Playing Doctor: A Central West End Story (4 page)

“Have a great evening. I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow morning at the gym. That is if your date doesn’t keep you out all night.” The doors closed as Troy waved like they were best friends.

Bess was right. He blew the gauge off the cute meter. She needed to get him out of her head. He would be on the floor with her every day. Despite all the reasons she shouldn’t, Annie looked forward to her run the next morning. She rationalized her sudden happiness with one though
t
looking never hurt anyone.

Searching the lobby, she found Pam on a bench talking with some people from the hospital Annie didn’t know. She crossed the marble floor and thought about what she’d order for dinner. Anything to get the vision of the smiling Troy standing there in the elevator out of her head. And imagining him reaching for her. Just for her.

“So you’ve met the new intern.” Pam’s eyes glistened. Annie figured it was more about the gossip she was trying to get than the below freezing temperatures they were facing as they walked to the restaurant. “And…”

“He’s cute. He lives in my building.” Annie added casually. She knew it. Pam had seen the exchange at the elevator, and had waited to ambush her once they were alone.

“Oh. My. God. The fortune cookie prediction is coming true.” Pam stopped her with a leather-gloved hand on her arm. “I’m so happy for you. Three months hasn’t even gone by and you’re already happy.”

“Seriously, stop with this fortune stuff.” Annie brushed her friend's hand off her arm and kept walking. “So, it’s not a big deal, but we’re sharing the apartment for a while. Until a second unit comes available.”

“Wow.” Pam stopped short in the middle of the sidewalk. “Just wow. Of all the things that you could have said, I never would have guessed you’d agree to live with a guy.”

Annie pulled her friend forward. She never should have told her. “It’s freezing out here. Let’s just get to dinner.”

Pam quick stepped to catch up. “How can you say that? You get an amazing fortune one night. The next thing you know you’re meeting a perfect man who you just happen to share an apartment with? What else do you want from the gods? A horse-drawn carriage?”

“Honestly, I don’t know if I can make it three months. This morning. . .” Annie paused. Pam would tell her she should have stripped off her robe and pushed the guy back in the shower. “Well, let’s just say living together has been interesting and it’s only been a few days.”

“There’s a story there.” Pam weaved through the crowd as they approached the restaurant. She grabbed Annie’s arm and whispered, “Spill.”

“Right now I’d settle for a hot cup of tea and a good meal with a friend. Without any further discussion about Mr. Not-Really-Perfect.” Annie held the door open to the little diner. The restaurant wasn’t fancy, but served good food. Outside her mom’s kitchen, the open-faced turkey sandwich was about as good as Annie could get. 

“Sometimes I wonder about you.” Pam shook her head.

The warmth of the diner surrounded them as soon as they walked through the door. Annie smelled the baked apples and cinnamon before she saw the sign by the door announcing the featured dessert. Apple Crumble. Her stomach growled. As the hostess escorted them to the table, Annie changed the subject. “I need your help. Abbott hates me.”

Pam shrugged off her coat and lifted her glance from the menu. “You just started there today. How can she hate you?”

“Beats me, but she does. Bess, the other girl who started today, said the same thing.” Annie didn’t even look at the menu. She knew exactly what she wanted. Her plans for dinner were as set as her plans for her future. One year to gain experience, then back to school for the next degree. No time for distractions, even those as cute as Troy.

“So what did she say that makes you think she hates you?” Pam closed the menu and gave her order to the waitress who had just brought their drinks.

After ordering her meal, Annie thought about the morning. Reviewing what Abbott had said that seemed off. “She seems to think I’m only there to find a husband.”

Pam snorted, spitting a little hot chocolate out on the table. Wiping her face with her napkin, she laughed. “You? Miss Focus? Where the heck did she get that idea?”

Annie smoothed the paper napkin in front of her. “No clue. But all of a sudden I was an empty-headed Barbie looking for a Doctor Ken to pay for my dream house.”

“Yeah, that’s you. The girl who wouldn’t even go on a date during your last year of college because you were too busy studying. Even when I set you up with that fine looking chemistry student who was on the football team. He was hot. You missed the boat on that one, girl.” 

“I didn’t have time. And I don’t have time now. So how can I convince Abbott I’m there to work?” Annie sipped her tea. “You worked for her. Has she been this way with anyone else?”

Pam’s face clouded. “Once. I saw her go after someone when I first started. The poor girl didn’t last a week. Abbott’s like a bulldog once she’s set her teeth. She doesn’t give up. You need to fix this quick.”

“I know. What did this other girl look like?”

“She was a cutie. Long blonde hair, blue eyes. She kind of looked like you.”

And with that, Annie realized one reason Abbott hated her. She looked like Barbie. Well, this was one Barbie that would prove to Abbott once and for all that she was there to do her job. Annie was determined to prove the woman wrong. She wasn’t looking for a husband. Abbott couldn’t find out that she was living with Troy. Temporary measures or not, that would be the frosting on the going away cake Abbott wouldn’t bake for her.

The waitress slid the turkey sandwich in front of her and a Reuben in front of her friend. The steam from the gravy warmed Annie’s face and she felt content for a second. She’d work through this problem. Just like all the other people who had only seen the outside and discounted her ability. Abbott could be won over too. Looking up at her friend, she asked, “What do you think, red or brown?”

Pam popped a French fry into her mouth. “Red or brown what?”

“Hair. Would I look better as a brunette or a redhead?” Annie dug into her sandwich while a shocked Pam stared at her.

* * *

When Troy walked into the apartment, he was surprised at his visitor. Sara sat on his new sectional, some cooking show playing on the flat screen he’d had installed last week.

“Hey, bro,” she called out not even looking up from whatever she was doing on her laptop.

“Did I miss some appointment?” Troy grabbed a beer out of the fridge. His evening plans of microwaving a frozen dinner and a long, hot shower quickly disappearing. 

She waited for him to come into the living room before she replied. “Nope. I was on this side of town and thought we could grab dinner when you got home.”

“It could have been late.”

“Then I would have left. I just didn’t want you to eat another frozen Mexican meal.” She typed a few keys and shut down her computer. “Don’t look at me that way, I checked out your freezer.”

“I didn’t have much time for shopping.” Troy responded, watching the kid sister who acted more like his mom at times.

“I’ll stop by this weekend and leave you groceries. You’ll be at the hospital I assume?”

“I don’t get a day off until Tuesday next week.” Troy took a pull off the long neck. “You don’t have to mother me, I can survive.”

“I know, but I need a favor.” Sara looked down at her laptop.

“After all you’ve done for me the last month, anything. Except going on a blind date with one of your friends. Sorry, Sara, I have to draw the line somewhere.” Troy watched the television chef chop onions for a quick and easy meal that took longer to make than the show ran.

“I need to use your apartment sometimes.” 

Something in Sara’s voice made him stop watching the TV and turn toward his sister. “Is something wrong? I know you say you don’t have the money to move out yet but maybe this isn’t a great idea. Besides, I’m not sure how my roommate would react to you bringing over a guy.”

“No, God, nothing like that.” Sara stared at her brother. “I need somewhere quiet where I can think. And you know how it is with the folks. It’s a crazy house there. If I’m in the living room, Mom follows me. If I’m in my room, she thinks I’m sick or mad at her.”

“So you need some space, move out.”

“I’m planning on it. I have to save a little more for the down payment and then I’m buying a condo next fall.” Sara sipped on a soda she must have brought with her. There wasn’t any root beer in his refrigerator, not at least that he bought.

Maybe Annie had stocked up while he’d been at work. He so rarely saw her, it was like living alone. The first night he’d been lying in bed thinking about the petite blonde sleeping in the next room. He wondered if she’d ever thought of him.

As he thought about it, he realized he saw her more on the gym’s treadmills than he did in their apartment. The girl loved running. He could watch her for hours. Her face relaxed as she ran, taking her from pretty to gorgeous. He tried not to stare, but sometimes, she just had that look and he wanted to pull her in his arms and kiss her. He tapped his bottle, lost in the thoughts of where a kiss might lead them.

“But that’s not why I need to use your place.”

His sister’s voice broke into his daydream and regretfully, he turned his attention back to the present.

“Okay, then spill. I’m too tired for the guessing game.” Troy took the last two sips of his beer and sat the empty bottle on the coffee table. Leaning back on the couch, he closed his eyes.

“You know that book I’ve been writing.” Sara’s voice seemed tenuous, like she feared his laughter.

“The romance novel where everyone lives happy ever after?” Troy didn’t even open his eyes. Sara had been writing this book for months. He thought it was more a strategy to keep his mother out of her room than a literary bent.

“I got an offer. Now I just have to finish the revision and they are going to publish it. My book.”

Troy sat up, now wide-awake. He hugged her and kissed her on the forehead. “Seriously? That’s amazing. I’m so proud of you.”

Sara giggled but then her eyes dropped. “And they want a proposal for a second book in two months.” Sara’s voice was quiet.

“That’s great. I didn’t know you’d written two books?” Troy wondered if she’d even told their parents yet.

“I haven’t. That’s what scares me. I can’t screw this up now. So I need your place. Just while you’re at the hospital. I’ll pay you.” Sara looked at him, the expression begging him to say yes. But there was something else too; she was frantic about this.

“My casa is your casa. I just better not walk in on some wild frat party you needed to throw for research.” Troy smiled. “An author in the family that is so cool.”

Sara sighed and leaned back into the sofa cradling her soda. “So far, more like a one hit wonder. To be honest, I’m freaked out about the idea of a second book. What if the first book was a fluke? What if I can’t write another story? What if I only had one good idea?”

“I have complete faith in you. Give me ten minutes. I’ll jump into the shower and we can go grab some dinner to celebrate.” Troy hugged his sister. “Now
you’re
going to be the favorite subject at the country club dinners.”

Thirty minutes later, they were on their way to the little Thai restaurant that was quickly becoming his favorite spot on the street filled with eating choices. The food was great and even better, they delivered. Troy had their number on speed dial since they were open late, which worked with his crazy schedule. 

“You’re quiet. Reconsidering your offer about me using the apartment?” Sara’s voice cut through his mental fog.

“No, but I was thinking maybe we should warn Annie about your visits. She’s kind of part of this whole deal too.” Troy dodged a speeding bike flowing down the sidewalk.

“I think she’ll be fine with me hanging out. We had coffee the other day. She’s funny.” Sara glanced at her brother. “You don’t mind, do you?”

Troy wondered how he did feel. “No, I mean, why would I mind? She seems nice enough. What does she say about me?” He regretted the question as soon as he’d asked. Sara wasn’t stupid. She probably knew him better than anyone in the world.

She laughed. “Get over yourself, dude. You aren’t the topic of every conversation I have with available women. Although Annie
is
quite a catch. You could do worse.”

“Told you, I’m not looking.” Then how did he explain away his question. “Just wanted to make sure this situation was working for her too.”

Sara smiled. “Actually she’s thrilled she doesn’t have to buy furniture for a few months. The flat screen was a nice touch by the way.”

“I watch television too.” Troy muttered, not wanting his sister to think that he’d bought the entertainment set up with Annie in mind.

“Name one series that’s on the current season,” Sara challenged him.

He froze. He hadn’t watched television since he’d entered med school. No time. And when it was on, he tuned it out, usually lost in medical journals. Finally a title came to him, one Sara never missed watching. “Grey’s Anatomy.”

“That show ended last year.” She watched his face for his reaction.

He shook his head. “No, it didn’t because you were just talking about the new season and the crazy changes last week.”

She cocked her head and smiled. “Very good. But it still doesn’t mean you’ve ever watched a single episode.”

“Sure I have. I like the new interns. They make me feel competent.” He rubbed his hand over his face.

“Whatever.” Sara reached up and pushed a lock of hair out of his eyes. “You look tired.”

Troy sighed. “I’m beat. I mean I knew the next few years would be challenging. I’m running as fast as I can, but I feel as if I’m only standing still. And you wouldn’t believe the cutthroat competition. One guy sees me as the roadblock on his road to fame and fortune. And he’s not going to let that happen.”

“You always were a bully magnet.” Sara pulled her brother closer, holding on to his arm to avoid falling on the slippery sidewalk. “Do you want me to go talk to the principal?”