Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
Cash
“Hey, babe.” Cullen waves to get Lauren’s attention. She’s propped up in a hospital bed with her phone balanced on her belly. “If you don’t take a break from your phone, I’m afraid your corneas might meld to the screen.”
“I appreciate your concern,” she quips without looking up. Sounds chirp and blare as she scrolls. She’s cut her hair short since I saw her last. Her normally big eyes are in a squint.
“Why don’t you read one of those US magazines Cash brought you?” Cullen suggests.
“Good advice,” she says flatly. “I’ll be sure to take it under advisement.”
I clear my throat. “Do you need more ice chips?”
Lauren glances at the full bowl I got her a half hour ago. It’s sitting on the rolling tray. Ignored. Then she returns her focus to the screen. “I think I’m good, Cash. Thanks.”
Cullen shoots me a look. “Our daughter’s going to be born with an Apple logo on her forehead.”
“For your information,” Lauren says, “I’m merely distracting myself from said daughter, who’s trying to squeeze her way out of my body.” She grunts and adjusts her position. “Emphasis on MY body, not yours. So you don’t get a say in how I’m choosing to deal with labooooor—AHHHHH!”
She reaches for Cullen’s hand, her knuckles going white in a death grip.
“Awwwwww.” Cullen grimaces as Lauren gasps and blows in a rhythmic pattern. He starts hissing along with her, until they’re both pushing air through their teeth.
“Hee-hee-hee-hoooo. Hee-hee-hee-hoooo.”
Lamaze. What a trip.
Thirty seconds—or an eternity—go by, and Lauren finally stops panting. Cullen mops at her forehead with a cloth. “You did good, babe.”
“Wow.” I wince. “That was a big one, huh?”
Lauren frowns at me. “You know, if this whole Powell MedTech thing doesn’t work out, you really should get a job as a detective.”
“Sorry.” I shift my weight. “I’ll just sit here and keep my mouth shut. Or, I could … leave you two alone, if you want.”
“No, no, no.” Lauren shakes her head. “I need you here to keep me from killing your brother.”
“Okay. I guess I’ll just try harder not to be annoying.”
She sighs. “It’s not you, Cash. It’s me. Turns out this being-in-labor thing is kind of a drag.” She nods at the stack of magazines I picked up for her at the gift shop. “And I do appreciate the tabloids. And the ice chips. But all I really want is an epidural.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Cullen clears his throat. “I thought we decided to go for natural birth, babe.”
“Well, WE might be changing OUR mind about that, BABE,” Lauren grits out.
“Yes. Of course. That’s totally fine. Obviously.” Cullen bobs his head. “Whatever you want, moon of my life. ”
Lauren pastes on a sweet smile. “Right answer, babe.”
“In that case”—I start for the door—“I might be able to help you out with that epidural. I happen to know a lot of the doctors and nurses here.” I flash my brother a look.
He mouths, Thank you .
I duck out into the hallway, leaning against the wall for a moment, taking a deep breath of my own.
Not Lamaze.
I’m used to patients who are asleep on the operating table, not first-time parents waiting on their baby. This giving birth business is no joke. So I search the maternity ward until I find a nurse who can see about getting an anesthesiologist to check on Lauren. Then I take the elevator to the second floor. They’ve got the best snacks at Worcester Medical Center, and the last thing I put in my mouth was that pesto quiche at Hayden’s happy hour.
I’m dreaming of the Famous Amos cookies and the Cool Ranch Doritos I’m about to stuff down my gullet when the elevator doors slide open and my stomach drops. Alex is standing there in scrubs. Probably waiting for a case that would’ve been Powell MedTech’s a few months ago.
I haven’t spoken to him since he left.
It’s our company’s policy—no communication after someone quits. No fraternizing with the enemy. No letting the competition steal from you. If you ask me, though, the rule is more about keeping reps from comparing notes about salaries and commission schedules.
For the record, reps break these rules all the time, but Alex and I are by-the-book guys. And honestly, I’ve been too raw to reach out.
“Hey, man.” I step out of the elevator. My chest is tight, and I don’t know what to say that wouldn’t feel weird. I trained this guy, and he took the first competitive offer that came his way. I’m not saying the betrayal hurts like labor, but there’s no epidural for your partner bailing right after you made big plans for the future.
“Hi.” Alex ducks his head like his chin might be able to block the vendor ID clipped to his pocket. Vortex.
“Lauren needs an epidural,” I blurt.
Wonderful.
Glad I didn’t make things weird.
“She’s having the baby already?” Alex’s brows fly up his forehead. “That went fast.”
I puff out a breath. “Word of advice? Never say that to a pregnant woman.”
“Noted.” Alex drops his gaze, taking in my dress shirt, slacks, and shoes.
“Wedding,” I say. “Not mine.” I tug at my collar. My suit jacket and tie are back in Lauren’s room slung over a plastic chair.
“Kids come at the weirdest times, huh?” Alex glances at the clock above the elevator.
“I wouldn’t know.” I nod to indicate Alex’s iPad. The guy always brings it with him into the OR. “So, whose case?”
Alex shifts his weight. Guess we’re about to break some rules. “Dr. Lu.” He looks over his shoulder checking that the floor is still deserted. “Complex spinal fusion.”
That’s a long surgery. Huge price tag. Big commission. I drag a hand along the back of my neck.
Sympathy pains. “Well, good luck. Dr. Lu’s tough.”
Alex coughs out a laugh. “Tough’s one way to put it. Personally, I’d say he’s a total?—”
“So, I’d love to catch up,” I interrupt, cutting Alex off before he says something he’ll regret. He’s a loose cannon, but he’s also the smartest partner I ever trained. Talented. Ultra-committed .
Just not to me. “But there’s a bag of Famous Amos with my name on it,” I add.
“Old habits,” he chuckles.
“So, I’ll see you around, then.” I move past him with a quick wave. I’m halfway down the hall when Alex calls out.
“I had to go, Cash.”
I freeze in place, then turn to face him again slowly.
“To Vortex,” he says, coming toward me, shoulders hunched.
“I know where you went and what you meant.” I stuff my hands in my pockets. “I also get it. They offered me a big guarantee too. Hard to turn down.”
“It was never about the guarantee for me.” Alex shakes his head. “Although the pay increase doesn’t suck.”
“I’ll bet.” I work up a crooked smile. “Anyway, you did me a favor,” I say. “If you’d stuck around like we’d planned, I wouldn’t have pushed so hard for the LA territory.”
“I heard about that. Finally living the dream, huh?”
“Yeah.” Even as I say this, though, Nori’s hazel eyes flash before me.
We’re a whole hand now .
Let’s be friends.
“I’m glad things are working out for you,” Alex says. “But I went to Vortex for me.”
I smirk. “No kidding.”
“I’m serious.” Alex gulps. “If I’d stayed with Powell, I was never gonna get out from under your shadow. You were the man there. The only rep who’d experienced spine surgery firsthand. And I just … couldn’t compete.”
“What are you talking about?” I scoff. “We had the territory on lock. You were great. We were great together.” I take a beat. “I thought we were friends.”
“We were. Sure. But at work, I was the junior partner. You were Cash Briggs. Jason’s favorite. The doctors’ favorite. Nurses. Scrub techs. Front desk staff. Everybody’s favorite.”
I pull down my brow. “Come on, man.”
“Tell me I’m wrong.”
“Listen.” I splay my hands. “I have no clue how other reps rank in Jason’s heart. I just try to put my head down, go to work, and do my best.”
“And it only took you two months of doing that on your own for you to land that spot in LA,” he says. “So I guess you really are better off without me.”
I inhale deeply. No point in arguing with the man. “For the record, I never wanted a leg up on anyone. I just broke my back.”
Alex bobs his head. “I know it. And that’s what sets you apart.”
“Maybe.”
“What I’m trying to say is … I’m lucky I got to work with you for as long as I did. I was trained by the best. You’re the only reason Vortex wanted me.”
I swallow against the lump in my throat. “I don’t think that’s true, but thanks, man. Means a lot.” I jerk my chin toward the elevator. “Now you’d better get out of here, or Dr. Lu’s gonna have your head.”
“You know it.” Alex’s mouth quirks, and he presses the button. “And this conversation never happened.”
We fall quiet, and I wait with him until the doors ding open and he disappears. Afterward, as I make my way to the vending machines, and my shoulders feel looser than they have in a while. For months now, I’ve been ignoring the tightness in my gut, the weight of yet another person I trusted leaving me.
Alex and I had a plan for the future. When our vision came to an abrupt end, that took its toll inside and out. I had to carry on, though. The alternative—giving up—wasn’t an option. Alex had his reasons for what he did. I see that now.
Time to move on.
After snagging cookies and chips from the vending machine, I head back to Lauren’s room. At the nurse’s station, I make a pitstop to confirm the anesthesiologist will be checking on her soon. Then I hang out in the hallway scarfing my food. Lauren can’t eat right now, so snacking in front of her would be, frankly, cruel.
There’s also the fact that I’m not in a real hurry to get back in there. As comfortable as I am on the surgical floor, I’m a total outsider in the maternity wing.
You really shouldn’t be here , a familiar voice warns in my head.
But I belong here a whole lot more than I did at Hayden’s wedding. Speaking of which, I can’t help wondering how things are going at the reception. I hope Nori’s dancing. And sipping champagne. Enjoying lobster and filet. Taking selfies with Hayden and Keeley.
Those women are lucky to call Nori their friend.
You could be her friend, too, man. You don’t have to cut ties with her just because that’s your history. Try something new for once .
Yeah, right. I should just wait around for Nori to fall in love with someone else? Even if she wanted to stay in touch with me, I’m guessing her future husband wouldn’t be too fond of future contact. Lord knows I wouldn’t want Nori staying good friends with any of her Swipe Rite dates.
Not that I’ll ever have a say in that.
I’m just tossing the empty Doritos bag in the trash when Cullen pokes his head out into the hallway. “Are you gonna hide out here forever?”
“Nope. Just finishing my chips.”
“Good.” He arches a brow. “Because Lauren has a question for you. ”
She probably wants to ask when her epidural’s coming, so I head back into the room, happy to be the bearer of good news. As I come through the door, she’s in the same position as before, eyes on her phone, watching a video.
The volume’s cranked on what sounds a whole lot like a string quartet playing “Someone to Watch Over Me.”
“Hey there, Cash.” She looks up, and her mouth goes crooked. “Who’s Nori?”