Page 7 of Stone
Donna pouts, “Come on, Rose. We’ve been working here for a year and need to celebrate. I heard through the grapevine that you’ve been offered a position for that cardio course in New York and you didn’t tell me!”
I wince. Crap. I had been offered a place at the specialist Cardiology department for children, which would provide me with the experience I need to complete my Master of Science degree in nursing before applying for my national certification and then becoming a pediatric cardiology nurse.
It’s a year-long course under amazing doctors, but like I said, I’m content here, and I don’t know if I can leave my family, my little sister.
“Please, Rose,” Donna begs, linking her fingers while holding them up, pouting, then adds, “You need to get laid as well.”
I wince again, and so does she, remembering my first and only one-night stand to get rid of my virginity before the Kappa boys could make a bet on who would take it in college, and yes, I said take.
Some of the boys raped the women.
Chase Curtis, senior, while I was a junior, and he was horrible, and I mean absolutely terrible. He had no idea what he was doing, and he was sloppy.
Honestly, he kind of put me off sex. I didn’t even get an ounce of pleasure, only pain, to the point I had to take painkillers for three days straight. I haven’t slept with anyone again or even had a boyfriend. He completely put me off.
When I was twelve, I said boys are nothing but trouble, and I was right.
“Please, Rose,” Donna tries again just as we hear, “Donna, shouldn’t you be in the ER?”
I look around her to see Dr. Conners walking over to us as he removes his leather vest, sorry, I mean cut as he calls it.
When I said vest last year, the death glare he gave me nearly made me shit my pants.
“You back on nights, Dr. Conners?” I ask with a frown because I’m pretty sure he was on nights two weeks ago, and normally, head doctors like him only work nights one week a month.
He sighs, running a tattooed hand through his black hair as his dark chocolate eyes lock with mine and he admits, “Dr. Adams called in sick again.”
I snort, “How convenient that he’s done that twice in four weeks when he’s supposed to be on nights.”
Dr. Conners nods and agrees, “Convenient indeed,” before looking at Donna and gives her a raised brow and she sighs, “I’ve finished everything and clocked out Dr. Conners, I was just trying to convince my friend here,” she points her thumb at me, “to come to your dance club tonight but she’s refusing. She actually pulled a sour face at the suggestion.”
That little…
He looks back at me and crosses his arms over his chest as he scowls and asks, “Something wrong with my club?”
Damn Donna!
I narrow my eyes as I point at him and remind him, “You promised not to give me that look again after I nearly shat myself last year for calling your cut a vest!”
He grins, his face instantly softening before he smirks when Donna admits, “She doesn’t party, meaning she doesn’t get laid and hasn’t done so since her one and only one-night stand in college that went wrong.”
I slowly close my eyes, knowing my cheeks are heating, as a doctor I look up to tries to hold in his laughter.
Dammit Donna! It’s like she forgets I have to still work here after she opens her mouth.
Why do I keep her around?
A throat clears and I open my eyes and lock them with Dr. Conners, his showing a glint, one I can’t decipher before he says, “You should go. It’s heavily protected and I’ll ensure the bouncers are aware you’re under club protection,” he gives me a soft smile, “Go and have some fun, Rose, you work your ass off but you need to let off steam.”
I look back at Donna, who's giving me puppy dog eyes and I drop my head back and groan, “Fine, I just have one more patient left,” knowing I won’t get out of it, especially considering she’s roped in Dr. Conners.
She cheers, and I look just in time to see her high-five Dr. Conners. I roll my eyes and walk away to my next patient before I leave off, and they both laugh at my lack of fight, a fight they knew I wouldn’t win any way.
Kids, the pair of them!
I chew my bottom lip two hours later as I look myself over in the mirror, the little blue dress that leaves little to the imagination hugging my figure, the sides cut out showing my ribs.
“This is a bad idea,” I mumble, feeling really out of my comfort zone as Donna gently straightens my curly hair, and she shushes me as she taps my butt.
