already polished off one cupcake and was working on another. Ellery tried not to frown at the sight of Josh’s friend wolfing down the expensive cupcakes she’d bought for her fella.
“I thought you could take a little break. Hey, maybe you can show me your cadaver.” She didn’t want to see a dead, cut-up body. Definitely didn’t want to see that, but she would if it meant he threw her some attention.
“You aren’t allowed in there, babe.” Josh directed her back toward the door. “Here. I’ll walk you to the elevator.”
“Oh, okay. I guess this is goodbye.” Ellery turned and waved to Drew. “Enjoy the treat.”
Drew saluted and, with his mouth still full, mumbled, “I will.”
“Be back in a minute,” Josh said, holding open the door for her.
Drew had already gone back to his notes. Josh shut the door behind them. The hallway was thankfully empty.
“Josh, I’m sorry if I distracted you. I thought you might want to see your girl. I haven’t talked to you in, like, days.” She wasn’t truly sorry, though. Distraction had been her goal. That’s why she’d unbuttoned the top two buttons on her blouse, a Nanette Lepore silk blouse in a gorgeous raspberry that looked terrific next to her peachy skin tone.
“Oh, come on, Elle. I see you every day . . . and I sleep beside you,” he said, walking more quickly toward the bank of elevators than she would have liked.
“Josh,” she said, grabbing his elbow. “Stop for a minute.”
He did. “What?”
“You say you see me, but you don’t. Not really. We spend hardly any time together. Don’t you miss me? Don’t you miss us?” she asked. Her voice sounded pathetic, but she couldn’t seem to help it. He’d ignored her for days, slipping out of bed and taking a shower before her alarm clock even sounded for the first round of “punch the snooze button.” She’d finally rise, only to stumble into the kitchen to find an empty coffeepot and crumbs from his English muffin on the counter. This morning he’d left a note on the fridge, and her heart had leaped in expectation of something sweet, but it had merely been a reminder to get more milk. They were like an old married couple who weren’t even married yet.
Josh pulled her into his arms. In the weave of his lab coat she could smell formaldehyde, his citrusy cologne, and something she couldn’t place, but it didn’t matter because she was in his arms. “Of course I miss you. I totally do, sweetheart, but I told you this year would be grueling. It feels as if there are not enough hours in the day for all the work I have to do.”
“You’re telling me,” she drawled and looked away from him. She didn’t want to be hurt. They’d talked about what med school would be like, but she hadn’t realized that she’d be this damned lonely.
“You know I would rather be home with you, watching Netflix and nibbling on these delicious earlobes.” He playfully nipped the shell of her ear and gave an exaggerated growl.
Ellery closed her eyes and snuggled into him. “I know. It’s terrible, but it will all be worth it in the end. I know it will.”
He gave her a final squeeze and then released her before dropping a kiss on her forehead. “I’ll be home soon. Maybe another hour or two more. Take a bath and open some of that good wine. We’ll toast to being survivors and do more than sleep in that bed, okay?”
“Really?”
He brushed his lips across hers. “Really. We’ve got this, right?”
She nodded. “We do.”
“Good girl. Now scoot. I’ll put my nose to the grindstone and be out of here before ten.” He glanced at the TAG Heuer watch his father had given him for graduation. “Maybe ten thirty.”
Ellery stepped onto the elevator, gave him a winning smile, and then unbuttoned her shirt, exposing her lacy white bra. She ran a hand between her breasts. “I’ll be waiting.”
Josh laughed as the doors closed. “Vixen.”
Ellery’s own laughter echoed in the tinny elevator, small company for a lonely woman with her blouse undone. She made herself presentable just as the doors parted in the lobby. Donning a determined grin, she walked toward the security desk.
“Mission accomplished, Ernie. I fed a few med students and partially seduced my fiancé,” she said, holding out her hand.
Ernie shuffled around to the back side of the desk and pulled her keys from the drawer. “Well, he’s a lucky guy.”
“Only