Page 56 of Love Sick

More than a year ago, he was offered a position as a faculty attending when he graduates in June. He’s the only one of the five seniors to be offered a position, despite their desperate need for more faculty. That he’s the only male in the class likely had a lot to do with that. Maxwell DeBakey is a great doctor, but he isn’t the best of his class. Sarabeth outshines him on every level, but to hear Dr. Levine talk about it, they never considered any of the women as viable candidates.

I don’t get it.

“Residency wasn’t enough torture for you?” I ask. “You need it to continue into your future, too?”

A laugh rumbles deep in his chest. The firelight flickers over the amber liquid filling the lowball in his hand as he raises it to his lips. “Residents do all the dirty work and I take home the big bucks. Doesn’t sound like torture.”

“You have to fix all their mistakes, though.”

He side-eyes me. “Been fixing all your mistakes for the last eight months. What’s new?”

I tilt my head in concession. Maxwell has been my go-to senior for panicked questions, last second uh-ohs, and shit- my-senior-is-going-to-kill-me-if-I-don’t-fix-this-right-now moments. He’s never complained and his patience never wanes. He’ll be a great attending if he can keep it up.

“Then get ready to fix them for the next three years.” I set down my empty glass. The world tilts to a sharp left. Fuck. I’m drunker than I thought, which means I need to slow down. Drunk Julian gives zero fucks about anything and says whatever he wants. I keep him contained as much as possible.

Maxwell rights me. “If you make it through the next three years.”

I send him a sidelong glance and he holds his hand to his throat, pretending to choke.

“Ha. Ha.” I roll my eyes.

“I’m just saying. There’s more to being an OB-GYN than having decent surgical skills. Got to learn the medicine too, bro.”

I search for Asher through the dark of the backyard, wishing for another toke. “It isn’t easy to remember all that shit. I’ve never been good at studying.”

“Sounds like it’s time to find a tutor.”

Grimacing, I shake my head.

“Four more months of hand-holding and you’re on your own, Julian. You can’t count on someone watching over your notes and orders, making sure you’re not fucking everything up. Once you’re a second-year, people stop looking so closely.”

“I know.”

“OB isn’t a specialty where you can stop and read the algorithms before you act. Emergencies happen fast and you have to have the steps memorized or people die. Babies die.”

“Iknow! Shit. You’re not an attending yet. Stop lecturing me.”

Maxwell lifts one giant shoulder. “Someone’s gotta do it.”

“Yo, Santini!”

I turn as Asher materializes beside me, offering me the vape pen. “Thanks.”

“I gotta know. What’s up with you and Rose?”

I cough on the exhale. “What?”

He cocks an eyebrow. “Come on, man. Driving her around. Going after Halliwell. You guys together?”

I hand him his pen. “Nah. She can’t stand me.”

Beside me, Maxwell snorts. My questioning look receives no answer.

“You sure?” Asher sits back. “’Cause I can’t seem to get any traction with her.”

It hasn’t escaped my notice that Asher’s been gunning for Grace, even if she’s oblivious to it. He either has slow game or no game at all.

Or maybe she’s not interested.

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