Chapter Thirteen
Forest: “You’re really not coming to dinner tonight?”
Luna: “I’m really not coming. I told you I have plans.”
Sure, I didn’t have plans when Forest picked today as our get-together with the two of us and Keegan, but once he suggested tonight, and after I realized that for the first time in forever, Myles, Raven, and I have the same night off, I made other plans.
Another text comes through from him.
Forest: “Fine, Luna. But it’s important to Mom and Dad that we try to have a semblance of family out here. You better not cancel for the Fourth of July weekend.”
I sigh into the phone and throw it onto my bed.
“Are you almost ready?” Raven stands in my open doorway, and peers in.
“Look at you, pretty lady,” I say, and she spins, and her tangerine-colored skirt twirls around her.
We’re embracing our night off and decided to get fancier than usual for a night out on the town.
“Are you ladies ready?” Now Myles stands in my bedroom doorway. “Because I’ve been ready for the past hour.”
“Yes.” I take a final sip of wine and follow them out the door.
“Love your outfit,” Raven says when we step inside the elevator. She takes in my body suit tucked into a flowy, short skirt. “You have a great sense of style. Natural. Effortless. Girl-next-door vibes.”
“I wish I had an ounce of your style,” I say as Raven checks herself out in the elevator mirror. “I stole this entire look from a magazine.”
Myles shakes his head. “No one is going to know we’re doctors who work more than we sleep. Our disguises are amazing.”
“Agreed,” Raven says and takes my hand when we reach the ground floor. I smile, happy that after some convincing, Myles agreed to come out with us.
We start our night at a club on the Lower East Side that we heard about. Well, Raven heard about it from one of her emergency room patients. The music is loud, and the beat thumps so deeply, that I feel like it’s controlling the rhythm of my heart. I’ve never been a drinker. I like to have one or two drinks at the most here and there, but I hate the feeling of being out of control. Tonight though, the alcohol is flowing.
It’s the perfect escape from the pressures of the hospital and most importantly, Keegan. That awkward one-way kiss happened only two days ago, and I want to put so much more time and distance between it. He’s the reason I absolutely could not go to Forest’s for dinner.
Raven talks to someone at the bar, and I grab Myles’s hand and pull him onto the dance floor. He hesitates, then follows me.
“When is Jules arriving in New York?” I yell over loud music.
“Right before the Fourth weekend,” he yells back. “She can’t wait to go to Montauk.”
I’m not sure who is going to Montauk to stay in the mansion that Keegan bid on, but Myles, Raven, and I requested two and a half days off as soon as we could, so the three of us will be there. It also coincided with when Jules will be visiting from Texas, and Forest will of course be there. Beyond that, I’m not sure.
After about an hour, and several drinks, we decide to head back to our neighborhood and stop in at the local bar, George’s.
“It was too loud in there to even think.” I run my hand through my hair, smoothing out my loose curls. “Why do people enjoy clubs like that?”
Myles holds his head. “I can still feel the thumping in my head. Is that what the kids are listening to these days? Because I’m officially too old.”
Raven sits between us in the back seat of the car. “You sound like two old people. It wasn’t that bad.”
We walk into George’s, and it’s packed. Music blares from the jukebox, and we find three empty seats at the bar.
“I’ll have alcohol, please,” I say to the man behind the bar. As soon as it comes out of my mouth, I realize that maybe I should slow down. “And a water.”
“She’ll have a glass of white wine. And water.” Raven clarifies and then shoots me a look.
Raven sits between Myles and me. “I looked up the weather for the Fourth of July weekend. It’s supposed to be gorgeous in Montauk. I can’t wait to get away. I’ve been online shopping for some new bikinis.”
“That’s what Jules said.” Miles sips his drink out of a straw. “I feel like we should chip in money or something.”
“I don’t think it’s necessary.” I cross one leg over the other. “Maybe I can reach out to Keegan and see if the three of us could be in charge of the food and drinks though?”
Raven licks her lips, and her eyes light up. “Is your brother bringing anyone?”
“Not that I know of,” I say very slowly. “Also, you talk about beautiful Dr. Baldwin so much, I figured you were into him.”
“I have a feeling he’s into someone else.” Raven smiles into her glass as she takes her next drink.
“Hello there.” I spin in my seat as Dr. Lanson sits next to me.
“Dr. Lanson.” I glance up and hold his gaze.
“Again, it’s Ian.” He smiles at me, then puts his hand in the air to get the bartender’s attention.
“Luna. My name is Luna.” I poke my index finger into my chest.
He laughs. “Yes, I know your name. Can I buy you a drink?”
I hold up my glass of wine. “I’m fine for now, thanks.”
Dr. Lanson, I mean Ian, turns his bar stool in my direction. His gaze starts at my face but works its way down to my bare legs. I pull at my skirt nervously, wishing it were longer. I look around, planning my exit. Being attacked all of those years ago didn’t make me scared of men, but it did make me more aware of how certain men make me feel. And when Ian focuses attention in my direction, my skin crawls.
“You’re kind of overdressed for George’s, don’t you think?” Ian leans forward and says into my ear.
“My friends and I went dancing first.”
I glance at Raven and Myles who are deep in conversation. They’ve been having a debate since we moved in about what year a general surgical resident should choose a surgery route. Myles has already decided that he wants to go the cardiothoracic route, which is why he can’t wait to spend time with Keegan. Raven thinks residents should explore all options and not hone in on a path until year three at the earliest.
Ian nods. “I see.” His leg rubs up against my bare knee. “Well, you look very nice.”
“Thank you.” I press my lips together.
Ian takes a long sip of his drink but never removes his eyes from me. “I’m hearing great things about you. I told Dr. Parse you could work under me at any time, but I have a sneaking suspicion that you got reassigned purposefully.”
“What are you talking about?” I lean in closer because I’m not sure if I heard him correctly.
“I shouldn’t be telling you this,” Ian says into my ear. “But I heard that Keegan Baldwin asked you to be moved out from underneath me.”
“No.” The word shoots out of me, and I back up, studying Ian. “He wouldn’t do that.”
I look up, and spot Forest, standing next to Keegan, which makes this situation that much worse. I didn’t even see them, but now they’re here, in front of me and towering over Ian and me.
Forest glances at Ian. “Ian.”
“Hello. Forest. Keegan.” Ian shakes both Forest’s and Keegan’s hands.
Ian then looks at me. “I was talking to Luna about all the good things I’m hearing about her.”
“Yes, I’m sure you have heard good things.” Forest is pleasant, but his tone is also clipped.
“Well.” Ian looks at me. “It was good to see you, Luna.”
He gets up from his bar stool, and Forest takes a seat. “You blew off dinner with Keegan and me so you could come and drink at George’s?”
Keegan puts his hand on Forest’s shoulder, but his gaze locks with mine. “Let it go.”
“I did have plans.” I look at Forest, then up at Keegan, who stands, studying me, his hands now tucked in his pockets. “Raven, Myles, and I went dancing. And then we came here.”
“You’re still good for the Fourth of July, right?” Forest asks. “Or are you blowing us off then, too?”
I roll my eyes. “You already asked me that. Yes, I’m good.”
Forest looks at a group of women who walk into the bar. “I have to go say hi to someone. Keegan, will you order me a drink? My regular.”
Keegan nods and takes the seat next to me. I spin my stool so instead of looking out, I now face the bar. I hold my glass up to my mouth and take one, long sip. Feeling Keegan’s gaze the entire time.
“How was dinner with Forest?” I keep my eyes averted elsewhere. “Let me guess. You suggested something to eat, but then he decided on Indian food anyway.”
Keegan barks a laugh, turns his head to the side, and glances at me. “You’re remarkably spot on. I once again wanted to try the new sandwich shop, and yes, we ended up having Indian food.”
The bartender hands Keegan two drinks, and I turn to him. “I don’t know why you don’t stick up for yourself. Now you’re never going to get to try that sandwich shop.”
“Because I don’t care about small things like what food we’re going to order.” Keegan takes a sip but looks at me over his glass. “Forest missed you tonight.”
“Yeah, well.” I shrug. “Do you even want me to go to Montauk anymore? I understand why you wouldn’t.”
“Why would you ask me that?” Keegan puts his glass down and runs his finger around the rim of it. “Of course, I want you there.”
Keegan continues to gaze at me, and I grab my wine glass and empty the rest into my mouth in one long gulp.
I cross my legs. “Because I had a breakdown in your office and then kissed you. I just figured you wouldn’t want to be around me.”
“Luna.” Keegan narrows his eyes. “About that.”
I look to the side, and Raven and Myles are no longer seated there. I finally spot them together by the jukebox, feeding it money. And then I lock eyes with Dr. Ian Lanson, who watches me from across the bar. Ian starts walking toward us before Keegan has a chance to say anything.
“Would you like another glass of wine?” Ian asks when he reaches me. He points to the empty one on the bar. “It looks like you’ve exhausted that one.”
“She’s good,” Keegan says in a very clipped tone before I can answer.
“Keegan, there’s something I’ve been meaning to discuss with you,” Ian says, leaning against the bar. “Will you step outside with me?”
Keegan stands. “Anything you’d like to say to me, you can say here.”
“If you insist.” Ian glances at me, and then back to Keegan. “Why did you ask that Luna be reassigned to another attending?”
“Do you want to have this conversation in front of an intern?” Keegan says. My eyes widen, and Keegan’s face reddens as he balls his fists. “If you want to set up time with me, feel free. I’d be happy to discuss this matter with you.”
“You said I could say anything here.” Ian laughs and waves his hand dismissively. “What I don’t understand is what you think I did wrong, when every time I look in your direction, you’re sniffing Luna out.”
Keegan shoots up from the stool. “This is a very inappropriate conversation to be having here, Dr. Lanson.”
Ian takes a step toward Keegan, and for a moment, I’m worried that he’s going to take a swing at him. I jump up and wrap my hand in Keegan’s. He glances down at where we’re connected, and then I pull him toward the door, and we spill out onto the sidewalk. Forest comes out about five seconds after us.
“What the hell was that all about?” Forest looks at Keegan, then me. “What did he say to you?”
“It’s not important.” Keegan glances at me, his face a deep crimson.
“No.” Forest steps between us. “If someone doesn’t tell me what’s going on, I’m marching in there, and will ask Ian myself.”
“Forest,” I say, gripping his elbow. “No.”
“He said something about Luna,” Keegan says.
Forest jerks his head in my direction. “What did he say about my sister?”
“Please, can we drop this?” I plead.
Keegan looks at me, then Forest. He takes a deep breath. “I saw him cross a line with her at the hospital. I had him reassigned to male residents only.”
“I’ll fucking kill him,” Forest says, charging the door. But Keegan is too strong for him and pulls him back.
“Did you ever pause and think you should have talked to me first?” I say to Keegan. “I don’t need a man to come in and save the day. We women deal with this shit all the time. I could have handled it myself. This is why I didn’t want to end up at the same hospital as either of you.”
“Luna,” Forest says, stepping toward me, but I back away. “Keegan was trying to help.”
“By creating a huge mess,” I say.
“I’m sorry,” Keegan says, folding his arms over his chest. “I should have talked to you first.”
“Do you think?” I rub my eyes. “You act like you’re supportive of women in medicine, but the moment you have an opportunity, you swoop in and try to take over. You’re no better than Ian.”
Keegan and Forest stare at me as if they can’t form the words for what to say next. I shake my head, turn on my heels, and go in the direction of my apartment.