Page 28 of Love Sick

I offer my bland smile. “Hello, Sapphire.”

She’s done something to her face. Darkened her eyelashes or something. It’s…pretty. The harsh fluorescent lighting does nothing to dampen the effect. Those big hazel eyes—more green than brown today—blink three times before she says, “It’sGrace.”

“Right.” I tap my temple as the joyous imp who lives for her consternation dances inside. “I keep forgetting.”

Her eyes narrow. “How’s Rebecca?”

“I’ve been meaning to thank you,” I say, teeth clenched. “She’s great in bed.”

“That’s funny. She didn’t say the same about you.” She hands Alesha the bottle. “Hope chocolate is okay. I have to get back upstairs.”

Alesha waves. “See ya, boo bear.”

I track Grace’s progress as she weaves through tables toward the door, her wavy hair spilling down the length of her back. The teasing whiff of that hair I’d gotten the night I bumped into her drifts through my mind. Effing toxic, she is. Her pheromones have imprinted on my subconscious.

Little does it know that attractive scent belongs to a harpy.

Once the door closes behind her, I face Alesha, who watches me through squinted eyes. A sly grin stretches her full lips. “You didn’t really go out with that girl, did you?”

“No. That woman makes me want to claw my eyes out.”

She grins. “Which one?”

“Take your pick.”

“Poor Juju. He’s so mistreated.” She leans closer. “You know Grace is awesome, right? If you’d stop arguing—”

I jerk a hand up. “I don’t argue.Sheargues.”

“You provoke.”

Right then, my phone buzzes. Grace has sent a picture of a festering abscess, captioned, “Found this. Made me think of you.”

Ha. Clever girl.

Sarabeth meanders toward the deli station. “Was that Grace? What rotation is she on again?”

“ICU,” Alesha says. “They’re keeping her busy.”

“Oh yeah. I heard.” Sarabeth clicks the tongs as she decides on a meat.

Alesha and I exchange glances. She leans closer. “Heard what?”

Sarabeth shrugs. “That people have been hard on her. On account of how she got in and how she sleeps around.”

Alesha’s face hardens. “She doesn’t sleep around.”

“Oh,” Sarabeth says, pausing.

“None of that’s true,” Alesha says. “It’s all lies.”

“That’s unfortunate.” Sarabeth throws some cheese on her sandwich. “But don’t they say there’s a grain of truth in every rumor?”

Woof. The frown on Alesha’s face is legendary. “Well,theyare idiots,” she says.

I take my sandwich and follow Sarabeth to a table. “Is this why the attendings are hard on her?”

“Oh no. I think that’s just because she’s not very good.”

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