Page 39 of Doctor's Bossy Match
“Wait, what happened?”Somer asks.
I forgot they don’t know the whole story.“Just a little girl who was sick,” I say, keeping it vague.“I thought it was one thing, and Brant thought it was another.We disagreed.I pushed back.”
Milton smirks.
Brant smirks too, and I hate how casual he is, because it makes him impossible to dislike.The table joins in with light laughter.
Scarlet leans over and ruffles Dusty’s hair.“We got to see her at work, didn’t we?”
Dusty bats her hand away, but his grin is wide.“She had the pajamas on.”
I laugh, leaning toward Dusty.“That’s our uniform.Brant just doesn’t like to wear it.”
“Why not?”Scarlet asks.“They look comfy.”
It pulls my attention back to him.
Brant shrugs.“It just doesn’t feel right for me.I prefer suits.”
“And why is that?”I ask, turning to face him.
He lifts his glass and takes a sip.“I don’t know.I guess I feel like I’m one of the staff if I wear them.”
Scarlet lifts an eyebrow.“And you’re above the staff, are you?”
He shifts in his chair, uncomfortable now.“That’s not what I meant.I just… I’m in the running for chief.They make the hard decisions.They set the tone.If I’m in that chair, I can make sure everyone’s always paying attention.They’re not friends with the staff; they’re the boss.The suits help draw that line.”
Like that explains everything, he shrugs and cuts his food.
Brant deserves to be chief; he’s amazing at his job.And I have to agree with his thoughts on the dangers of being friends with the staff.It helps put me at ease, knowing he absolutely won’t be interested in me now.
I finally dig into my smoked brisket before it goes cold, eating while the conversation shifts to Milton’s job.He still works as a veterinarian.He says he’s stepping back, but Somer laughs.“He’s been saying that for years.”
“I’m busy too,” she adds with a smirk.“It works.We’re both busy, but we find time to spend together.Golf, or whatever.”
Greer chimes in about his job next, and the table eases into a rhythm of stories and laughs.It’s nice, this… Everyone sharing.
Dusty opens up about school and how he’s doing youth track and flag football.
And for a second, I forget about the tension in my chest.I forget that Brant’s knee is back to touching mine, and this time, I didn’t move to separate us.
“Can we play again?Please?”Dusty bounces on his feet, tapping Brant’s arm.
I don’t want him to move.I’m enjoying the connection for a moment.
“Give me five minutes.I’m too full to move right now,” he says, rubbing his stomach.
“Dusty, let him breathe.”Scarlet laughs.“Go practice those kicks we talked about.”
“Okay.Five minutes, but watch.”He sprints off, already kicking the ball across the yard, and scores.
We all watch for a moment, smiling.
I turn to Somer and Milton.“Have you seen the ward expansion yet?”
They nod enthusiastically.“It’s amazing,” Milton says.
“It’s coming along so nicely,” Somer adds.“I can’t believe how much it’s changed.I really hope you get Chief, Brant.”
