Playing Doctor: A Central West End Story

by Cahoon, Lynn

  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 s
ingle 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?”

  “Dr. Dixon is the chief of residents not the principal. And no, I don’t want you running in to protect me.” Even though he knew she was kidding, her offer warmed him and he felt thankful for the close relationship he’d always had with Sara. At least, after she forgave him for chopping off her long brown hair when she was twelve. “I guess I was just surprised that the games continued at this level. I would have thought once we were out in the real world the players would be too busy to keep up the crap.”

  “You’re in a competitive field. I think you’ll always have those types. Even at the preschool, we have teachers who have to win. Maybe it’s just genetically hardwired into some people.”

  A car horn blared close by and Troy jerked his head toward the street. Two women were slipping between cars to the sidewalk. “Idiots. There’s a cross walk up at the light. Why would they risk traffic like that?”

  “Who?”

  “The two women over there walking toward the apartment building.” Troy pointed towards the pair just as one turned and looked right at him. He called out, “Annie?”

  Annie’s face flushed red as she recognized him. Then she turned and almost sprinted away, dragging her friend behind her.

  She had recognized him. And then ran. What the heck had he done today to make her react that way? He thought over their conversation at the gym. Fun, friendly, and yes, maybe a little flirty. But then when she’d seen him at the hospital, she’d changed. Maybe he’d misread the signals, but he thought she’d been into him at least a little.

  “Annie’s looking good tonight. I’ve never met a girl who can pull off the scrub look as well as she can.” Sara’s voice brought him back to the conversation.

  “Whatever. I can’t be looking. All we need to do is get through these three months and I’ll probably never see her again.” Troy groaned. “Except she works on my floor. She’s one of the new nurses assigned to the team last week.”

  “So? You must work with a lot of cute doctors and nurses. Why is she special?” Sara stopped in front of the restaurant, waiting for his answer.

  “I don’t know. She’s just different.” Troy watched Annie and her friend walk toward the apartment building. Toward their apartment. Where she slept in the next room. Troy looked down at his sister. “What? What’s got you all happy?”

  “I think that’s the first girl whose name you’ve even known in four years.”

  Troy pulled open the door to the restaurant. “Well, don’t start hearing wedding bells. I’ll be lucky if she doesn’t kill me in my sleep.”

  Sara shook her head. “No one hates you that much. You always were prone to exaggeration. Maybe she’s confused.”

  As they waited for a table, Troy wondered if he’d be able to make it the full three months.

  He was going to act like pretty Miss Annie didn’t even exist. At least once they left work and were off the floor. And maybe he’d be able to ignore her at work too. He’d kept women out of his thoughts before—banishing Annie would easy be like all the others.

  Only something told him that ignoring her wouldn’t be as simple as he hoped.

  Chapter Five

  Annie sat on the couch, watching When Harry Met Sally, again. She loved the movie. When she’d surfed the two hundred channels Troy had ordered with their satellite provider, she’d been surprised to see the full selection of movie channels. The guy must love his television, she thought. On the other hand, she only had local free channels for most of the last four years, cable being an expense she couldn’t afford. Not and have buy food.

  The door opened and Troy walked into the apartment. She’d seen him with Sara heading toward restaurant row, as she and Pam headed back to Pam’s parked car. She’d felt like she’d been back in high school, taking the wrong hallway, just so she wouldn’t run into the quarterback. Had he seen her duck and run?

  He put his coat in the closet and headed to the kitchen. He called out, “What are you drinking?”

  “The white zin.” She’d bought the bottle on a whim when she’d grocery shopped last weekend. Not being a huge drinker, when she made the purchase, she’d hoped she remembered right and this was the type she liked. She’d been spot-on.

  He brought the wine bottle to the living room and filled up her glass, sitting his long neck beside the goblet on the coffee table. She leaned forward and moved a coaster under the beer, noticing his mouth curve at the action.

  He nodded, “I get the point, I’ll be right back.”

  When he slipped back into the room, he sat on the couch facing her. His dark hair needed a trim. Her fingers itched to unbutton that white shirt he wore so casually over his blue jeans. Instead, she grabbed the wine glass and took a long sip. Feeling the catch in her stomach, she took a second one to keep her mind off the image of him naked in the bathroom. She focused on the movie, then finally sighed and leaned back. “Can I help you with something?”

  He smiled and her heart leapt. Geez, get a grip. What was she hoping he’d say? Come over here and show me what you want to do to me? Before he spoke, he took a sip of his beer. Were those nerves she saw?

  Grabbing the remote, he turned down the volume. “Look, we need to talk. I kind of got blindsided today by my sister and I said yes when really, I should have asked your opinion first.”

  Disappointment filled her at his choice of topic but she pasted on a smile. She chided herself for letting her imagination take over. “So she told you about the book deal. Isn’t that amazing? I didn’t realize your sister was a celebrity.”

  “I don’t think celebrity is the right word. Pain in the butt is more like it.” Troy laughed. “Anyway, apparently this deal requires her to write a second book and she’s pretty freaked about getting it done on time. I told her she can use the apartment as her writing cave, but if you have a problem with her being here, I can tell her no.”

  Annie took another sip of the wine. He cared about his sister. Family seemed to be important to the man. A good trait, her mother would say. Stop it, she admonished herself. She realized he was watching her. Waiting for an answer. “I don’t care. I’m usually only here in the evenings anyway. Besides, I like your sister.”

  “But not me,” he countered.

  She opened her mouth to protest, but he held up his hand.

  “Kidding.” He cocked his head, watching her, a slow smile crossing his face.

  Annie felt a flush of heat course through her body. Damn, the man could do things to her with just a look. Stupid. Two months, three weeks, and he’d be in his own apartment. She stroked the couch, his couch. “Look, I don’t not like you. I just don’t know you.”

  “You’ve seen more of me than most people in the last four years,” he nodded his head in the direction of the bathroom.

  Annie held her hands up in mock surrender. “I think I’ve apologized for that. I promise I’ll knock next time.”

  “Who said I wanted you to knock?” He stood and disappeared into the kitchen, returning with the wine bottle and another beer. This time when he filled up her glass, he left the bottle on the coffee table.

  “Thanks.” Annie sipped her wine. “Look, I’m kind of in a jam here. I’ll admit there’s an attraction between us. And our situation is, for want of a better word, unusual, but I can’t go there.”


  Troy raised his eyebrows. “Who says I can? Or that I want to? Look, I know we’ve had a couple run ins, but I swear, I’ll be good. I’ll even lock the bathroom when I’m taking a shower.”

  Annie shook her head. Still caught up in her thoughts she overlooked his questions. “My boss, Nurse Abbott, is a stickler for protecting the interns and she sees me as a bird of prey instead of just wanting to do a good job.” The words rushed out of her like a held breath.

  He nodded. “The woman’s a witch. I mean, she’s so into her rules, she doesn’t get that we have brains in our heads. I guess I should be thankful she’s protecting us from the wanton women out there.”

  Annie threw an accent pillow at him. “You’ll do great as a doctor. You already have the arrogance part down pat.”

  Troy scoffed. “You don’t know me at all. I’m not looking for a relationship. Not right now. Friendship? Yeah, maybe. Unless you don’t think we could be friends?” He sighed. “Having my sister as my best friend makes me look more like a loser than I really am.”

  “Give me a break. You have to have other friends.” Annie took another sip of her wine.

  “Let’s say I have acquaintances and leave it at that. During school, everyone was so competitive, and, unfortunately, it seems the intern pool is the same way. Hard to trust someone if you know they’re looking to stab you in the back so they can use your body as a stepping stone.”

  For once, Troy didn’t look as confident or arrogant as she’d thought. He looked scared and a little lonely, just like she felt. She let the impulse take her and she stuck out her hand. He stared at it like he’d never seen a hand before then he met her gaze. She nodded and jiggled her hand. Finally he took it and she shook his hand.

  “Hi, my name is Annie Baxter.”