Crash & Carnage by Emma Slate
Chapter 9
“I’m sorry, folks,”Jerry said. “The water’s out for the next few hours.”
“What happened?” I asked as I strode across the lobby, trying not to drip sweat from my recent morning workout onto the polished floors.
Three other tenants—an older woman wearing pearls at her neck with a miniature poodle under one arm, a guy wearing a suit who looked like he was ready to head off to the office, and a young woman near my age—stood at Jerry’s security desk.
Jerry looked at me. “A pipe burst, so we’ve shut off the water.”
The hair at my temples was damp, and I was sure my face was red. My heart rate hadn’t yet stabilized from my three-mile run. All I wanted was a shower, but when I’d gotten back to my condo and turned on the water, nothing had happened.
“Why didn’t you call everyone in the building to tell us what was going on?” the uppity poodle owner asked.
“Maybe it’s because it’s a weekday and most people are at work,” I stated, instinctively coming to Jerry’s defense.
She looked at me, her gaze raking over me in disdain. “And why aren’t you at work then?”
“I’m a surgeon, and I just worked a forty-eight-hour shift. It’s my weekend.”
“Hmmpf.” She strolled out of the lobby with her nose in the air. Literally.
“I’m supposed to cook dinner for my girlfriend tonight,” the young corporate guy said. “It’s kind of a big deal. Will the water be back on by then?”
“I don’t know for sure,” Jerry said. “But I’m doing everything I can.”
Young corporate guy raked a hand through his hair. “I’m proposing tonight. I’ve had this planned for weeks.”
The young woman next to him piped up. “Hi, sorry to interrupt, but I manage the Bar & Restaurant at The Rex Hotel. Let me see what I can do for you.”
“That would be incredible,” the young suit said.
“Do you have a few minutes before you have to be at work?” she asked with a smile. “Let’s talk about what your plans are, and I’ll see if I can help.”
The two of them wandered toward the exit, chattering to one another.
“Sorry about this, Linden,” Jerry said.
“It’s not your fault,” I said. “I can shower at the hospital.”
I didn’t want to go there on my day off, but I didn’t really have a choice. The idea of sitting in workout clothes for hours hoping the water came back on was not an option.
I went back upstairs to my condo and gathered a change of clothes. I had toiletries in my locker at work, so I didn’t bother packing any of that. As I was locking up, my phone hummed.
I frowned as I saw my father’s name across the screen. I silenced his call. He didn’t leave a voicemail, but a few minutes later, he called again.
He’d been trying to get ahold of me for weeks, but I refused to talk to him.
When he called the third time, I answered it. Before he could utter a greeting, I stated, “I’m blocking your number. Stop calling me.”
I hung up, the bitter taste of anger sharp on my tongue.
* * *
“What are you doing here?” Amanda asked, looking me up and down as I walked across the floor past the nurses’ station.
“Water is shut off in my building,” I replied. “I’m showering here and then heading home.”
“You okay?” she asked.
“Yeah. Why?”
“I don’t know. You look…pinched.”
“Pinched?”
She scrunched up her face. “Annoyed. Like your bowels are blocked.”
I let out a laugh. “My bowels are fine. It’s the water thing. It’s just inconvenient.”
“Ah, yeah.” She held up a plastic container toward me. “Cookie?”
“Thanks.” I filched one and took a bite.
“Mia Weston sent them,” she said. “She paid for overnight shipping and wrote this beautiful handwritten note thanking the nurses for taking care of Boxer.”
I found my first smile in an hour. “Super thoughtful of her. She’s a good egg. I like her.”
“Yes. And she makes wicked good cookies.”
“You deserve all the cookies,” I said to her. “You guys are the heart of the hospital. Not us doctors.”
She raised her brows. “You guys are the ones that perform the surgeries.”
“You’re the ones who care for patients and comfort their loved ones. What you, Amanda, Peyton, Lizzie, and all the other amazing nurses do is special. You’re special people. I just wanted you to know that. I wanted you to know that I love working with you.”
“Linden,” she said quietly.
I waved my hand at her. “Let’s not get emotional. I just—”
My phone pinged, and I riffled through my bag to find it at the bottom. It was an email notification about the following month’s hospital schedule.
I scrolled through it, my annoyance morphing into anger. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“What’s wrong?” Amanda inquired.
“My schedule next month is an absolute nightmare. I have several shifts in a row followed by one day off. Or four days off followed by one shift.”
“That’s obnoxious,” Amanda said.
“Way obnoxious. But that’s the way the cookie crumbles, I guess.” I rubbed my face. I shoved my phone back in my bag. “I better go shower.” I waved and then headed toward the locker room, munching on my cookie as I went.
Dr. Sawyer was waiting in the hallway when I stepped outside the locker room. “Hi,” he greeted. “Amanda said you were here because the water’s out at your condo?”
“Yeah.” I forced a placid expression. “What’s up?”
He fell in step beside me. “I just wanted to discuss your schedule next month. I know it’s chaotic. I’m really sorry about that.”
My gaze narrowed at his tone. Normally he yelled or berated me. And he never apologized.
“Donaldson had a family emergency and has to fly to Kansas tomorrow. Carter has a conference. And Weaver’s private practice is open now, so he’s only in rotation once a month. I did schedule Chambers and Brenner, but you’re a natural in the ER. I’ve watched you. You never lose your cool, and you don’t get flustered.”
“Oh. Thanks,” I said, wishing he hadn’t noticed.
“I just wanted to let you know that I’ll be working alongside you. It wasn’t fair to ask you to work and not work those shifts too.”
Not only was Dr. Sawyer being pleasant, but he was also being complimentary. It felt unnatural since he was usually barking orders and criticizing me for not moving quickly enough.
“Thanks for explaining,” I said hastily. “Have a good rest of your day.”
I booked it to the elevator, wondering why it felt like he lived by the mantra keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.