Page 73 of Love Sick

Um. What just happened?

A silence passes while he takes a huge gulp of Unicorn Blood, then thumps it on the counter.

Alesha moves to Kai’s side and touches his shoulder. “You okay there, friend?”

“No, I’m not fucking okay. I have officially reached my Angry Era. I got bitched out by Dr. Ryan today formismanaginga bleeding patient that I’d already run by Chen, who agreed with my plan. I then spent three hours pushing with a patient only to have the delivery taken by a fucking fourth year. Then I had to sit in on a transfusion committee meeting where they harangued me about how many blood products we use on L&D. LET THEM BLEED OUT. I DON’T FUCKING CARE.”

“Whoa.” Alesha guides him to a stool.

Kai isn’t done. “I finished out my day by telling a med student she needs to get off her phone and at least try to look interested. She assured me she wassointerested, then whipped out her computer and started typing furiously. Pause. More furious typing. Like, bitch, I know you’re just texting on your computer. YOU’RE NOT SNEAKY.”

Alesha hands him his Unicorn Blood and he takes another gulp.

“Uh.” Julian sits straight, lines marring his forehead. “These are kind of strong.”

Alesha shrugs. “He obviously needs it and he isn’t driving.”

Kai groans out a sigh and slumps. “Sorry. Bad day. Steven Langston can go fuck himself with a wire toilet brush.”

“It isn’t his fault.” Alesha hops onto the stool next to him.

Kai’s death glare spears right through her. “I will strangle you with my stethoscope.”

“Oh, stop being dramatic.” She waves her hand. “I thought you were supposed to be the stoic one here.”

Kai takes another huge drink, draining it. He reaches over the bar for the mixer on the counter below and refills his glass. “Don’t worry. I’ll be all bottled up again by tomorrow.”

Raven rises to approach him, throwing her arms around his shoulders. “Second year is really hard. I’m sorry you had a bad day.”

I set my drink on the sideboard to encircle my arms around both Raven and Kai. Alesha is next, followed by Julian. The five of us embrace each other in silence for several moments.

Raven clears her throat. “I have some good news. Isaac and I are expecting our second next spring.”

Alesha whoops and I jump, breaking the hug. We shift toward Raven, all of us converging on her. She giggles at the hugs and congratulations.

When we separate once more, we all shift seats. Kai offers his to Raven, who takes it. Alesha and Kai steal the couch, leaving Julian and me the two remaining bar stools.

Alesha launches into a summary of her own day, but unlike Kai, she’s elated. “The patient was fine, but the baby daddy, you guys. Oh my god. He was wearing two different shoes and had to leave when the patient was five centimeters because his brother—and I quote—accidentally shot his dick off. Then when he came back he forgot the patient’s name because he has two women pregnant right now, and forgot which one was in labor.”

“You’re kidding.” Julian stretches an arm across the bar and rests it behind me.

Alesha laughs so hard tears sparkle in her eyes. “I wish I was. When she finally started pushing, she screamed,where is that fucker?And it turns out he was out in the parking lot, smoking weed.” Alesha wipes her eyes. “He missed the delivery.”

Raven gives us the puppy-dog eyes again. “Aw! That poor woman.”

Kai snorts. “I think the pregnancy is making you emotional.”

“Um,” she says with crossed arms. “Who was the one screaming about a mildly worded email earlier?”

Laughing, Kai tips his glass toward her. “Touché.”

Julian retrieves my drink from the sideboard and hands it to me. “Just try it.” He resumes his position. Behind me, his fingers tug on the ends of my hair.

Without breaking eye contact, I raise the glass to my lips, taking the tiniest sip. Lime, tequila and something sweetly floral dance along my tongue, chased by the tangy aftertaste of orange.

My eyes widen. “Holy fuck.”

His fingers twist through strands of my hair, and he gasps. “She said the f-word again.”

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