Page 40 of Deprivation

“Dr. Barnes, were you waiting on a call, or can I get this?” Kat softly cajoles, as if trying to placate a toddler.

Startling her, I snap my hand back to my keyboard like I’ve accidentally grabbed a hot pan from the stove. “No. Sorry. Just force of habit. Forgot where I was,” I respond knowing I sound like I’ve completely lost my faculties.

“ER, this is Kat.”

I listen as I try to refocus on the computer in front of me. She seems completely unaffected by my ridiculousness.

“Oh, Dr. Weston, thank you so much for calling me back. Yes, it’s good to speak with you, too,” a little hint of a laugh escapes her. “It has been a long time.”Hmm, what? Okay, psycho, just focus on your work.“No, I didn’t wait long at all. It can be difficult when you’re here with someone who’s suffering and no one calls you back, but I can always count on you.” I can’t help but notice the sweet grin of familiarity she sends through the phone line as I steal a look from the corner of my eye. Needing to put some distance between myself and this woman, I attempt to finish out my note so I can sign off and return to the office. “This one is pretty straight forward,” she continues. “She’s an otherwise healthy female with an infected gallbladder. She’s in room twenty,” she pauses. “Great, see you soon.”

As the phone is returned to its home, I become acutely aware of the silence. Unable to ignore the obtrusive stillness, I peer over to ensure she isn’t performing a neurological check on me after witnessing my recent odd behavior.Ah, she’s looking down at her phone. Did someone text her? Without warning, a picture of the Dirty Librarian sitting on her bed sporting a lacy black bra and panties, sexting someone with a naughty grin on her face, flickers through my mind’s eye.Okay, I have to get out of here. As I sign off of the computer and begin to ascend to my full height, I watch as she looks up at me with those big brown eyes, her long, dark lashes blinking slowly. I’m again mesmerized by her sultry pink lips. She has little wisps of hair falling from her messy bun. I’m lost, transfixed by this temptress.

“I could give you my number.” I hear the raspy words slip out of my mouth before I can catch them.What the fuck?

“I’m sorry, what?” she asks, looking almost as perplexed as I feel.

Clearing my throat, I try to regain my composure. “I overheard what you said on the phone. The last thing I want is someone waiting on me, if I’m going to get my practice established here.” I attempt to calm my rambling before continuing with this ridiculous ruse. “If you call the service and don’t hear back from me quickly, just text me.” I shrug, trying to look impassive as if I walk around offering this convenience to everyone. “Hell, if it’s something urgent, just skip the service and text or call me directly. I really don’t mind.”

Looking stunned, the brown-eyed beauty stutters a bit, looking down at her phone and then back up at me. “Um, wow. Sure. Thanks Dr. Barnes.” Handing me her phone, I carefully reach for the top, avoiding contact with the live current her delicate fingers appear to possess. I quickly text a message to myself and return it to her.

“Hey, Kat, can you come and see this guy in triage? He’s hurting pretty bad. He was playing football, and thinks he’s dislocated his shoulder,” Holly rattles off quickly as she leans around the corner to the breezeway.

“Yeah, Holl, I’ll be right there. Can you order a shoulder X-ray, get Wyatt to throw in an IV, and then pull some Valium for him? I’ll be there in just a sec.”

“Do you need me to stay?” I ask, cautiously. I don’t want to insult her competence, but I remember how the last shoulder reduction went when she asked for my help. Those types of cases can leave you a little fearful of your capabilities in my experience. “You’ve got this,” I encourage, offering a comforting smile. “I’m just a call away if you need anything.”

“Thanks,” she replies softly. There’s no hint of either a smile or duress.

Man, I’ve probably completely freaked her out with my ludicrous behavior. Without another word, I spin on my heel and walk briskly the opposite direction before I can do or say anything else I’ll regret. It’d be too tempting to use this as an excuse to stay. Shouldersaremy specialty. But I remind myself, she’s taken care of these types of injuries long before I came onto the scene. Miss Kelly is a capable PA, and I don’t want to insinuate I believe anything different. Building a rapport with a new work colleague is important.And that’s all this woman is, a work colleague, “Dr. Barnes.”

* * *

I enter my office and sit down at my desk. I should check on Dad. As I go to reach for my phone, I notice I have a new text. Sitting up straighter in my chair, I eagerly open the message app and am instantly reminded it was the text I sent myself from Kat’s phone so she’d have my number.

4:43 p.m.

Unknown Number

Nick: Call me anytime.

What the hell? That sounded as suggestive as fuck. I couldn’t type something more professional than that?This woman is either going to think I’m a stalker or a man whore, neither of which is going to get her or anyone else in the ER to consider me for consults in the future, only the rumor mill. How did an attempt to offer a professional courtesy turn into something akin to a tinder hookup?That vision of her in her underwear, curled up like a kitten in bed sexting, had nothing to do with it. Right?

* * *

“Hey, Dad. Sorry about the last-minute call. I had the evening free and thought about grabbing some takeout. You got any plans?”

“What a nice surprise. You know you can call anytime. I don’t have any plans at all. Take out sounds much better than what I was considering in the pantry.”

“Chinese okay?” I ask, not really having any particular type of food in mind.

“Chinese sounds great, Nick. Just get the usual. I’ll see you when you get here.”

* * *

An hour later, I sit at the small wooden table across from Dad, surrounded by multiple white cartons of rice, lo mein, beef and broccoli, steamed vegetables, and egg rolls, the aroma causing my stomach to growl, even as I begin to chew. We take turns grabbing small portions of the decadent offerings and chat casually over our meal.

“So how are things at the new hospital?”

“It’s getting there. I’ve met some folks and even met a few colleagues for drinks recently. There’s a guy who works in the ER whose kids play soccer. Bumped into them at a rec game and have been kicking the ball around with them once in a while. Great kids.” I notice Dad’s face appears solemn. “Something wrong?” I ask, hesitantly, wrestling a lo mein noodle into my mouth.

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