Fighting Lust: A Deadly Sins Novel (3 page)

Cole surprises me by snagging my phone from the locker shelf just before I close the door. He’s lucky I didn’t slam the door on his hand. Would serve him right. “Another sext, I knew it!”

The guys rush over and gather around my phone and Cole to get a look, “Holy shit,” Dylan laughs.

“Yeah, I know right? He doesn’t even know who it is! Hell, this could be a different chick all together. He gets like a zillion of these a day.” Cole shakes his head in amazement.

“Dude. Nice.” That’s Zane’s two cents.

“What the hell is going on in here?” a voice booms from the door drawing all of our attention away from the phone. We look up to see Jax standing there with Tyson at his side. Jax is all seriousness, but Tyson has a goofy grin on his face and is mimicking Jax’s stance behind his back.

“What are you guys looking at?” Tyson asks.

Yanking my phone out of Cole’s hands, I put it back on the top shelf of the locker before closing and locking the door. “Nothing. Just a bunch of guys acting like they saw a pair of tits for the first time.”

Jax’s brows raise, “Do I even want to know?”

Tyson laughs, “I do.”

He gets his wish. I hang back as they walk out to the gym to begin training, Cole filling in Tyson on this morning’s antics. Tyson finds it amusing and treats me like it’s some badge of honor, but the truth is, it’s anything but. It’s sad, and lonely and not at all the life I thought I’d be living right now. I can’t help but wonder what they would think about Ryder ‘Playboy’ King if they only knew.

“Alright, Mr. Grigorio, I understand the doctor was just in to see you and explained that you’re going to need surgery in order to remove the item wedged in your anus.”

He nods and I do my best to remain composed, professional. After all, at this point I’ve seen it all. Truth is, it isn’t that hard not to see the humor because I’m anything but easily amused at this point in my day. I’m now approaching my fourteenth hour of what was supposed to be a twelve-hour shift. Delirium is starting to set in, and I’m ready to get the hell out of here. As shift lead and assistant head nurse in the ED, I see all kinds of random cases. And what I don’t see in person, I hear about through the rest of the staff. It would take something fairly astonishing to impress me. Despite my fatigue, remembering how embarrassed and emotional Mr Grigorio was when he came in; I wanted to see his visit through until he was admitted to his own room even though I could have passed him on to the next shift.

“Okay then,” I glance at the IV fluid drip chamber making sure the sodium chloride is dripping without issue and that the infusion rate is accurate since he isn’t yet been connected to a pump and check the monitor to determine his current respiratory rate, “I just gave you another dose of morphine in your IV for the pain. Remember to lay on your side as much as possible – that will help ease your discomfort as well.”

“Okay,” he scratches out, water leaking from the sides of his eyes.

Patting him on the shoulder trying to offer a little comfort, I add, “Your new nurse will be here shortly, and she’s going to take you to your room and get you settled. In the morning, you’ll be prepped for surgery. Do you have any questions?’

He shakes his head no and gives me a weak smile, “Thank you,” he says, his eyes kind, but heavy and his lined face flushed likely from embarrassment since he’s not feverish. “Alright then, my shift has ended,” I tell him giving him a smile and squeezing his shoulder one last time. “Take care. If you’re still in the hospital when I’m back tomorrow, I’ll look in on you, okay?”

“Thank you,” he whispers as his eyes fall closed.

When I walk out of the room and slide the door closed, several residents are huddled around the door, but they quickly spread out trying to look unassuming in my presence. Looking at them all with a raised brow, I wait for one to be brave enough to speak up. I don’t have to wait long. “Is it true that he has a matchbox car wedged up his ass?” Chris asks.

“I heard it was a hamster, just like that celebrity that one time,” Jessica says.

Another says, “Really? I heard it was a golf ball.”

Rolling my eyes and crossing my arms, I look at the fourth and final person, “And your guess is?”

“Um, I’m going with some type of food. A carrot? Celery stalk? Cucumber?” Aaron suggests.

“You guys are ridiculous,” I respond and start to walk away. Looking back over my shoulder I can’t resist an add, “And wrong.” Like little ants eager to trace a trail of food they’ve all followed me. Sighing heavily I look up to the ceiling as if doing so brings patience and sanity. Yeah. Not so much. Be shift lead and assistant head nurse, they said. It will be great, they said. You’ll make the nursing team stronger. Residents will learn from you, they insisted. And you’ll get an increase in pay. How did I let it sound so appealing, so rewarding? What was wrong with me? Images of how I will retaliate for the advice received from my so-called friends helps me sleep comfortably at night.

Spinning around quickly, they all suddenly stop, watching me warily as I place my hands on my hips and stare them down one by one. They start to shift uncomfortably under my stare and only then do I speak, “Rikki should be here by now to take over. My shift officially ended,” I look at my watch, “an hour and fifty two minutes ago. Go. Ask. Her.” Turning back around, I make my way to the locker room and sit down heavily on the bench as I take a minute to put my head into my hands.

“Are they driving you crazy again?” Noah asks.

His voice startles me. Being so consumed with getting away and relaxing for even one minute, I didn’t even see him when I entered. Lifting my head up, I take in my friend. Blonde hair, deep brown eyes, and a smile that has made many girls salivate; he’s become a good friend. Too bad for those girls he isn’t interested in them - or any girl- at all. Now boys on the other hand, are a different story. “Is that a rhetorical question?”

“Oh, come on. They aren’t that bad,” Noah smiles and sits beside me to rub my back soothingly.

Leaning into him, I sigh with happiness as he rubs at a tight knot. “You’re just trying to make me feel better.”

“Yeah, maybe,” he confesses.

“What are you doing in here anyway? This is the girl’s changing room,” I state as if he doesn’t already know this.

A disgusted look crosses his face; “You know I only go into the boy’s changing room when I have to. It smells awful in there. Like seriously, how hard is it to wash your own underwear and socks?”

Stifling a shudder, I decide to not respond to that. I don’t need an image in my mind to go with the thought. No thank you. “Seriously, I don’t remember being as annoying as these students or residents. They’re all over every single somewhat interesting, or different, case that comes in. Not for learning mind you, but sensationalism and curiosity seeking – it’s like they’re capturing stories for a book called Crazy Tales from the ED. Then, they argue over which one of them will get to assist, as if they even get to decide.” He makes a noise of understanding, but most importantly he keeps rubbing. “If I were a mean person, I’d let them fight it out and then we could all place bets on who’d win.”

“I’d bet on the hot Latino guy,” he teases. “What’s his name again?”

“Marcos.”

“Oooh, yes, Marcos,” he croons.

“Not to burst your bubble, but I don’t think he’s gay. I swear I saw him feel up one of the nurses the other day in the hallway.”

“Maybe not yet, baby doll, but that just means he hasn’t come to his senses.” I giggle and shake my head making him chuckle as well. “And not to burst
your
bubble,” he says, “but we were just as annoying as they all are. Maybe worse. Remember that one time…that male patient was admitted with syphilis, which he had obviously had for a while, and it was the first time we’d seen an STD in a man? We were all clamoring to get a look.”

Stifling a smile at the memory, I nod, “Oh god, I remember that. Didn’t we all get in trouble because we started discussing in front of him what could happen to his junk if it went untreated?”

He laughs, “Yes, we totally freaked him out. And got our asses chewed out.”

I laugh and then concede, “Fine, point taken. I guess we
were
that annoying too.”

“Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t still find them fucking obnoxious,” a voice responds as it joins us, and I turn to look at our friend Natalie standing in the doorway. She looks as exhausted as we do, and I know she’s put in a long shift too. She rolls her eyes as a resident walks behind her and I confess I’m thankful I’m not the only one that finds them annoying. As she moves to her locker I take in her long dark ponytail and tired face. Instead of happiness crinkling her pretty eyes, she’s got dark circles indicating her tiredness. When she sits on the bench beside me, she emits a sigh of relief and satisfaction as she begins taking off her shoes and removes her top revealing the white camisole hiding underneath.

Catching my look she gives me a tired smile, “I know it’s been a long shift, but Noah and I spoke earlier and we’re going to head out and get a drink and unwind a little before we go home.”

“A night cap, huh?” I ask.

“Sure,” she agrees, “You’re going to join us, right?”

I already know the answer, but instead of being direct, I feign interest, “Where are you going?”

“Just across the street to Stitches. We can split a pitcher of beer; maybe play a round of pool, nothing fancy. I know we’re all wiped out.”

“You know, thanks for the invite, but I’m tired and think I may be getting a head cold. I’ve been feeling dizzy and a little off all night. I think I’m just going to head home.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you’re not feeling well?” Noah asks me, concern lining his brow. “Are you okay to drive home? I can take you.”

“No, no,” I insist. “I’ll be fine. Really. I’m looking forward to face planting on my bed. You guys go ahead without me, but I promise to buy the first round next time.”

“I’m holding you to that because I’m pretty sure I’ve heard that before,” Natalie says. “In fact, I think you’ve bailed on us the last few times.”

I cringe, “Sorry.”

“No apology necessary, but also no excuses next time,” she points at me threateningly with her words. “We like your company, you know.”

“Understood,” I nod doing my best to cover up the guilt that’s leaving an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Noah leaves to go change mumbling under his breath about disgusting stinky male nurses, and Natalie and I continue making small talk as we change into our street clothes. Unlike some other hospitals that require uniforms or require staff to provide their own scrubs, we wear scrubs they provide. The only downside is that we aren’t supposed to ever leave the building still dressed in them. So, one must arrive a bit early to get dressed and go through the changing ritual after what is usually a very taxing shift. Natalie normally works the ED, but has been picking up extra shifts on the floors recently. Preparing to leave, she tells me about a patient she’s been assigned to for a week or so in PICU, a little girl that had open-heart surgery. She’s relieved she’s doing well. The little girl has made an impression on all the nurses that care for her.

We all meet in the hallway and walk out to our cars together. We exchange hugs and Natalie and Noah go off to get their drinks, and I jog to my car anxious to get home.

Whipping into my parking space at my apartment complex, I dig my keys out of my purse as I approach the door. My best friend and roommate’s car isn’t in its typical spot, so I realize Gina must be working late at the spa, or that she is possibly out with co-workers. I quickly check my phone and text her a ‘Where are you?’ text to touch base.