Chapter 19
Back to Normal
“You are not seriously thinking about going to Peak View, are you?” Hector caught me between patients at the nurses’ station. I blinked at him.
“I’m going to consideralloffers.”
Hector’s eyes narrowed. “I’m sure the offers will start pouring in once we publish the first paper on the trial.” His tone was frigid, but I could tell the smallest of smiles pulled at one corner of his mouth. It was almost as if he didn’t care what hospital I ended up at, so long as it was my choice.
“That would be nice,” I said. “But I’m not going to count my chickens. I’m just focused on my work right now.”
“Very diplomatic of you,” he said.
“That’s me: diplomatic Dr. Ramirez.”
Hector laughed, and I wondered how we could return to our old comfortable banter so quickly.
The rumors that had circulated about us a few years ago were all but snuffed out. Now, I had leverage with the chief for an attending position. And Hector was clearly still happily married, or he wouldn’t be wearing that wedding ring.
So fuck it. I missed my mentor. I missed bouncing ideas off him and brainstorming for future trials. I wasn’t going to keep pushing him away—not while he didn’t want to remain at arm’s length.
Much more quickly than I would have anticipated, everything returned to normal—the normal before we parted ways for the first time.
“This is nice,” Hector said.
“What is?”
“Being able to talk with you. I’ve missed it.”
I nodded. “I’ve missed you too.”
His gaze fixed on mine like he couldn’t believe I had said that.
“Does this mean we can go back to being friends? Work on the paper together?” he asked.
“I’d like that.”
Hector smiled. “I’d also like to catch up. You free for lunch today?”
“Sure. I have a patient at one though, so it’ll have to be the cafeteria.”
“That’s not really what I had in mind, but I’ll take it.”
We walked through the cafeteria line together, and I did my best to ignore the many eyes that followed us.
When Hector found his way to the hot food line, I pulled him away. “What are you doing?”
“Grabbing my lunch. The sign said it was turkey and mashed potatoes.”
“Dr. Medina,” I said, fighting back laughter, “have youevereaten the cafeteria food here?”
He shook his head.
“Trust me; you don’t ever want to go through the hot food line.”
“What do you recommend then?” he asked.
“The cold sandwich station isn’t bad, but if you ask me, there is only one thing here worth having.”