Page 45 of Love Sick

“Shut up!” I hiss. “Gross.”

He throws an arm around me. “Let’s get you some Christmas wine. Raven’s covering L&D, but Alesha needs her sidekick.”

He leads me to Alesha, deep in conversation with Lexie and Asher.

“I’m not kidding!” Lexie says while Alesha giggles.

Kai hands me a glass of wine. “What aren’t we kidding about?”

“I got an ER consult today for a vaginal laceration. I asked her what happened. She said she was performing a Wiccan sex ceremony that involved a crystal dildo.”

My mouth drops open. “Did it break?”

Lexie shrugs. “She said she got a little aggressive.”

Grinning, Asher leans toward us. “Pretty sure Practice Bulletin sixty-nine discusses crystal dildo for orgasmic dysfunction in Wiccan populations. Do crystal dildos work? Synopsis: no.”

“Depends what you use them for. Level A recommendation: sex magic.” I shoot a wink at Asher, and he bumps my shoulder with his, laughing. His Christmas sweater saysBrodolf the Red-Nosed Gainzdeer. I point at it. “Where did you even find that?”

“I never reveal secrets, Gracey-kins.” His contagious smile drags me straight into our normal camaraderie. This month with him has been awesome, and I want to make sure he knows it. He may have said some crappy things in June, but he’s more than made up for it.

We’re friends, Asher and I. Good ones.

Our attendings grow rosy-cheeked as the party escalates. Which of them are on call? I hope it isn’t Dr. Levine, who’s slurring his words. He’s drunk enough that he unabashedly bursts into our conversation, proclaims Lexie hasthe best tits in the programand stumbles away.

Kai’s eyes grow wide. “Well,thatwas uncomfortable.”

Lexie grimaces. “It’s not the first time he’s said that to me.”

I’d tell her to file a complaint, but we all know it would go nowhere.

“Do you all remember Cora?” Lexie asks in a hushed voice.

Alesha leans closer. “The third-year who got kicked out last fall?”

I shoot her a look. How on earth does she know this?

She shrugs. “The stories get around, girl.”

“Yeah,” Lexie says. “I heard she was sleeping with Levine, and that’s why she got fired.”

Asher shakes his head. “Nah. I heard she was addicted to coke.”

I roll my eyes. “I heard she was a space alien who came to earth to kill us all. You guys, rumors are so stupid.”

Alesha straightens. “You’re right. Why are all the rumors about women?”

“They’re not,” Lexie says with a small laugh. “I heard one of the second-year peds residents shirked his shift last week to karaoke Disney songs with one of his patients.”

“That’s not even scandalous!” I say. “It’s just precious. Where’s the rumor that he gave his attending a blow job for an extra day of vacation?”

Asher grips my shoulder, giving one reassuring squeeze. I pat his hand in silent thanks. Luckily, the conversation soon turns elsewhere.

I’m three glasses deep, slightly tipsy, and cracking up at Asher’s jokes when a commotion stirs in another room. Alesha and I trade curious glances and head toward a smaller room with a poker table in the middle. People crowd around as Julian and Dr. Chen face off, the only two left at a table set for seven.

I know nothing about poker, but Julian’s pile of chips is far larger than Chen’s. An intensity settles about the room.

“What’s going on?” I whisper to Asher.