Page 55 of Sweet Heart

I slowly turn to gaze at her, already bristling at what is inevitably going to follow.

“Nurse Rodrigues, can’t it wait?”

I emphasize the last word, but Carmen shakes her head intensely, making her curls, tied up in a neat ponytail, bounce from side to side. She glances back at the board, quickly taking in the cases, and then shakes her head again.

“I’m afraid not. Your attention is needed elsewhere. It will be brief.”

Before I can even reply, she grips my elbow tighter and pulls me with her. I am about to object when she enters an empty exam room and closes the door behind us. Her eyes sparkle, and she lets out a high-pitched squeak, nearly bouncing in place, before she grabs both my shoulders and starts shaking me roughly.

“Kitty Cat, oh my God! You and la rubia? Tell me everything. And I mean eve-ry-thing!”

I stare at her until she finally lets go of my shoulders and seems to tone down her enthusiasm. She bites her lip when I raise one eyebrow, and I see her cheeks flame hot. ¡Maldita sea! Why do I have to have a soft spot for her? This time, I do roll my eyes and let out a soft huff, but I can’t keep my lips from ticking up slightly. Carmen’s response is instant. Her eyes go wide again, and she starts to shake all over, trying to rein herself in.

“I knew it. I freaking knew it!”

“Shh, Carmen.” I wince. “Remember where we are.”

“Sí, sí, of course, doctora.”

“Don’t even start.” I bristle.

Her grin is so smug that I start pushing past her to see my patients. I have better things to do with my already precious time. But she doesn’t let me go that easily.

“Que no, Katherina, don’t be like that. Por favor.”

“We aren’t doing this right now,” I say, but her hand lands on my shoulder, and she tilts her head so that she can look me in the eye.

“But we are.” She smirks. “Or I’ll tell Rosa all about it.”

It feels as if all the air in the room has been sucked out, and I blink at her in disbelief.

“You wouldn’t,” I hiss.

But I know better. She absolutely would tell my mother. And then my mother would want to know everything and insist on meeting Mary. ¡Coño! We are not there yet… not even close. Carmen crosses her arms and mimics my eyebrow raise.

“You are the devil.”

“Yep. Now speak.”

“Fine, yes. I was with Mary.” I cave, clenching my hands into fists.

Carmen grins widely.

“So you kissed and made up?”

“Carmen, that is quite enough.”

There is an edge to my voice that is sharp enough to cut glass. She is seriously pushing me, and she knows it. I am not going to betray Mary’s trust by telling my friend about what happened. That is between her and me. Besides, we are in the hospital, and I still have a reputation to uphold.

“Let’s get to work, Nurse Rodrigues,” I say with a bit more bite than I should.

But she just shakes her head. Her eyes twinkle even more, and she flashes a wide, toothy smile under the cold UV lights.

“I am happy for you, Kitty Cat. I really am,” she hums, her voice laced with affection now. “It is about time you got yourself a girlfriend.”

With those words, she disappears through the door, assuming I am hot on her heels. Except I am not. I stand frozen in the doorframe, the words sinking in. You got yourself a girlfriend. Do I?

The morning rush is madness. More than half of the patients who were brought in over the weekend need extensive care and consultations, and only a handful of them are ready for discharge. I shouldn’t be happy about that, especially since we are severely understaffed, but the buzz keeps my mind off those five little words.