Page 105 of Love Sick

“Psh. Don’t pretend you weren’t sharpening your scalpel.”

Alesha takes a sip and shrugs one shoulder.

“I’m really sorry, you guys.” Raven sniffs, worrying the tissue in her hand.

Of all the unjust things in this situation, Raven’s tears make my blood simmer the hottest. Raven is nothing but kind.

“Oh, Raven.” Grace hugs her tight. “Please don’t cry. It’s fine! It’s just a few weeks of work.”

Raven wipes her face. “But it isn’t fair.”

My phone buzzes.

Maxwell:Sorry, man. No luck.

I sigh. I’d asked him to talk to Levine and Chen. See if he could do anything.

Me:What did they say?

Maxwell:“We back the chief 100%”

Me:Fuckers

Maxwell:You surprised? The path of least resistance bro. That’s their motto.

Kai jumps to his feet, pacing and ranting while steadily draining his glass.

Alesha’s gaze follows his path. She leans toward me. “Should we be worried about him?”

I shake my head. “Let him vent. It makes him feel better.”

The pager on the table explodes in beeps and all five of us flinch. Raven’s on Mommy Call tonight, meaning she takes all the patient calls overnight.

Mommy Call is a special form of torture. I once spent forty minutes on the phone with an eighteen-year-old who decided 3:00 a.m. was the best time to learn about her contraceptive options.

Raven reaches for the pager, but Kai snaps it up. “Nuh-uhh. You ain’t talking to no one with those tears.” He yanks out his phone and dials the number, ranting the whole time. As soon as the patient answers, his voice softens to a professional hum. “Hi. Yes. This is Dr. Campisi. I received a page.”

Alesha giggles silently beside me. “He is one of my favorite humans.”

Grace rocks Raven, who’s now crying into her shoulder.

We drink our Unicorn Blood in silence while Kai drones on.

“Mmm-hmm. Yes. Okay. Great. Thanks. Bye.” Kai hangs up and roars at his phone. “If I get one more call about the goddamn mucus plug, I’m gonna lose my shit. I mean it. I will smear the walls with my shit.”

Alesha snorts. “His anger is like a special form of comedy.”

Kai paces again. “I’m gonna write a book.Mucus Plug Myth: The Kai Campisi Story.Chapter one. Please stop calling.”

Raven gives a watery laugh. “They’re first-time moms. Give them a break.”

Kai sits on the coffee table in front of Raven. “I’ll give them a break when someone gives you a break.”

She bursts into tears again and hugs Kai.

The night proceeds similarly from there. I’m the last to leave, lingering in Grace’s doorway.

Let me stay.

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