The Sidewalk Incident

25. The Doctor-Doctor Incident

It's the night before Adina's surgery and I'm struggling with severe mental and physical exhaustion. After going a tad overboard with our sexcapades, James and I have been focused on nothing else but this surgery. Ok, we've fooled around in between intense study sessions, practical prep and lab time. But we've mainly been focused on nothing else but this surgery.

It's also reignited the thing I've been avoiding: The Cleveland Proposal. Dr. Naraghi sneakily added me to a group chat of fetal specialists, sharing the latest scholarly articles and research on fetal surgery. And I feel guilty for enjoying every single one of them. To the point of me startling and turning my phone away when James snuck up on me, and brought snacks while we pulling another all nighter at work in preparation of the big day.

He raises an almost accusatory eyebrow at me and I noticed the shift from LJ and Serena, along with James's resident as I guiltily cleared my throat. "Sorry. Spam. Where were we?"

We decided to select which residents got to scrub in by using one of my infamous tests. It was 100% or observing the surgery from the gallery.

"You good?" James asks as we settle onto the couch of my office. I refuse to sleep in the staff beds... imagine doing a black light sweep of those mattresses?? Urgh!

"Uh huh." I roll onto his chest as he strokes my hair.

"You seem a bit on edge." He points out the obvious.

"No shit, Captain Obvious. Aren't you? I mean it's this. And then Africa with the Brady Bunch. And then the interviews. And let's be honest. What are the odds that we both get the job?"

"That's what was promised so why would they change their minds now?" He argues. "And did you just refer to my family as The Brady Bunch?"

"Mainly referring to Gracie and Sasha. Why the external applicant? Why not just get external interviewers to avoid bias?" I challenge.

"I've thought about it too, Charlotte. Like maybe they've just Miagi'd us to bring out the best in each other."

"Yeah." I tut. I haven't told James about the Cleveland Proposal. Mainly because when I received the offer I thought that if I told him, it would mean ending our initial agreement since there'd be no need to fake date since I wanted something other than the Chief of Surgery post. And then not telling him made me freak out because why wouldn't I want to end fake dating him since that would admit having real feelings for him. But now we're not fake dating anymore, so what's my excuse for not telling him anyway? "My head hurts."

"Let's get some sleep. Tomorrow is a big day."

"What would you do if you don't get the job?" I ask him after a few moments of silence. "Like if, at the last minute, they say that it's an individual thing?"

"I like working with you. And I still feel really challenged. As long as I still have this senior role and my own residents, I'll be happy. And I'd be happy for you too. Bummed. But happy. You're the best doctor I know." He answers this without a second thought or moment to ponder.

"So you don't think it'll change this... us?"

"Well, I technically would be sleeping with my boss." He smirks naughtily. "Or you'd be sleeping with your boss if I got it. But no, I don't think it'll change anything. I'm not Jarryd. I'm not going to feel emasculated because my girlfriend got a promotion over me. I already know what a badass you are. I'd be super proud of you." James rolls on top of me, caging me between his arms. "Besides, I'm sure I could get a power trip from other things..."

"Like what?" I snort. What could possibly be a bigger flex than Chief of Surgery?"

"Fucking my boss... just thinking of that now made me horny as fuck!" He nuzzles my neck.