The Sidewalk Incident

24. The Submission Encounter

"Could you stop?" I feel the blush creep up my skin and burn my cheeks as James shamelessly stares at me while I hoover down a burger at the restaurant across the hospital. It's a common hot spot for doctors and nurses, especially when the dreaded quiche is on the cafeteria menu.

"Stop what?"

"Undressing me with your eyes." I mumble between chews.

"Oh I'm way past undressing, Charlotte. I'm already picturing you sitting on the annoying face you wanted to slap not too long ago." He smirks. "It's my face... I'm picturing you sitting on my face."

"Got it the first time around— Ah, Lynette!" What impeccable timing by the HR lady. Did she catch that last bit?

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that, Dr. Li." Guess she caught it. James shrugs nonchalantly. "Although... I was hoping to run into the pair of you. And for a change, neither of you are in trouble!"

"Yay!" I occupy myself with this life changing burger.

"What did you need us for?"

"Well, your leave has been approved, provided you pull of this big surgery. Saul signed it himself... said he wants you both well rested before your interviews, which will take place Wednesday, two weeks from now." My heart plummets when she mentions the interviews and I'm pretty sure I didn't apply for leave. "I'll send you the interview process, job spec and who the external panel members are for both of you as well as the external applicant."

"I beg your pardon, what??" I scoff.

"It's uh... just company policy, we've got to interview at least one external applicant to avoid any assumption of bias. I'm sure you understand."

James stiffens up exactly the same way I had but he nods stoically. "Thanks Lynette. So... Meera will cover for us while we're away?"

"Yes." She seems to avoid eye contact before telling us to expect her mail.

"Ok, that wasn't weird. Who do you think the external applicant is? What if the panel likes them more than us. It'll be cheaper to appoint one person than two people."

James nods. "It would be. But I trust Meera. And she'd have let us know if there were any changes to the post."

"Ok." And he looks somewhat suspicious that I dropped it that quickly. "What leave is she talking about?"

"My sister's birthday. Remember it was part of the initial agreement that you'd accompany me?" I nod slowly, having completely forgotten about it. "And since I told her you thought she was twelve and having a My Little Pony party... she's now having a My Little Pony party."

"My life is complete. I'm Sasha Lang's muse!" I gush. "So why did we have to take leave?"

"Well... it was meant to be a surprise. We're going to Kenya."

"Kenya, Africa??"

"One and the same." He smiles. "Grace will be joining us."

"I'm not entirely hating this. But you could have told me sooner." I say.

"I know. Sasha decided she wanted a whole safari vibe, after Grace told her about Africa. It was meant to just be a trip to London. But she's booked out a lodge in the Serengeti. Just close family and friends." He somewhat stiffens up the way he did while Lynette was here.

"Your mom is coming, too." And he confirms with a nod.

"With her new boyfriend." He adds stiffly.

"Well you and Sasha both have new girlfriends so it's going to be a lot of getting-to-know-each-others-significant-others." I say before I can help it. "I mean... I'm your fake girlfriend but going as your real girlfriend."