We were both exactly where we wanted to be.
CHAPTER 30
AIDEN
I closeddown my computer and headed for the elevator, heart fluttering.
Knight had spent the past two weeks healing. The last of his bruises had faded. The hitch in his movements that betrayed his pain had smoothed out. And this morning, he’d proclaimed himself ready for that date I’d promised him.
He still wouldn’t divulge any details. I normally didn’t like being surprised, but Knight had gone through some heavy shit and found his way out the other side. I couldn’t have said no, even if I wanted to, and I was too curious about what Will Knight planned for a perfect date to do any such thing.
Drs. Rose and Foley were standing in front of the elevator when I arrived.
“Heading out?” Dr. Rose asked.
“Yes.”
“Over to the clinic?”
“Not tonight,” I said. “But I’ll volunteer tomorrow.”
She nodded, watching me with her head tilted. “You’ve really taken to the work over there.”
“Understatement,” Foley muttered.
“Yeah. I’m sorry if you kind of got a bait and switch,” I said. “I told you I wanted to go into surgery, and you expected me to follow through?—”
She laughed. “Don’t be silly, Aiden. The only commitment you gave me was to your research for this year. As long as you see that through, your future is yours to set.”
“Wait,” Foley said. “Did I miss something?”
“Aiden has expressed interest in a residency with Dr. Meadows next year,” Dr. Rose said.
Foley’s eyes widened. “Shit.” He grimaced. “Er, sorry, Dr. Rose. I think maybe I messed up. I was giving Aiden a hard time about his feelings about surgery, and um…” He bit his bottom lip, looking uncharacteristically uncertain. “I was being a jerk. I’m sorry. I’m sure you’d still make a great surgeon.”
“No, you were right,” I said. “Also kind of a jerk, but a smart one.”
Dr. Rose laughed. “He’s usually that.”
I jabbed the button to call the elevator. “The way you felt about the OR is how I felt about working one-on-one with patients. It’s why I couldn’t go this whole year on research alone.”
“If we’d let you assist in the OR—” he started.
“No,” I said. “That part I could do without.”
He nodded. “Okay, then. Good luck over in primary care.”
“Thanks, but I’ll be here doing research for Dr. Rose for the rest of the year. You can’t get rid of me that easy.”
He laughed, and shockingly, Foley looked almost nice. “Well, can’t blame a guy for trying.”
Dr. Rose clucked, admonishing him, but Foley’s tease was practically the nicest thing he’d ever said to me. I’d take it.
The elevator arrived, the doors gliding open, and I stepped inside. “See you guys Monday.”
Knight was waiting when I got home, already showered and dressed in black jeans, a thick belt with a chain, a skin-tight white tank that practically glowed against his skin, and his leather jacket.
My mouth instantly watered, and the night we first met surfaced in my mind.