Chapter 4 #2
"Except for Holden," Ethan interjects with a grin. "He's the weird one who decided to pursue medical school."
My attention immediately shifts to Holden. "You're a doctor?"
He responds with a smile, "Yes, nearly there. I'm in my final year of residency."
Jeremiah clears his throat, breaking our eye contact.
"Alexis, if you feel confident about taking on that job, we can get you started this week.
It can be temporary if you prefer, just to ease into things.
Working with us isn't a requirement for living here," he adds, shrugging, "We simply want to help. "
I glance around, meeting the gaze of each guy in the room, and then the emotions overwhelm me, and tears involuntarily fill and fall from my eyes. Ethan and Carter laugh uncomfortably, while Jeremiah, Holden, and Shawn seem uncertain about how to react.
Ethan, right next to me and clearly impacted by my distress, puts his arm around me. I naturally turn into him and cry against his shoulder. Finally, I regain my composure.
"I'm sorry, I'm such a mess," I say, wiping my eyes.
"It's understandable," Ethan empathizes.
I take a deep breath and look at Jeremiah. "I would love to take the job. Can we start it like an on-the-job interview, make sure I'm a good fit and all that?"
"Absolutely," he replies and smiles.
***
A couple of hours later, I find myself standing outside Brody's apartment door.
He opens the door, and there's a flicker of surprise on his face when he notices all four men standing behind me.
I'm relieved I have them with me when I walk in and Ellie is sitting on the couch.
I shoot him a glare that could pierce steel with my eyes.
"I'm here to get my shit, and then I never want to hear from you again," I announce.
"Lexi, Babe," he pleads, and I hear Carter tell him to stop.
Ethan and Shawn stand inside the master bedroom doorway as I pack all of my stuff in suitcases and trash bags. Carter and Jeremiah stay by the front door with Brody to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid.
Once all of my stuff is outside the front door of the apartment, I turn to Brody, hand him the key, and say, "Fuck you very much; I hope you have the life you deserve."
Carter and Ethan laugh, and then all four of them help me carry my stuff to Ethan's 4Runner.
I follow them in my A8 back to the house.
When I park in the driveway, the guys look at my car with its Maryland plates.
Jeremiah playfully quips about the car, offering a lighthearted jab that dispels any notion of me being a freeloader.
As we return to the house, Ethan informs me that I have the option to choose from five different bedrooms. The bedroom I was in last night is in the same hallway as all the guys, but if I opt for a room on the opposite side of the stairs, I'll have a little more privacy.
"It's entirely up to you, wherever you feel most comfortable," Ethan assures me.
"I'm a bit of a creature of habit, so I think I'll stick to where I am," I reply with a smile.
Ethan chuckles softly, and the guys take charge of bringing all my belongings upstairs, refusing to let me lift a finger. In the background, I catch snippets of Carter and Ethan updating Holden on Ellie's presence at Brody's and filling him in on the details.
As I start setting up my new room—placing clothes in the closet, arranging items in drawers, and setting up my laptop on the desk—a knock interrupts my quickly moving brain.
"Come in," I invite, and I’m a little relieved when Holden enters, quietly shutting the door behind him.
"Are you settling in okay?" he asks, perching on the edge of my bed.
I offer him a reassuring smile. "Yeah, I think so. It's just a lot to take in," I admit.
He watches quietly as I connect my monitors and arrange my computer setup. "That's quite the fancy setup you've got there," he remarks with a chuckle.
"It's for graphic design," I explain briefly before turning to him, wrinkling my nose in concern. "And how about you? How are you holding up?"
Holden seems taken aback by my question. His face contorts a little before he smooths it out again, but he responds nonetheless. "I'm okay. I'm heading back to the hospital tonight for ninety-six hours, so that'll keep me occupied," he says with a hint of resignation in his voice.
"I bet it will. That sounds exhausting, though," I comment, closing the distance between us with two steps.
Holden chuckles, nodding in agreement. "It is, especially in my area."
Curious, I inquire, "What's your specialty?"
"ICU, intensivist," he replies.
"You sleep in the call room instead of coming home?" I ask, and he nods but looks at me questioningly, which makes me laugh.
"My dad is an emergency room physician, and my mom's an ICU nurse," I share, "and my brothers are both physicians; I understand better than most."
A small smile plays on his lips. "You probably do. I'm the chief resident until I'm done, so it's rewarding, but it's pressure."
I join him on the bed, sitting beside him. "I'm sure it is rewarding. People like to think being a doctor is all about the money; they miss all the sacrifices."
Holden meets my gaze, and there's a fleeting moment of silence that isn't uncomfortable. He swallows and then glances down at the bags I still need to unpack.
"It looks like you still have a lot to do," he remarks, rising to his feet. "I'll leave you to it."
I hesitate, not wanting him to leave.
Without thinking, I blurt out, "Wait, Holden."
He turns back, and I find myself at a loss for words; finally, I manage, "Thank you."
"You're welcome, Alexis. I just hope you're comfortable here," he replies before slipping out of my door.
***