The hospital corridors buzzed with their usual energy—nurses wheeling carts, residents rushing to rounds, and the faint hum of overhead announcements.
Emily walked briskly toward the ward assigned for today’s shadowing rotation, clutching a clipboard and pretending her heart wasn’t racing at the thought of spending the day working alongside Liam again.
Their tenuous truce from yesterday still felt fragile, like a thin thread that could snap at the slightest provocation.
When she reached the designated ward, she found Liam already there, leaning casually against the counter and chatting with one of the residents.
He glanced up as she approached, his gaze steady but unreadable.
“Morning, Carter,” he said, his voice neutral.
“Morning,” she replied, keeping her tone just as even.
The resident, a tall woman with sharp eyes and an easy smile gestured toward a stack of patient charts. “You two are paired together again today. We’ll be doing rounds and discussing patient care plans, so stay sharp.”
Emily fought the urge to groan.
Of course, they were paired again.
She shot a glance at Liam, who merely smirked. “Let’s get started, shall we?”
---
Their first patient was a middle-aged man recovering from a recent valve replacement.
The room smelled faintly of antiseptic, and the rhythmic beeping of monitors filled the space.
Emily and Liam stood at the foot of the bed as the resident explained the patient’s condition and progress.
“Mr. Turner’s recovery has been steady, but his blood pressure has been fluctuating,” the resident said. “What adjustments to his medication regimen would you suggest?”
Emily was the first to answer. “I’d recommend titrating his beta-blocker dose. It could help stabilize his blood pressure without compromising cardiac output.”
The resident nodded, clearly impressed, but before she could respond, Liam added, “That’s a solid suggestion, but we should also consider adjusting his diuretics. His chart shows slight fluid retention, which could be contributing to the fluctuations.”
Emily bristled, but she couldn’t deny he had a point.
She met his gaze, and for a split second, she thought she saw a flicker of respect there.
“Both valid points,” the resident said. “Good teamwork.”
---
By midday, they’d worked through several more patient cases, and Emily found herself grudgingly impressed by Liam’s clinical instincts. As much as she hated to admit it, he wasn’t just coasting on charm and confidence—he was genuinely good.
Their next patient was a young woman named Marissa, admitted for unexplained episodes of fainting.
Her petite frame seemed even smaller under the weight of her condition, and her eyes darted nervously between Emily and Liam as they introduced themselves.
“Marissa, we’re here to gather some more details about your symptoms,” Emily said, her voice soft and reassuring. “We want to make sure we’re not missing anything important.”
Marissa nodded, her fingers twisting in her blanket. “I’ve been fainting a lot lately. It happens out of nowhere, and sometimes I feel my heart racing beforehand.”
Emily exchanged a glance with Liam. It sounded like a classic case of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), but they needed more data to confirm.
“Have you noticed any patterns? Certain times of day, activities, or stress levels?” Liam asked, his tone unusually gentle.
Marissa hesitated. “Sometimes it happens when I stand up too quickly or after I’ve been stressed. I just… I don’t want to feel like this anymore.”
Emily felt a pang of sympathy.
She leaned in slightly. “We’ll figure this out, Marissa. You’re in good hands.”
After leaving the room, the resident gave them an unexpected directive. “Carter, Grant, I want you two to work on her case together. Review her test results, and by the end of the day, come back to me with a proposed treatment plan.”
Emily froze. The entire day? With Liam?
“Understood,” Liam said smoothly as if this were the easiest thing in the world.
---
Back in the small workspace near the cardiology ward, Emily and Liam spread out Marissa’s test results and began dissecting the case. EKGs, blood panels, and imaging results cluttered the desk as they debated possible diagnoses.
“It’s most likely SVT,” Emily said, pointing to the EKG that showed rapid heart rates during an episode.
“But what about the episodes triggered by standing?” Liam countered, tapping the chart. “We can’t rule out postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). It’s rare, but the symptoms line up.”
Emily folded her arms, her voice rising slightly. “Rare doesn’t mean likely. We should focus on the most probable cause first.”
“And if we’re wrong, she suffers longer,” Liam shot back, his frustration evident.
They glared at each other, the room thick with unspoken tension. Finally, Emily took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. “Fine. We present both possibilities. Happy?”
Liam smirked. “Always.”
---
By late afternoon, they had crafted a detailed report outlining both potential diagnoses and their respective treatment plans.
Despite the bickering, they managed to create something they were both proud of.
As they walked to the resident’s office to present their findings, Emily felt a strange sense of camaraderie with Liam. It wasn’t exactly friendship, but it wasn’t animosity either.
“You’re not so bad at this, Carter,” Liam said suddenly, his tone light but sincere.
Emily glanced at him, startled. “Is that your way of saying you’re impressed?”
“Don’t push it,” he replied with a grin.
She rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips.
---
Later that evening, Emily found herself in the hospital library, poring over textbooks and case studies.
She wasn’t surprised when Liam appeared, a coffee cup in hand.
“Figured you’d still be here,” he said, sliding into the seat across from her.
Emily arched an eyebrow. “Couldn’t resist my company?”
“Something like that,” he said with a chuckle.
They spent the next hour studying in companionable silence, occasionally bouncing ideas off each other.
For the first time since they’d started this program, Emily felt like they were on equal footing—not as rivals, but as two people working toward the same goal.
As the clock struck midnight, Liam stretched and stood. “Don’t stay too late, Carter. You need sleep.”
Emily smirked. “I’ll try to remember that.”
As he walked away, she realized with a start that she didn’t mind his company. Not at all.
YOU ARE READING
Incision of the Heart
RomanceIn the cutthroat world of Harvard premed, two academic rivals are forced to work side by side at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where their fiery rivalry morphs into a dangerous, undeniable passion until doubts threaten to unravel everything they've built...
