2. Luke
LUKE
“ F uck,” I mutter under my breath when I see the state of my office.
It’s a wreck. There are coffee mugs, half empty bottled waters, papers from notes I left for myself to take care of today, and who else knows what.
There’s no end in sight. Tackling the mess will be my first order of business.
We have nurses, medical assistants, receptionist, and administration assistants, but this isn’t part of their job, and with Lennie officially out on maternity leave, it means pulling up my shirt sleeves to get to work.
The only reason she ever helped in my office is because the woman couldn’t sit still. She’d come in here during her break, take a small nap on the couch nestled beneath the window, then wake up and pick up around my office.
“That bad?” I turn around to see my partner, Antonio Gallo. We both worked at the hospital today. His schedule consisted of surgeries, and I was in labor and delivery .
Lately, he’s been gone more than here, not that I begrudge him. His dad is getting up there in age, always in and out of the hospital for one thing or another. His folks need him. They’re close. They’re also Italian, which makes it a whole other level of how tight knit they are.
“Eh, transcriptions and cleaning up this mess. At least I’m done with rounds for the day. You?” I’ll probably be here another hour or so, get what I can done, and deal with the rest tomorrow before I start seeing patients in office.
“I’m out of here. All of mine were outpatient today except for one. Thought I’d be in and out, but it took longer, even doing it laparoscopically. Imaging didn’t show everything.” Gallo runs his hand down his face, the toll of the day hitting him all at once.
“Shit, hate when that happens,” I tell him, grabbing the empty bottles and cans to toss them in the trash. I’ll deal with the others once our conversation is through.
“Me, too. How much longer will you be here?” he asks.
I already know where this is going, and I’m more than prepared.
It’s not like I’ve made any plans. Asher is with Lennie, Trent has Kennedy and Briar, Johnny is more than likely at the club for a couple of hours before he’ll head home to be with Winnie and their son, Sebastian.
Tysen is on a flight, and Maci is more than likely with him.
There’s no telling what Jagger and Lyric are getting into.
Our group is dropping like flies; not in a bad way, more in the way of settling down.
As it is, the only single ones left are Jude, Crew, Matthew, and me.
Though, I don’t think Matthew would take kindly if his housekeeper started dating any time soon .
“A while. You need me to check on your patient before heading out?” I may as well open up the conversation for it.
“If you don’t mind. The patient’s name is Shaelynn Parker.
I’ll forward you her chart. As long as everything looks good tonight, I’ll swing by in the morning to do her discharge paperwork.
” He’s heading to his parents’ this weekend, and there are only two more days left in the work week.
It doesn’t much matter; one of us will be on call regarding our patients, and unless it’s labor and delivery, we’ll have one of the other doctors on rotation help out.
We’ve made a few changes lately, that being one of them.
“Don’t come back around in the morning. I’ll call you in the morning to let you know what’s going on, and as long as everything’s good, we’ll send her home.” There’s no sense for him to come back in. He’ll never fucking leave, especially if another colleague sidetracks him.
“You sure? I know you’ve been picking up a lot of my slack. Fucking hate it, and I’m damn sorry.” Ah fuck, shit must have gotten worse, and Gallo hasn’t said anything about it.
“I’m positive. There’s no reason to apologize.
This is life. We help where we can. You’d do the same.
Go be with your parents, man. They need you.
Take whatever time you need. We’ll figure it out, yeah?
” He nods, breathing out a heavy sigh. Hopefully, it gives him some relief from the overwhelming pressure he’s under in his personal life.
“Thanks, appreciate it. I’ll let you get back to this and keep you posted about everything else.
” We shake hands, and I pull him in for a quick, one-armed hug, clapping him on the back, before he heads out the door.
I go about my task of tidying up my office, thankful for the attached bathroom so I can make quick work of emptying the bullshit I’ve let pile up.
A few trips later, and I’ve got the place in a semi cleaner state.
There are still piles here and there, a package from a patient, and then mail to open up.
Usually, they’ll bring in food of some kind—doughnuts, cupcakes, and the likes.
The mail consists of birth announcements or a thank-you card, which the front staff will display on a peg board.
Sometimes, money and gift cards will be slipped inside.
Gallo and I will put whatever we get in a jar, check what we have once a month, and we’ll add to it if there isn’t enough to take our office out to lunch.
This place is very much a team, even if we have an employee or two who give us a massive headache with their drama.
I shuffle shit around, moving things off my desk and putting the shit in order to take care of right away rather than move it to another day.
I’m finally done with picking everything up, sitting in my office chair, and bringing my computer to life, when my phone goes off.
Thankfully, it’s not ringing. Having any other sort of interaction that requires talking today might make me throw the damn thing in the trash.
I’m half tempted to push myself away from my desk, gather my laptop, my digital voice recorder, check on Gallo’s patient, and then head the fuck home.
It’d be a hell of a lot better than staring at these four walls.
Only I know myself better than that. I’d get home, take a long-as-fuck hot shower, grab a beer, make some food, and abandon my work.
Then it’d be stacked up even more tomorrow .
I grab my phone, glance down at the screen, and see there are notifications from the group chat.
Asher: You all good with us hosting Sunday? Lennie is adamant about being fine and wants her girls around before she gives birth.
Johnny: We’ll be there. You grilling?
Jagger: We’re there. I think Lyric is bringing a friend. Keep your paws to yourself (directly from Lyric).
Tysen: Wouldn’t miss it. We’ve got an overnight and might be late.
Trent: We’re in. Briar isn’t missing an activity where there’s a pool and desserts involved.
Jude: I’ll supply the candy.
Matthew: I’ve got the appetizers covered.
Crew: Fine, I’ll bring the drinks. Beer, wine, and juice boxes?
Asher: Only person left to hear from is Luke. We all know he’ll be here. If not, I’ll have Lennie call him. That’ll light a fire under his ass.
Johnny: Pregnancy hormones are not something to play around with.
Jagger: Learned that recently, did you? Must suck to be you.
Tysen: Just wait, Jag. Your time is coming.
Jagger didn’t think he’d ever settle down, but when Lyric blew back into town, the script was flipped. As for me, I’m not against it, just haven’t met a woman who makes me want to think about not working long hours or finding the person I want to come home to day in and day out.
Me: I’m there. I’ve got the weekend off. I’ll bring whatever no one else does, sides or the meat to grill. Just let me know. Anyone want to grab dinner tonight?
I look at the time, wincing when I see it’s already going on six o’clock. I’m doubting very seriously any of them will want to meet up, especially the guys who have women at home.
Jude: I’m down. Name the place and time.
Crew: Next time. I’ve got to get these drawings done.
Matthew: I’m out, too. The case I’m working on is kicking my ass.
Johnny: I’ve got the club tonight.
Asher: Lennie has dinner on the table as we speak.
Tysen: I’m in the sky brother, sorry.
Me: All good. It’s last minute. Jude, Smoked Oak in about an hour?
Jude: See you then.
Trent: I’m at the station. Might dip out, though, and meet you for a few.
Me: Sounds good.
I place my phone on the desk, pull up the patients I worked on today, go through the process of dictating each one thoroughly with as much attention to detail as possible.
This is the part of the job nobody warns you about.
It’s not just helping patients or delivering babies; it’s this side.
And while Gallo has a better system than I do, one I should adopt, I’ve yet to find it in me to be as quick with my colleagues and patients.
He’s not an asshole, but he’s in and out in a flash, while I have a harder time breaking free.
I’m about to finish up my charting when Gallo sends me a text.
Gallo: Sent you the file. Thanks again.
I’d been so wrapped up in getting my work done that I already forgot about doing his rounds.
Me: Loading it now, then I’ll head to the hospital. I’ll keep you posted if something’s wrong.
I got about five patient notes done, which will be good enough for tonight. Since I’m making rounds in the morning, I should have time to wrap the last of my files up before starting the day.
Gallo: Sounds good.
Gallo isn’t much better than I am. Turning off and disconnecting from the practice is damn hard.
Shit follows you, especially when you’re on call as much as we are.
I stand up, walk to where my coat is located, grab it, slide one arm through the sleeve and then the other before heading back to my desk to pick up my laptop and phone.
I go about closing down my office, knowing I’ll more than likely head out after checking on Gallo’s patient.
A few minutes later, I’m walking through the hall and swiping my badge to open the door to the hospital.
I nod here and there to a few of the nurses as I move toward the OB/GYN ward.
The name of the game is getting in and out of here; the fewer people who notice me, the better.
A relatively hard thing to do when you grew up in Whispering Oaks and work in Oak View, the bigger city, where everyone knows fucking everyone.
“Hi, Doctor Camden,” a nurse greets when I make it through the entrance to the wing. Luckily, keeping your head down, pretending you’re on the phone, and walking with a swift pace keeps the wolves at bay, so to speak.
“Hey, Ivy, anything I need to know about?” I set the laptop on the counter near where her station is, quickly pulling up the chart Gallo sent me. “Shaelynn Parker.”
“Her pain level is a three, preferred to go down to over-the-counter medicine, complaining a little bit about nausea, but is finally sleeping after her family left. She’s in Room Three-Zero-Five.
” I listen to what she’s saying while reviewing her chart, noting that when Doctor Gallo performed the laparoscopic myomectomy, not only did he find more fibroids than he initially thought, but there was also a cyst on her ovary.
He removed it and sent it off for testing.
Fuck, this patient is in her mid-thirties, no children, and this could potentially cause more trouble down the road depending on what the biopsy shows.
“Bleeding or swelling I should be concerned about?” I ask.
“All normal on those fronts,” Ivy states.
“Alright, I’m going to take a look in her room. Can you join me?”
“Yes, let me grab the phone in case any patients call. I’m not going to say what I want to, jinxing myself and all that.” Everyone knows the instant you say it’s a slow night, all hell seems to break lose.
“I won’t say a word, either.” I close the laptop, leaving it on the counter, and walk with her.
“You better not, or you won’t be my favorite anymore,” Ivy teases. She loves everyone equally. She’s also the same age as my mother, has no problem bossing me around, and I have no problem letting her.
“Everyone’s your favorite person,” I tease her.
“You’re right.” Ivy looks away from me, lightly knocks on the door, and opens it slightly.
The light is dim, the television is playing softly in the background, and the patient is asleep.
Fuck, the last thing I ever want to do is wake up a patient; it doesn’t matter the reason they’re here at the hospital.
I move further into the room when realization hits me right in the gut. I’ve seen her before. Long dark hair, midnight black, plush pink lips, and skin that looks delicate and flawless. I could go on and fucking on, except she’s now my patient, which makes her off-limits.
“Ivy.” I nod back at the door. Ivy agrees, stopping to take a look at Shaelynn’s vitals.
Meanwhile, I’m waging a war within myself, thinking about how tomorrow morning, I’ll have to see her, awake this time, go down the checklists before discharging her while trying my hardest not to let my cock get the best of me.
A damn struggle, to say the very fucking least.