Page 105 of Family Bonds- Gabriela & Luca

“We have a lot of other patients who need us just as much,” he said. He reached for the cookie.

“What junk food are you eating?” she asked.

“A stale cookie now,” he said around a mouthful. “I missed the cafeteria before it closed.”

“I hate that too,” she said, laughing. “Doctors are the worst at taking care of themselves.”

He smiled despite himself. “Occupational hazard.”

“Next time I’m sending you with a care package,” she warned. “Actual food. Possibly labeled. Or, I can just leave you something from my last night as a surprise.”

“I’ll look forward to it. Just make sure that it’s nothing too obvious. You know, people still haven’t caught on here about us.”

Which shocked him more than anything.

It’d been almost two months that they’d been sleeping together.

So relationship in his mind.

If he counted his first day of work when they were “flirting” and getting to know each other.

That was three months ago.

“I think there is some speculation now.”

“Really?” he asked. “And when were you going to fill me in on that?”

“When we had the next five days off together.”

He laughed. “Okay. I can wait until then. As long as I don’t get blindsided here at work.”

“If someone asks, just tell them yes,” she said cheerfully. “If you’re okay with it. I’m not sure anyone will ask you directly like they would me.”

He didn’t think so either.

Many were still feeling him out some.

He leaned back in his chair again, it squeaking under his weight, the edge of the day finally dulling. “Are you all rested now thatyourrotation’s over?”

“Rested-ish,” she said. “I slept like a normal person last night. No alarms. No panic dreams about missing labs, calls, or appointments. I just love that feeling. I rolled over at almost eleven and didn’t care I missed the gym because my workout buddy wasn’t around anyway.”

“That sounds like a great night,” he teased.

“It was glorious. I didn’t even feel guilty.”

“Nowthat’sgrowth.”

She laughed softly. “What about you? Almost done for the night? Think you’ll get out of there on time?”

“Yep. Less than an hour,” he said. “I’m counting the minutes and the crumbs.” His hand wiped them to the edge of the desk and into the garbage bin next to it.

“Well,” she said, “finish your cookie. You’ve earned it.”

“How about other things I might have earned?”

“Ohhhh,” she said. “Are we going to have phone sex? While you’re at work? That’s scandalous, Dr. Brewer. I might love it too.”

He laughed with her. “I wasn’t going there, but it seems you were.”