Forbidden Doctor - R. S. Elliot Page 0,17

voice had lost its sharp quality, but I was still irritated.

“That’s water under the bridge,” he responded quickly.

My poor, traitorous heart wanted to protest that it couldn’t be water under the bridge, because that would mean that we truly were nothing more than friends. I shook myself out of it. I wasn’t the kind of girl that pined after a man, and especially not one that could ruin my entire career before it even really started.

I remembered my mother, those first few years of my life where it was just the two of us in a tiny apartment. I remembered the feeling of climbing into a bed next to her, the one we had to share in between my days spent with the elderly woman in the apartment above and my mother’s ridiculous shifts that wore her out.

“Then, there’s no reason you might want to be friends with me,” I argued.

“How about I met a girl at a brunch that made me want to learn more?”

He was quick with his response, eyes flashing mischievously. I could be just as quick.

“Then, that would be you granting special favor to your boss’s daughter, which is completely unprofessional.”

“Not if I treat her the same as all the other students during working hours.”

I was out of arguments. It was my day off, and I was supposed to be able to do whatever I wanted. If I wanted to study, that should be my choice.

“I’m going to have to report you to HR if I want you to stop, aren’t I?” I grumbled.

Adrian clearly knew I wasn’t serious, and he nodded, smiling.

“I’ve got to go now, but can you meet me somewhere when my shift ends? I want to show you something.”

“As friends,” I replied deadpan.

“Naturally.”

I sighed but he seemed to take that as a “yes”. He grabbed a piece of paper from my notepad and scribbled something on it before standing.

“I have to go,” he said cheerily. “See you later!”

“I never told you if I’d come!” I called after him, but he was already gone.

I looked down at the paper he’d left me. It had nine digits that I assumed were his phone number and an address with a time. It was a move. It was my choice to text him, it was my choice to show up.

I didn’t have to do either.

Frustrated at the incorrigible man, I couldn’t concentrate, so I packed up my things and left the hospital.

How was I ever going to get anything done with him around?

I stopped by Jasmine’s room on the way out, and my heart sank when I saw her. She had been getting gradually worse, the heart in her chest not responding adequately to the medication she was on. We all knew it was only a matter of time before we were out of options, and she would need a new heart. I just wondered how long she had left before even Adrian wouldn’t operate on her.

“Hey, Jas,” I said, coming into the room.

She flicked her eyes over to me, but it was clear that she wasn’t feeling strong enough to do much else.

“Hi,” she croaked.

Her lips had a permanent tinge of blue, despite the oxygen she was on—her heart just wasn’t managing.

“Are they treating you right on my day off?”

Her lips quirked a dry smile, but she didn’t respond. Her dark eyes looked huge in her face, the most alive part about her. It was hard to stay there, knowing that she was only getting worse.

“I’ve got to go, but I’ll be back tomorrow to see how you’re doing,” I said.

I hoped the new day would bring some change for her.

“Dr. Christophers?” Jasmine called as I tried to leave.

I turned and there was fear in her eyes. She flicked her gaze over to her mother, who I hadn’t noticed was sleeping on the sofa in the corner, cocooned under blankets. The poor woman hardly left Jasmine’s side.

“Yes?” I answered, facing her again.

“Am I going to die?” she asked.

I wasn’t prepared for that. Of course, they teach you how to respond to all sorts of things in medical school, how to act professional but compassionate. I wasn’t prepared for that though, for a young girl facing her own mortality. I braced myself.

“Not if I can help it,” I said quietly. “If I have anything to say, you’re going to be like any other kid, running and living and scraping your knees and driving your mom crazy.”

Jasmine gave me a small smile, but her eyes said she