But was that a dream or was it real?
"No," I lie. "I just remember the party and . . ." The pain returns. I'm no longer numbed from the agony that had taken place. A scare that would rip open every time I walked down the halls of Harrison Memorial.
"Yeah," he hangs his head as if he understands. And strangely, I feel like he does. "That was unfortunate and most importantly, not your fault."
"Jack, what you did . . ." I swallow hard. "Thank you." He nods.
"A second thank you? I'm flattered." His light-heartedness helps me brush aside the bruising.
"What do I do at work tomorrow?" I blurt out. It was the first thing I thought about.
"You report him."
"I can't do that," I disagree. So everyone in the hospital could know what happened? So perv boy could make my life a living hell or conveniently get me fired?
"Why not?"
"It'll cause too many problems." I turn my head, blushing again. I still feel embarrassed that Jack had to see me at a low. Wide-eyed and screaming with no control of the situation. I should've been smarter. More alert.
"Nah." He stands up, flexing his core. My cheeks go from pink to scarlet. "That bastard deserves to be fired."
"And let's hope he doesn't try to sue you for what you did to his face."
"He'd have to remember me first," he chuckles. "Kat, he was plastered. I doubt he'll even remember what he did. But you should still report him."
"I'll think about it." I only say it to make him happy. "But I gotta go."
"Why?"
My head spins trying to think up an excuse. I couldn't stay. I had to get it together . . . somewhere else. "I have errands to run and . . . I'm supposed to be to my parent's for lunch." That was sort of true. I could call them and arrange it. I hadn't talked to Leah since Jenna's engagement party.
"Of course." He doesn't protest as I grab my things and run for the exit like a crazy person. But then I realize.
"Where's my car?"
* * *
My drive home with Jack was awkward but not as awkward as being back at work after mysteriously disappearing on Saturday. Sadie rushes down the hall. The look on her face tempts me to turn around and run.
"What happened to you?" She grabs the side of my arm so I can't escape.
"I uh . . . had to leave."
"You missed an epic titanic scene. Dr. Saxten totally iceburged." Her red locks fly across her face as she looks around to make sure no one was eavesdropping.
"Sadie, what does that even mean?"
"It means he's splitso." She looks around a second time. "He's gone."
"Gone where?" My heart leaps.
"After you left, he made a fool of himself. And in a drunken rage he totally grabbed Mrs. Nelson's assets! Mrs. Nelson. As in the Nelson pediatric wing?"
"So he's?" I feel like yelling through a megaphone.
"Been forced into a leave of absence until he can see a shrink about it."
"Wow." Suddenly things were looking up, and I didn't have to look into the face of my tormentor today. Maybe never again.
"Yeah wow," Sadie giggles. "Now tell me about you and Jack. Was he the one whose house you were stuck naked in?"
"Sadie," I hush. "Keep your voice down."
"I wouldn't have to ask except you always leave me out of the loop. I feel like a Jonas Brother without skinny jeans."
"Okay," I laugh. "I get the picture and it's freaky."
"See what I mean."
"It wasn't Jack," I admit. "I was at Rex's place." Her eyes open wider.
"You little-"
"Please don't say hussy." I was feeling bad enough that I'd promised myself to Rex. I'd gone further with Jack than I should have. "Jack and I just talked." I'd been lying a lot the past week."
"And . . ." Sadie knew I was holding back. She raises her eyebrows, waiting for the rest.
"I fell asleep in his bed. That's all." I see the wheels turning in her brain. Her face lights up. "That's
"No," I lie. "I just remember the party and . . ." The pain returns. I'm no longer numbed from the agony that had taken place. A scare that would rip open every time I walked down the halls of Harrison Memorial.
"Yeah," he hangs his head as if he understands. And strangely, I feel like he does. "That was unfortunate and most importantly, not your fault."
"Jack, what you did . . ." I swallow hard. "Thank you." He nods.
"A second thank you? I'm flattered." His light-heartedness helps me brush aside the bruising.
"What do I do at work tomorrow?" I blurt out. It was the first thing I thought about.
"You report him."
"I can't do that," I disagree. So everyone in the hospital could know what happened? So perv boy could make my life a living hell or conveniently get me fired?
"Why not?"
"It'll cause too many problems." I turn my head, blushing again. I still feel embarrassed that Jack had to see me at a low. Wide-eyed and screaming with no control of the situation. I should've been smarter. More alert.
"Nah." He stands up, flexing his core. My cheeks go from pink to scarlet. "That bastard deserves to be fired."
"And let's hope he doesn't try to sue you for what you did to his face."
"He'd have to remember me first," he chuckles. "Kat, he was plastered. I doubt he'll even remember what he did. But you should still report him."
"I'll think about it." I only say it to make him happy. "But I gotta go."
"Why?"
My head spins trying to think up an excuse. I couldn't stay. I had to get it together . . . somewhere else. "I have errands to run and . . . I'm supposed to be to my parent's for lunch." That was sort of true. I could call them and arrange it. I hadn't talked to Leah since Jenna's engagement party.
"Of course." He doesn't protest as I grab my things and run for the exit like a crazy person. But then I realize.
"Where's my car?"
* * *
My drive home with Jack was awkward but not as awkward as being back at work after mysteriously disappearing on Saturday. Sadie rushes down the hall. The look on her face tempts me to turn around and run.
"What happened to you?" She grabs the side of my arm so I can't escape.
"I uh . . . had to leave."
"You missed an epic titanic scene. Dr. Saxten totally iceburged." Her red locks fly across her face as she looks around to make sure no one was eavesdropping.
"Sadie, what does that even mean?"
"It means he's splitso." She looks around a second time. "He's gone."
"Gone where?" My heart leaps.
"After you left, he made a fool of himself. And in a drunken rage he totally grabbed Mrs. Nelson's assets! Mrs. Nelson. As in the Nelson pediatric wing?"
"So he's?" I feel like yelling through a megaphone.
"Been forced into a leave of absence until he can see a shrink about it."
"Wow." Suddenly things were looking up, and I didn't have to look into the face of my tormentor today. Maybe never again.
"Yeah wow," Sadie giggles. "Now tell me about you and Jack. Was he the one whose house you were stuck naked in?"
"Sadie," I hush. "Keep your voice down."
"I wouldn't have to ask except you always leave me out of the loop. I feel like a Jonas Brother without skinny jeans."
"Okay," I laugh. "I get the picture and it's freaky."
"See what I mean."
"It wasn't Jack," I admit. "I was at Rex's place." Her eyes open wider.
"You little-"
"Please don't say hussy." I was feeling bad enough that I'd promised myself to Rex. I'd gone further with Jack than I should have. "Jack and I just talked." I'd been lying a lot the past week."
"And . . ." Sadie knew I was holding back. She raises her eyebrows, waiting for the rest.
"I fell asleep in his bed. That's all." I see the wheels turning in her brain. Her face lights up. "That's
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