Page 38 of From Air

Fitz’s gaze washes across my face before he relinquishes a tiny smile. “Yes.”

“Sorry, I’m late. Thanks for being so understanding. Stupid battery.” I sigh when Dr. Reichart meets me in the hallway while I slide my stethoscope around my neck.

“No problem.” She blows at the steam from her coffee. Already, half her hair has fallen out of her ponytail. “Did you get a new battery?”

“I did.”

“It’s come to my attention that you’re living with Will Landry.”

My brain trips for a few seconds. “Um ... Will? Yes. He’s my roommate. One of three.”

“Are you two dating?” She’s moseying toward her office while she sips her coffee, her thumb sliding down her phone screen.

“No. It’s a house rule. No dating your roommates.”

Technically, it’s “no sexual relationships,” which I think has been fine-tuned by Calvin to mean kissing is apparently okay because it’s not sex?

“Is he dating anyone?”

“Not to my knowledge.”

She smiles when we reach her office, slipping her phone into her coat pocket. “Tell him I said hi.”

“You know Will?” Duh. She brought him up. I shake my head. “I mean, how do you know Will?”

“He popped my cherry, then ripped my heart out, threw it on the ground, and crushed it to smithereens with his mammoth black boot.” She stomps her foot to the floor and twists it like she’s extinguishing a cigarette instead of her proverbial heart.

“Oh. Whoa! I had no idea—”

Dr. Reichart pins a scary smile on her face. “The past is the past. I don’t hold grudges.”

That smile is not a no-grudges-held smile.

“I’ll let him know you said hi.”

“Great. Tell him I’d love to get coffee with him.”

Pressing my lips together, I nod a half-dozen times. As soon as she’s behind her office door, I’ll text Will and tell him to pack a bag and leave Missoulastat.

“Beat Saberduring lunch?” She lifts her sculpted brows in question.

“Sure,” I squeak.

The door clicks, and I turn, smacking into Betty. “Oof! Sorry.”

“Mrs. Edie requested you. I guess you were ‘nicer’ to her last week.” Betty gives me a cheesy grin.

“Did you know Dr. Reichart lost her virginity to Will?” I follow Betty in her new green sneakers to the break room.

“That’s impressive.” She messes with her pink micro bangs.

“That she lost her virginity to Will or that Will took it?”

“Neither. I meant it’s impressive that she remembers who took her virginity.”

“You don’t?”

She peers over her shoulder at me. “Is that even a real question?”

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