“Did they find out if he was single?” Mindy asked, still facing the closed doors. “What am I saying? He’s got to be taken.”
“Probably.” Clarissa was glad she didn’t get more questions about it, lest she spill the tea in her hormone/post-call/‘that boy is mine’ haze. She grabbed her stuff and made her exit. “I’d better go to lecture. See you later.”
Her strong, sensitive boyfriend was loitering by the staff elevators and greeted her with a smile. “Hey there, birthday girl.”
She grinned back. “So, you weren’t the surprise anesthesia consult?”
“No. I did a pediatric fellowship out of necessity. Got the skills, but I do more adults mostly when I’m doing cases these days. Dr. Maug would be a good choice for him.” He named one of the female anesthesiologists that Clarissa had supposed to have been assigned to when she was rotating through anesthesia.
“It was nice of you to come by to wish me happy birthday. I’ll see you tonight when you pick me up.” She went to push the up button but he caught her wrist. “What? Lecture is starting.”
“You’re not going to lecture. I’m kidnapping you,” he told her and pressed the down button.
“Aren’t you working?” She reexamined his clothing, which was his usual administrative uniform.
“I took a personal day,” he said. “We’re going home.”
Her heart jumped at the last sentence. Home wasn’t her rowhouse. Home was him. “Oh. Home. Together.”
“Yes, exactly. You’ll go to sleep, and when you wake up, we’ll have the party with your friends. I’ve got confirmations from Dr. Hernandez and her fiancé, Willow and Drew, and Dr. Molla and her husband.”
That explained part of Willow’s text. “I’m still shocked you’re breaking the rules like this. Sneaking into the NICU and convincing me to skip lecture.”
His brows drew together in annoyance. “I’m not the one breaking the rules. You attended every single anesthesia lecture and essentially created your own continuing medical education sessions at your house for my residents. Yet your program didn’t think it was important to give you appropriate days off call between your NICU and PICU rotations. Don’t think I didn’t notice.”
Of course he was checking her schedule, even if she hadn’t said anything about it. “It’s not an hours violation. They aren’t on the same month.”
“Doesn’t make it right.” He crossed his arms, angry on her behalf.
“It’s okay.” She lay her hand on his wrist and whispered. “This pissed off big daddy energy is hot. I could make time for him before the party.”
“No. You are sleeping. After the party, you can renegotiate.” Roan took her coat and helped her put it on, zipping it up.
She twisted her lips to the side. “You sure? I’ve got to be back tomorrow at five-thirty a.m.”
“Yes, I’m sure. You need all the rest you can get with the infinite number of monitors and lines you’re monitoring.” He pressed the button again. “What’s taking so long?”
“Lunchtime,” she reminded him. “Not everyone has resident lectures. People actually eat at the cafeteria on purpose.”
“Shit. Right.” He paused like he was having an internal debate. “That baby was cute. You were good with him.”
“Cortland is my favorite. It’s frustrating the only thing I’m doing for him is holding him and singing the Wiegenlied.” Her eyes unexpectedly watered. “Shoot. Sorry. It’s not fair.”
“Clarissa. You are helping.” Roan reached up, leaning toward her, and brushed the tears away. Everything in his body language was asking to pull her into his arms. “You’re giving him love. He knows it.”
“Wow,” she echoed Mindy, trembling into his touch on her cheek. There was a better than fifty percent chance she’d melt right here, or start a very MetroGen inappropriate makeout session in the elevator. Had she told herself three months ago that her grumpy anesthesia chief had gone full boyfriend by redecorating his house, planning her birthday party, and saying all these lovely words, she’d have called a psych consult on herself.
But neither a makeout session nor a melting was to be, because the elevator binged, and Roan dropped his hand. Her mouth on his would be very postponed, since the elevator was full, and they had to crowd in to separate sides.
Still, she could feel his gaze on her, checking on her, making certain he knew where she was.
That decided her. Whatever it took, it would be worth it.
She had her own personal psych consult, and she could trust Willow to work her magic.
Clarissa: Roan’s taking me to his place to sleep. Do whatever you need to do. Don’t tell Simone.
Will: No worries. She has an overdeveloped sense of morality and won’t approve.
