Page 2 of Love Sick

I had no words.

Of the twenty resident physicians in the program, only six are male. Four of the male attending physicians—our bosses—have also showed for the tradition tonight. I arrived not knowing the women were routinely excluded. Maxwell says they have their own traditions, but I’m doubtful.

I imagine what my sisters would say about this vaguely misogynistic ritual.

It’s disgusting, Julian. How could you participate in such behavior?

I’ll have to explain I was tricked into it when I talk to them later. Hopefully they’ll understand.

Being the brother of four older sisters is as annoying as it is amusing. Their lessons from my childhood have stuck in my brain, shaped me. One of their favorites: men who exclude women from work gatherings are likely chauvinists and probably have small dicks.

They’re often dramatic, but rarely wrong.

About the chauvinist part, at least. As for the other portion of that hypothesis… I try not to think about it.

“It’s not just a rumor,” someone says behind me.

Maxwell and I turn as Dr. Levine and Dr. Kulczycki, two of our attendings, approach from the house with fresh drinks.

“What’s not a rumor?” Maxwell asks.

“About the intern.” Dr. K waves a hand. “You know, the girl.”

Maxwell’s eyes widen. “Oh. That.” He turns toward the fire. “How do you know?”

Dr. Levine, his lean cheeks rosy from either heat or alcohol, gives me a bland smile. Firelight dances in his blue eyes, and his close-cropped gray hair doesn’t hide the sheen of sweat over his balding forehead. “Chen basically confirmed it.”

Dr. Chen, our program director? My curiosity piques, and I glance between Levine and K.

Dr. K snorts, scratching a hand through his dark hair, glasses falling to the end of his sweaty hooked nose. “Chen said he was looking into it. He didn’t confirm anything.”

Levine rolls his eyes. “We all knew it was true two days ago.”

“What’s true?” I ask.

Everyone turns toward us, quieting.

Maxwell swigs his beer. “We heard a few days ago that one of the interns got her spot by sleeping with someone in GME.”

What?

The Graduate Medical Education office serves as the liaison between the medical center and the accreditation council. In essence, they’re our governing board.

A twinge of cold tightens the muscles in my body as the past eight years flash through my mind—every pricey tutoring session and lost night of sleep, every illegal tablet of Adderall I bought off my friends because I didn’t have the time to get formally diagnosed with ADHD, every girlfriend who complained I studied too much and left me for someone else.

I’m not naturally studious. Getting to this point wasn’t easy for me. I mean, it isn’t easy for anyone, but there were bleak days over the past few years when I wasn’t sure I’d make it. When a few missed points on a board exam meant the difference between achieving my dream or walking away with no degree and a mountain of student debt. If some girl got her spot by dishonest means…

I tighten my hand on my sweating beer bottle.

Another of my sisters’ favorite sayings: unethical people are trash.

“I’m still trying to figure out which one it is,” says one of the two male second-years, Liam Heaney.

My fellow intern Kai catches my attention, mouthing,Did you know about this?

I shake my head. Kai Campisi is thin and taller than my six foot one, with sandy hair that’s perfectly slicked to one side. Even the one-million-percent humidity hasn’t managed to dislodge whatever product holds it in place. I met him two hours ago, but I’ve since learned he’s dry, straightforward, and gay. That last I only know because when he shook my hand he said, “You’re cute. Gay or straight?”

“Um. Straight.”

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