“Yes.I’ve paged him.I think it’s time you broadened your experience.”
I know exactly what he means—distance from Brant.
There’s no point arguing.If I push back, it just makes things worse.Because he’ll dig deeper and ask why I care so much.I can’t give him that answer.
“Sure,” I say quietly.“Today’s fine.”
A knock on the door.
“Speak of the devil,” Dad mutters as Mason pokes his head in.
“Morning,” he says, flashing his usual cocky grin.“Congratulations on the new ward, sir.It looks amazing.”
“Thank you.I’m proud of it.”My father nods, already halfway to smug.“Have a seat.I want to brief you on something.”
Mason sits and casually crosses his ankles.“What is it?”
“Dr.Thomas will follow you for the rest of this week.”
Mason turns his attention to me, looking at me like he’s already planning how to make this interesting.“Looking forward to it.”
“I wanted her to see another style,” my dad says.“You and Dr.Harrison differ in a lot of ways.”
Oh, we know.
The words “I don’t want to” rise in my throat, but I swallow them down with effort.I nod once, tightly.“Okay.I’d better let Bra—” I stop.His name catches in my throat.
My dad’s eyebrow twitches.“Dr.Harrison,” he corrects.
I clamp my mouth shut and nod instead.He’s going to be furious, or worse, hurt.Like I’m choosing this.
“—Dr.Harrison know.”
He watches me just a little too long.I turn away before he can ask questions that I can’t lie well enough to answer.
Mason shifts, glancing between us.“Are you ready to cause some chaos?”
My lips thin.Chaos is the last thing I need.
“Only the healthy kind.”I force a smile.
Dad’s expression hardens, mouth pressing into a tight line.“Not too much chaos.”
Mason gives him an easy grin.“Of course not, sir.”
I laugh under my breath.This part’s easy.
It’s my dad second-guessing Brant for chief that might break me.
We head out to the main nurses’ station, and Mason’s practically glowing.His enthusiasm is relentless, but it’s what I need right now.
“I’m going to make sure you have the most fun you’ve ever had on rounds.”
I let out a genuine laugh.“All right.Show me what you’ve got, Dr.Gould.”
This is good.I need someone who doesn’t make my pulse race.Someone I don’t want to kiss.Someone safe.
He starts walking, and I fall into step beside him.“So, what’s the plan?”
