Sweet Nothing Read Online Free PDF Page B

shit shoe.”
    “I don’t want those skinny bitches from radiology stealing my pudding.”
    Andrea from X-ray glanced over her shoulder at us.
    “That’s right,” Deb said with wide eyes. She pointed at her. “I see you staring at my chocolate vanilla Super Snack Pack.”
    Andrea pushed through the door, suddenly in a hurry.
    “Jesus, Deb. You’re going to get written up again.”
    “My shit shoe could end up under your pillow tonight. I have a key to your apartment. Hey,” she said, pointing at my head. “You’ve been doing that a lot today. What’s up with that?”
    I dropped my fingers from my temple. “Just getting a headache. It’s nothing. I’ll take something when I get home. C’mon, we’re clocked out. I already feel bad that you came in on your night off. Let’s get the hell out of here before a code comes in.”
    She followed me out of the women’s locker room and into the hall. I waved to the night shift, pausing when Dr. Rosenberg gestured for me to wait.
    “A … he’s going to ask you to marry him,” Deb whispered as he approached.
    “Shut up,” I said through my teeth.
    “B … he’s going to say that he likes your tits in that scrub top all romantic-like and shit.”
    “I will punch you in the vagina,” I hissed just as the doctor came closer.
    “On your way out, ladies?” Dr. Rosenberg asked.
    “C …” Deb began.
    “See?” Dr. Rosenberg repeated, blinking his fantastically long eyelashes. His eyebrows pulled in, forming twin lines between them.
    “C. diff,” I blurted out. “She was wondering if that last patient has tested positive for C. diff.”
    “Oh. Well, I don’t need the results to know it’s negative. It has that unique smell and—”
    “Weird pillow talk,” Deb muttered.
    “Pardon?” Dr. Rosenberg asked.
    I said the first thing I could think of. “She said we’re going to walk. To her car. She’s giving me a ride home. Did you need something before we leave, Doctor?”
    “Oh, that’s right. You don’t have a vehicle. I hope you have insurance.”
    Deb opened her mouth again, but I elbowed her hard in the ribs.
    She yelped and rubbed her side, frowning at me.
    Dr. Rosenberg watched our exchange with curiosity, but he continued, “My commute took twice as long because of the construction on I-95 North. If you’re going that way, you might want to find an alternate route.”
    Deb chuckled. “You live in Alapocas, right, Doc?”
    He smiled warmly. “I do, Hamata.” He looked down, embarrassed. “I didn’t realize that was common knowledge.”
    “Yeah … we’re RNs,” she said. “We drive up I-76 West to our shithole apartments, but the traffic is clear, so there’s that.”
    “Well,” Dr. Rosenberg said, amused. “Enjoy your night, then. Good night, Avery.”
    I nodded. “Good night, Doctor.” I turned on my heels, stiffening when Deb hooked her arm around mine. “I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you …” I chanted all the way down the hall.
    “He is going to be thinking about you while bathing in his champagne-filled bathtub tonight, so you can’t be too mad at me,” she said, chuckling.
    “No, he’s not. He’s going to be thinking husband things because he’s married, and you’re an asshole for plotting things like that.”
    “I’m not plotting. I’m pulling the strings of your life like a puppeteer because it amuses me.”
    “Your honesty is my favorite thing about you, but it also makes me want to squeeze your throat between my hands until your eyes bulge. Just a little. Not a lot.”
    She tightened her grip on my arm. “Aw. I love our little talks.”
    A blue blur rushed around the corner, nearly knocking me to the floor. Hot liquid instantly soaked my scrubs and splashed up my neck and down my arms. I held my hands out to my side, in shock.
    “Oh, Christ,” Josh said, holding his nearly empty Styrofoam cup of coffee. “I’ll go find some cold water. Did it burn you?”
    “Yes, the boiling-hot