Page 20 of Fall of Us
My eyes widened as I stared at her for a second. I realized I was being rude and spun to the computer to look up patient information to find a prescription for this lady. I cleared my throat and waited for her. “So, let’s get that going for your... Fluffy. Can I have your last name, please?”
She rolled her eyes. “What do you mean? It should be back there on your rack. Just go and grab it.”
My pulse picked up. If this woman picked up meds for her pet regularly, she would know that’s not how any of this worked.
I did my best to remain professional. “Ma’am, I understand, but the prescriptions are filed alphabetically by last name. We have a lot of Fluffy’s in our system, and I need to know which one is yours.”
She scoffed. “Carmichael. Good lord. Is everyone here incompetent?”
I swallowed thickly. The need to snap at her was on the tip of my tongue, but I needed this job too damn badly. I typed in her name and the pet’s name. The system had the dog registered, but the prescription was out of refills. With the way she was now glaring at me and tapping her red nails on the counter, telling her that news wasn’t going to be pleasant.
“Pardon me for a moment.” I stepped away from the computer and went back to the pharmacist, who was finishing packing another order.
“Todd, I need help with this one.”
Todd set the bag on the counter a little harder than was necessary and looked between me and the lady at the front. “What seems to be the matter, Andrew?”
Sweat rolled down my back. Out of all the pharmacists, Todd didn’t seem to like anyone, but he especially didn’t seem to like me.
“She’s here to pick up meds for her dog. She’s already agitated, and the system says she’s out of refills.”
“What’s taking so long?” The woman called from the front, causing both Todd and me to look in her direction.
“Well, go tell her she needs to contact her vet.”
My throat was so damn dry. This was the worst part of the job. My pulse skyrocketed as I started back toward the front counter. There was no way in hell this woman wasn’t about to yell at me.
“Miss... Carmichael...” My voice cut off as my anxiety spiked. I didn’t want to do this anymore. “It appears Fluffy needs a new prescription.”
“Ugh! Incompetence! I’m telling you. Is there someone else I can talk to? You clearly don’t know what the hell you’re doing. Isn’t withholding medications against some sort of law?”
My eyes burned. Patients’ anger didn’t affect me emotionally, but I was tired. Todd could have stood up for me this time. No, he had to be the asshole that wanted to see me squirm. Maybe I wasn’t cut out for this. Maybe I just needed to reconsider what to do with my life.
“Actually, ma’am, if we believe ill intent, we’re within our legal right to withhold anything we see fit.”
I instantly deflated when another co-worker stepped in to correct the woman. Although I was grateful for them, I felt embarrassed by my inability to defend myself. I talked a big game, but how could I stand up for Brandon if this woman had me trembling over a damn medication for her dog?
It appeared she wasn’t done with her show. She threw her arms up in the air. “This is insanity at its finest. I just wanted to pick up medication for my dog, and you idiots won’t let me do it.”
“Ma’am, there’s no reason to talk to us that way. We’re only trying to help.”
I tuned out my coworker as I peeled off my smock and exited the pharmacy. Positioning myself to the side, I attempted to catch my breath. I didn’t understand how people could be so entitled.
After a few moments, the same co-worker who’d rescued me came out and sat beside me on the bench near the front entrance to the store. Her name was Rebecca, and she didn’t work with me often, but she seemed friendly.
“What a bitch, am I right?”
I let out a laugh as I ran a hand through my hair. “She’s hardly the first person to act like that. I don’t know why it bothered me so much today.”
Rebecca smiled before wrapping an arm around my shoulders and giving me a loose hug. “Because it’s all exhausting. It takes a toll onyou after a while. Oh, shit. I should have asked if it was okay to touch you.”
I laughed harder and returned her embrace. “You’re fine. I needed it.”
She let go of me before standing up and handing me back my smock. “Todd is an ass as well. Stick with me. I’ve got your back.”
Icollapsed on my bed the second I was home. My phone went off in my pocket and I let out a small groan before fishing it from my pocket.
My irritation quickly vanished when I saw the incoming message was from Brandon.
