Page 31 of Cherish

ALEX

Jason: Breakfast was sweet, but not as sweet as you.

Me: Don’t you have a lecture to pay attention to?

Jason: Just got out. Starting my rounds. Spend the night tonight. I’m working overnight tomorrow night.

Me: Does that mean I can sleep in?

Jason: Hell no. You’re going to need lots of coffee tomorrow morning.

Me: Bring it, doctor.

I end the text with a string of kiss emojis.

“Stop smiling so much. You look creepy.” I don’t even bother looking at Ananda. I just flip her the bird as I wait for Jason’s reply. I blush when I get a GIF of a man eating an orange in a very seductive way.

“Hold up,” Mellie says. I’ve come to realize she can be just as loud as her brother. “Wasn’t this bitch adamant about not being with Jason? She was lusting for Dr. Dud.”

I ignore her as I put my phone down. It’s been one week of bliss with Jason Dupree. The only nights we haven’t spent together are when he’s working overnight at the hospital, but we’ve shared a quick lunch or kiss every day while under the same roof at work.

“You are so loud, Mellie, and I’m allowed to change my mind.” Just to mess with her, I say, “Don’t make me tell you about how he flipped me over the other night, and—”

“Stop right there! I don’t need to hear that shit.”

Ananda cracks up laughing when Mellie goes running back to her desk, both hands covering her ears.

“What did he do? You know I need to live through you. I’m going through a serious drought.”

I ignore Ananda and go back to work, checking my phone every few minutes, but I don’t get anymore texts from Jason. A few minutes before lunch, I look up to the sound of footsteps approaching my desk.

I look up to find Beth walking toward me with a delivery man. “Here she is,” she says to him.

A big, beautiful arrangement of wildflowers is dropped on my desk. Before I can even tip the delivery man, he nods his head at me and walks out of the small office. This brings all the employees over to my desk, and they all watch me as I read the card.

You were carrying wildflowers the day we met. They are a lot like you. Untamed, uninhibited and wholly beautiful.

“That’s so fucking sweet it’s making my teeth hurt.” I turn to find Ananda smirking behind me. Mellie grabs the card from me, and thankfully, does not read it out loud. I’m relieved when the rest of the office loses interest and walks away from my desk.

“You two are so nosy.” There’s no anger in my voice. In fact, I can’t get the smile off of my face as I lean down and smell my bouquet.

“Whatever. Let’s go to lunch,” Mellie says. The three of us retrieve our lunches from the kitchen and make our way to the cafeteria. The minute we step out of the office, I see him. He’s walking toward us, but he doesn’t have his usual easygoing expression. He looks down at his phone, his brows furrowed before he forcefully shoves it in his pocket.

His irritation changes into a sexy smile the minute he sees me in the hallway. He approaches, places both hands on my hips and kisses me. His hands on my hips are like a brand to my skin, setting it on fire.

“Angel,” he says between kisses. I lift his hands from my hips and intertwine our fingers.

“Aren’t surgeons supposed to have small hands?” I ask as I look at his wide palms.

“I don’t know about that. What I do know is that my Alex loves my big hands on her body.” He lifts his hands and waves them in front of my face. “Small hands wouldn’t be able to handle those incredible tits of yours.”

Ananda snickers and Mellie scoffs.

“Alex, meet us in the cafeteria. You two are so damn inappropriate.” Mellie grabs Ananda’s elbow and they walk away laughing the entire time.

“Just in time for lunch. I have enough for two.” I hit his butt with my lunch case, and he grins down at me.

“I wish but I can’t. I’m on my way to scrub in for a ruptured appendix. I’ll see you at my place tonight.” It’s not a question, and he doesn’t wait for an answer. He raises my hand to his lips before he rushes down the hall.

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