Chapter 11
Cain
Ihadn’t meant to stand Patrick up two months ago.
I got a STAT SOS call from the operating room; a colleague needed help with a twenty-year-old collegiate athlete on the table.
My personal life would have to wait.
And wait, it has.
My call didn’t go through when I tried, and I assumed Patrick was on his flight home. I also took that to mean that maybe I should give him a clean break. For months now, I’ve forced myself to keep my focus on my patients at work, and on keeping my cock satisfied when I’m outside these walls.
The only problem is that even my trusted, well-liked hookups aren’t doing it for me anymore, and my frustration over being sexually dissatisfied is carrying over into my workday, making me even snippier than usual.
“Seriously, Dr. R., what’s crawled up your ass?” Perry asks as we stand at the scrub sink, prepping for the next case.
“Perhaps you should be less concerned about my ass and more concerned about the heart valve replacement we’re about to do,” I reply coldly.
Perry just laughs, unfazed.
“Perhaps you should handle whatever the fuck is eating at you so you can actually focus on this valve replacement. I’ve never seen you this distracted,” he says, causing me to clench my jaw and glare at him.
“What makes you think I’m distracted?” I bite.
“You mean besides the fact that you’ve just spent the last two minutes scrubbing in with counter disinfectant instead of chlorhexidine?”
I look down at my hands, and sure as shit, they’re pink.
“WHO THE FUCK LEFT THIS NEXT TO THE SCRUB SINK?!” I yell before looking back at Perry. “And why the fuck didn’t you say something?”
“I did. Just now. To prove my point. Whatever it is, Dr. Rosemont, fix it before you kill someone.”
Perry pushes through the doors to the OR, leaving me at the sink with my thoughts.
Patrick has me so torn up, it won’t be sleeping with him that ruins everything I’ve worked for…it’ll be not sleeping with him that does it.
How the fuck is that even possible?
By some miracle, I manage to make it through the case. Thankfully, it was straightforward. Nonetheless, I make a mental note to give Perry a bonus this quarter. His words, as much as I hated them, have me putting a plan into action to remedy this blight on my brain.
The medical conference is in two weeks. Duke University reached out a couple of months back, asking if I’d speak. Academia isn’t where my passion lies, and my waitlist is so long that I declined.
But things have changed.
My schedulers and the patients who will have to be rescheduled won’t be thrilled, but this needs to be done.
I send the appropriate emails, block my clinic, and book my flight to North Carolina. There’s only one thing that’s going to calm my mind and get me back on track, and it isn’t spending more time in the OR, the gym, or with anyone on my ‘approved hookups list.’
I didn’t tell him I was coming. Mostly because I’m not entirely sure what I was supposed to say that wouldn’t make this sound as fucking crazy as it is. Pulling my rental into his driveway, there’s a car here, and it wasn’t the one his son drove the last time.
I briefly think about leaving.
And then my traitorous brain flashes images of Patrick on his fucking knees for someone else, and I’m out of the car in a flash.
I came here on a mission, goddammit, and I’m not leaving until I’ve accomplished it.
I’m still in my suit, having come straight from the lecture I barely remember giving, and I straighten my tie as I climb out of the Porsche SUV.
Striding to the front door, I listen for voices, but hear none before ringing the doorbell.
Patrick opens the door, and his smile fades as panic flares in his eyes.
He stares at me for a solid twenty seconds before he’s able to find words.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” he asks, stepping out onto the front porch, closing the door behind him.
Interesting.
“I was just in the area. Thought I’d say hello,” I tell him with a cocky grin, unable to take my eyes off the way he’s regained his pre-surgery muscle mass.
“In the area? Cain, you live six states away. What could possibly have you in the area?” he demands.
I take a step forward.
He takes a step back.
“Medical conference,” I answer, advancing until he’s backed into the brick siding of his house.
“And you couldn’t be bothered to call before interrupting my life?” His tone is angry, but his eyes dip to my lips, telling me everything I need to know.
“What exactly am I interrupting?” I ask against the shell of his ear, smiling at his sharp intake of breath.
Just then, the door flies open, and Patrick’s son pokes his head out. I take a step back at the same time Patrick pushes me.
“Dad? Everything alright?” Liam asks, while sizing me up.
“Yeah, Li. I’ll be right in,” Patrick answers.
Liam doesn’t budge.
“I’ve seen you before,” he says.
I nod, deciding the truth is best in this case, and hold out my hand. Liam is a big kid, but we’re almost eye to eye.
“Dr. Rosemont. I performed your father’s heart surgery a few months ago.”
Liam’s eyes grow wide as he hesitantly takes my hand.
“Do you always travel across states to make house calls? I mean, is everything okay?”
Poor kid looks terrified.
“Everything is fine. I’m in town for a medical conference. Just wanted to check in,” I say calmly.
“Oh, well, okay, I guess,” he says, looking at his dad to confirm my story.
Patrick nods, putting his son at ease enough to invite me to stay for dinner.
“I’m sure he’s got other things he needs to do tonight, Li,” Patrick says quickly, but he’s not getting off the hook that easily.
“Actually,” I start, turning my attention fully to Liam, “I’m starving. I’d love to join you.”
“Cain,” Patrick half pleads, half commands.
Lowering my voice so only he can hear, I admit, “I didn’t get to say goodbye last time. I’d like the chance to do it tonight.”