Page 11 of In Death, Love Survives
“Thank you,” I say as I try to take it.
Ryan pulls it away slightly, keeping it out of my reach.
“Nova, are you actually upset with me?”
I give him a twisted expression.
“Dr. Owens, I am notupsetwith you, but how is it that I’m expected to do my job if I don’t have adequate knowledge of my patients or time to prepare?”
Ryan keeps the file out of reach as he thinks about what I’m really asking. I don’t think he actually processed what I was saying earlier today.
“I won’t let it happen again,” he answers after some time.
I can see the honesty ringing through, so I’ll accept it and move forward. It’s something to keep in mind for the future, but I don’t want to continue discussing this matter. Not when I need to focus on Mr. Walker coming in shortly.
I know Ryan likes to see us as being closer than we are. I view us as work friends and like we have some distance between us. I need that professional boundary to stay in place.
“Thank you.”
Ryan hands me the folder. Immediately, I start to flip through it.
“Have you seen him yet?” I ask.
“I did. Earlier this afternoon. He’s at dinner in the chow hall and then will be brought over.”
“In the middle of his recreation time.”
Not a great precedent to set.
“He’ll be fine.”
Fine.
No one is fine with having their free time taken away from them.
I let out a low sigh as I try to stay focused on the file and not cause another tiff with Ryan.
“He’ll understand. It’s day one.”
I look up from the file and hold onto it tightly. As I square my shoulders back, my jaw tightens.
“Any personal time like that needs to stay his. Otherwise, he won’t open up to the processes in place here.”
“It’s really going to be fine, Nova. You’ll see once you meet him in person.”
“Ryan, you know I like to follow the rules I have in place. They’re here for a reason.”
“You’re right. It’s your care, so it should be your call.”
I give him a tight smile.
“I promise. Another mark I’ll add to the list to remember.”
He’s trying to be charming, so I smile more warmly to get him to back off. This is why I don’t want to be anything more than work friends.
TWO
Wolfe
