extend congratulations here, but I’m not sure this is the greatest idea…”
“I know. You think he’s a player and that it’s bad for my career. But you’ll just have to wait and see on the first argument, and I’m about to do something that will be even worse for the second argument.”
“Let me guess. It involves Dr. Davis?”
“Yes. Based on the documents I… acquired…”— I wink at him— “Wait, hold on a second. First, I have to tell you something confidential.”
I lower my voice, and he looks intrigued.
“We’re engaged,” I tell him, and he nearly jumps out of his chair in shock.
“You’re what?”
“Oh crap, I said that wrong,” I tell him. “I just have so many things to tell you that I got them out of order. The engaged part isn’t a secret. As far as you and everyone in the office knows—I’m about to walk out there as soon as Harlow brings me back a ring, and it better be a pretty one, and announce it—we’re engaged. But,” I say, lowering my voice even more. “The secret is that it’s fake. We’re fake engaged.”
“I see,” rubbing his temples. “I’m assuming this is because of that part of the employee handbook that says—”
“Yes, that says we’re allowed to be romantically or physically involved if we’re engaged.”
“Girl, you don’t have to go telling me about your sex life,” he says. “TMI. But I get it now. So go ahead with the other stuff, the real stuff, not the fake stuff, about Dr. Davis.”
“Yes,” I continue, taking a deep breath. “Based on the documents I found, thanks to your help, I know for sure he’s a bold-faced liar who changes the ‘facts’ to fit his preference. And also that he’s using people for his own advantage. But, listen, Lance, I really do appreciate your support thus far and I can promise you that I won’t do anything to drag you into the middle of this, or hurt your job here…”
“Whitney. No worries girl. It’s fine.”
“What’s fine?”
I’m confused.
“You can involve me however you want,” Lance says. “I mean, I’d prefer if you not reveal your sources of… information prior to this point… but I completely agree with you that Dr. Davis is a fraud. He thinks he can convince me to not see things I’ve seen with my own two eyes, just because he has power and sway here.”
I smile, proud of Lance, even though he’s my boss rather than the other way around.
“If you can take him down, great,” he continues. “Add me to a list of people who will back you up. I don’t know if it’s the best idea for you to let Mr. Bad Boy into your life but I do know he’s ready to be let back into the military, and as his physical therapist, it’s my job to advocate for him truthfully, and not be intimidated by his ridiculous referring doctor.”
“Thank you!” I say, rushing forward to hug him. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lance!”
“Geez, you’re welcome,” he says, playfully pushing me off of him. “Now get off me before your crazy ex comes back and sees us and thinks he was right about us having an affair.”
“Oh my god, that was so lame,” I say. “I’m so glad I’m done with him. He has nothing to do now but report me for things that everyone is already going to know. He says I’m sneaking around with a patient? Well, I can do him one better. I’m engaged to a patient, bitches!”
“Take that, Tony!” Lance practically shouts. “I have to admit, McHunkerton is a big step up from McMoocherson, at least in the looks and motivation departments. Just don’t let him break your heart, or he’ll have to answer to me.”
“Yes sir,” I say, nodding in mock solemness. “And thank you, Lance, for all you’ve done to help me here. I’ve learned so much. Thank you for your amazing letter of recommendation to medical school, too.”
“You weren’t supposed to read that,” he jokes. “You’ll get a big head. But you do deserve it.”
He’s right, I think, as I leave his office. I do deserve it, for once.
I can’t believe everything is finally falling into place. Now I just have make my fake marriage announcement, which is going to be fun, and then deal with Dr. Davis, which isn’t exactly something I’m looking forward to.