Chapter 41
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Gaines
“A cardiologist and a vascular surgeon walk into a bar.”
I don’t wait for the punch line to laugh. “What do you want, Evan?”
“If you let me finish, you’d know.” He pats my shoulder as he takes a spot next to me in front of a bank of elevators. “A cardiologist and a vascular surgeon walk into a bar.”
I shoot him a look. “Go on.”
“The vascular surgeon buys the cardiologist another drink to thank him for that kick-ass album he bought him.”
“That’s not a joke,” I point out.
“Who the hell said it was?” He chuckles.
I shake my head. “I’m on my way to my office.”
“You and that fancy as fuck office.” He smiles. “You’re going to jump the ship that is this world-class health facility and go all private practice on me, aren’t you?”
We step aside as the elevator doors slide open. Several people step off, but two remain on. I shake my head to send them on their way without us because this conversation stays between Evan and me.
Once the doors slide shut, he elbows me. “I thought you were the nice guy. You just blew off two of our esteemed colleagues.”
“They’ll survive.”
“True.” He laughs. “Back to the private practice.”
I lower my voice. “I’m never leaving this place, but I can offer care there that I can’t here.”
“Like what?” He searches my face. “Are we talking lip injections? I’ve noticed yours has been swollen in that one spot lately. You may want to consult with Dr. Brentwood for some pointers on how to line the needle up correctly.”
I touch the tip of my tongue to the spot on my lip that Eloise can’t seem to keep her teeth from.
“It’s not from an injection.” I narrow my eyes. “Are you sure your medical license is real?”
“As real as real can be.” He steps back to widen his stance. “Everything you see here is one hundred percent the real deal.”
“Good to know.” I look up to see which elevator will make its descent first.
“A wild one did that to you.” He pokes an elbow into my ribs. “It’s from a woman, isn’t it?”
I ignore that to circle back to the reason I’m nurturing my practice. “My granddad left me a bundle, Evan. It’s a hell of a lot easier to put it to good use at my practice.”
“Are you telling me you’re a real life Dr. Robin Hood?”
I bark out a laugh. “I didn’t steal my fortune from anyone.”
“But, you are helping people who don’t have the means to get the help they require?”
That’s a simple way of putting it, so I nod. “Something like that.”
“I want in on this.” He pats my shoulder. “I doubt like hell my bank account rivals yours, but I’m willing to put in some time helping anyone you think may need a consult.”
“If you’re willing to do house calls, I can use the help.”
“House calls?” Confusion edges the question. “I’m all in for going old school, but I need my equipment to diagnose anything in my field.”
“I know.” I pat his shoulder. “I’m talking a few spare hours a week to visit people who don’t have access to health care. Think common colds, urinary tract infections, eczema. The list goes on.”
I don’t spell out that I’m on a first name basis with many of the people in this city who don’t have a place to call home, but he gets it. I can see that in his expression.
“You’re a goddamn saint, Gaines.” His expression turns serious. “Do people know what a good man you are?”
“The ones who matter do.” I glance over his shoulder to see Dr. Sexton on the approach. “They’re the only ones I care about.”
Logan passes us without a word to me, but he’s got a greeting for the man standing next to me. “Good afternoon, Dr. Scott.”
“Hey, Logan,” Evan responds before Logan rounds the corner.
I drop a gaze to my watch as the elevator sounds its impending arrival.
“You two went to medical school together, right?” Evan asks. “You and Logan did.”
“Sure did.”
“You must have done something to piss him off because I’ve yet to see him acknowledge you.”
He leaves out the part about me pretending Dr. Sexton doesn’t exist unless I’m forced to.
I shrug that off because I won’t dive back into that mess. It’s a closed book now. Our friendship ended in a way that doesn’t offer a path for repairing it.
“Who needs him?” Evan laughs. “So, the drink? Tonight, or…”
“I’ll let you know,” I interrupt him because I want more time with Eloise. “I’ll text you.”
“Works for me.” He jerks a thumb over his shoulder. “I’m heading to the ED waiting room. I heard they restocked the vending machines.”