Page 160 of Love Sick

“Forever.”

A wicked grin lights up her face.

Fuck, she’s hot.

Blood drains from important areas to shoot downward and I’m suddenly dizzy. “Yeah, you’re not leaving my bedroom today.”

“That’s fair.” She nips my jaw. “Let me show you how much I love you.”

Grace

DECEMBER, YEAR 4

Dr. Chen’s Holiday Extravaganza as a fourth-year resident will be a true party. We have nowhere to be. No pagers. The lower levels are on call. None of us work tomorrow.

Needless to say, I’ve got my red dress on tonight.

When I step out of our bedroom, Julian stands from the couch and groans. “The red dress? You’re killin’ me, Rose.”

I smile. “You don’t think I look pretty, Julian?”

His dark eyes flash, and he sweeps a predatory look down my body. “You know where I like that dress best, Grace.”

I grab my coat from the closet. “On the floor by our bed?”

“Mmm-hmm.” He grabs my waist from behind before I can don the coat, then kisses my neck. “Interested?”

“Nope. We’re late.”

He releases me with a sigh. “Andthatis why you’re killing me.”

I turn and tap the tip of his nose with one finger. “I think you’ll survive.”

While he flips the lights, I spritz one more spray of glitter into my hair, and we step outside. The small house we rent isn’t far from Chen’s place, and the drive barely gives us enough time to argue over the playlist, but Julian ultimately relents to my demands.

The party jitters have grabbed hold, and I leap out of the truck as soon as he parks, hurrying toward the house. Four years hasn’t done much to quell the anxiety that tightens my chest before each social gathering. It’s not like these people bite.

Much.

But at least the rumors about me finally died down. The gossip task force Chen created—or Rumor Wranglers as we like to call ourselves—initiated educational exercises for the new resident orientation activities each year. It’s helped to set clear expectations that gossip isn’t acceptable. It encourages open communication between residents and attendings. It’s not perfect, and gossip still exists, but I like to believe we’ve had a positive impact on the culture of this hospital. I will leave this place better than when I found it.

Turns out, I didn’t need Alesha, Julian or even Steven Lang­ston to save me. I just needed to save myself—by becoming the leader of a well-structured and aggressively researched task force, one that warms my overly organized and color-coded heart.

I made those rumors my bitch.

As I reach for Chen’s front door, Julian grips my wrist and spins me into his arms. His lips find mine and he kisses me breathless.

“What was that?” I ask when he releases me.

Tone innocent, Julian lifts a shoulder. “A kiss.” He reaches for the door.

I snort. Boy is up to something…

“They’re here!” Alesha shouts when we enter the packed house. She bulldozes her way through the crowd to hug me.

Her husband isn’t far behind. He shakes Julian’s hand before kissing my cheek. “You look lovely as always, Dr. Rose.”

The guy is nice, I’ll give him that, but we aren’t close.

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