Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
Eloise
“I did some research while I was at the hospital today.” Penny taps the center of her phone’s screen. “Dr. Morgan is a legend.”
You’re preaching to the choir, Pen.
Since I know (or hope) she’s not talking about his skills in a private room at Club Skyn, I opt for the glaringly obvious choice in my reply, “I’ve heard he’s a pretty great doctor.”
Heard translates to know in that sentence because I also online searched the hell out of the man after I saw him sneak out of Astrid and Berk’s wedding. Who wouldn’t after spotting him across the room?
Dr. Morgan was decked out in a navy blue three-piece suit and a stunning checkered silk tie. He must have forgotten what a comb was that day because his hair looked like he’d gotten in a fight with his barber, but he somehow won.
It was messy but sexy as hell.
“Pretty great doctor?” Pen runs her finger over the rim of her glass.
I think she’s drinking an old-fashioned, but I wasn’t here to witness her ordering it. I opted for sparkling water because I have an early class tomorrow and a lot of work to do on a knitted piece before that.
I shrug. “That’s what I heard.”
“Some pretty important physicians have cited his contributions to medical journals,” she tells me something I already know. “He went to bat for a patient who was denied coverage by their insurance company. He got them to change their mind about a procedure the patient needed in order to live.”
She’s got the facts a little jumbled about the insurance case, but the bottom line is Dr. Morgan goes all out for the people he treats. Some people have called him a savior on an online forum dedicated to medical professionals in Manhattan.
I take a sip of water. “He seems like a nice guy.”
“I think so, too,” she agrees. “Dax’s mom is on board with that, too. She bought him a thank you gift for saving his life.”
Curiosity nips at me, so I ask, “What did she get him?”
“A pen.” She winks.
I laugh. “Cute, Pen.”
“It’s a beautiful silver pen,” she goes on to explain. “She ordered it online. It’ll be delivered to his office tomorrow since he’s working there. I think I’ll stop there after work with a thank you card. It’s the least I can do after he ran to the rescue in Atlas 22 on Friday night.”
It suddenly hits me that was only two nights ago. I feel as though I’ve lived a thousand years since then.
“Where do you work?” I ask.
“At an insurance company.” She sticks her tongue out. “It pays the rent but doesn’t fuel my soul.”
I can understand that. I’ve worked part-time for years at the record store that Astrid owns.
I was allowed to set my hours, and she paid me more per hour than I could ever have earned anywhere else.
I still put in a few hours there whenever the mood strikes since my apartment is in the same building.
Pulling a shift there isn’t the same since Astrid’s music went viral, and she handed off the store’s day-to-day operations to a new manager.
“How’s your boyfriend?” Pen shifts the discussion with ease. “What’s his name again?”
“Philip,” I answer, not bothering to add his last name.
It’s inconsequential since I can’t imagine a scenario when the two of them will ever be in the same room again.
“Have you talked to him since your date was interrupted?”
I watch her take a gulp of her drink before I answer, “No.”
“Do you want to talk to him?”
I shake my head.
“Dump him, Els.” She grins. “If he hasn’t called to check in on you in the past two days, I say he’s now a permanent part of your past.”
As complicated as that is to follow, it’s solid advice, but when I pull the plug on my relationship with Philip, I need to do it face to face.
I was dumped via text once. I know the bitter sting that comes with that, so even though Philip isn’t the guy for me, I respect him enough to show up in person to end whatever is left between us.
“I did have an actual reason for asking you to meet me for a drink.” She smiles. “Other than to enjoy your company as we build our friendship.”
I’m not sold on it being a long-term friendship yet, but I’m open to calling her a close acquaintance until we see how we mesh after at least a week.
“What’s the reason?” I tap her hand. “By the way, the sweater looks amazing on you.”
“I know, right?” She leans back a touch to gaze down. “I had two compliments on my way here. You need to charge more for these, Els. I’m talking in the two fifty to three hundred dollar range.”
Astrid and a few friends from school have said the same, so maybe it is time to revisit my pricing model. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Anyways, back to why I asked you here.” Reaching for her purse, she smiles. “I have a picture on my phone I want to show you.”
I suspect it’s a selfie of her and Dax. I haven’t asked if she’s been allowed to see him yet, but from the scant forty-eight hours I’ve known her, I can tell she’s persistent when she wants something.
Her fingers skim over the screen of her phone before she sighs. “It’s beautiful.”
I lean toward her to try and steal a glance, but she turns it in her hand so I can easily see the image. It takes me back enough that I sigh, too. “Wow.”
“It’s incredible, isn’t it?”
Without thinking, my hands jump up. “May I?”
She hands her phone over to me with no hesitation at all. Using my thumb and index finger on the screen, I zoom in on the photo, studying each small detail.
“It’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen,” she proclaims.
I admit it rates right up there, but the best sight of my life still remains the moment Dr. Morgan let go and came down my throat.
I shake that off because why the hell am I thinking about him again?
“Can you duplicate it?” Pen asks softly. “I want one just like that.”
Stunned by her request, I shove the phone back at her. “What?”
“I want a wedding dress just like this.” She taps the screen as it begins to darken. “This was my grandma, Els. Her mom made that dress for her. Ever since I saw this picture for the first time, I knew I’d want a dress identical to it for my wedding.”