He reached out his hand. When she took it, his warmth and strength gave her the boost she needed.
Gen followed him out.
“MACKENZIE! WHY AREN’T YOU on rounds?”
She looked up from shuffling stacks of clipboards and papers threatening to smother her alive. “I was assigned to the desk today. Sheila is overwhelmed so I was told to skip rounds.”
Dale sneered at her, peering over his glasses like she was pond scum. “Maybe if you’d get your head out of your ass you’d know how to handle instructions better. You’re needed on rounds.”
Gen held tight to her temper. “Got it.” As she hurried down the hall, his hateful gaze bored into her back. She used the time to toughen herself back up, swearing she wouldn’t break no matter how bad it got.
And boy, things were bad.
She’d prepared for the worst, but reality hit her harder than expected. Gen had no idea how much David had told the staff, but it was evident she was the new rotavirus. She’d made many casual friends at the hospital during her years, but once her relationship with David went public, most of her so-called friends drifted away. Doctor/student relationships were tacitly frowned upon, but because of David’s status and reputation, they’d been able to slide past most difficulties.
Not now though. No one spoke to her. If they were forced to give instructions, they related them in a cold, bitter tone, as if she’d run out on them instead of David. Whispers and accusations flew about her having an affair. Her charts were misplaced, her schedules consisted of night and double shifts, and when she tried to grab coffee at the cafeteria, she was told they’d have to brew a new pot. Fifteen minutes later, she’d been forced to leave, and had caught the new nurse with a steaming cup right after she left.
“How you holding up?”
Gen didn’t slow her pace but relaxed slightly at the feminine voice beside her. Sally Winters was the only other resident who was still polite to her. She was pretty in a natural sort of way, with honey-colored hair pulled back and sparkly brown eyes filled with mischief. She’d always enjoyed practical jokes, and was the most supportive in her group, helping out with extra shifts or duties with a cheerful disposition.
“Be careful, you may catch the virus.”
She frowned and kept up. “What virus?”
“The one you get when you talk to me.”
Sally laughed. “Give it some time to blow over, hon. David is like a god around here, and people are picking sides.”
Gen hit the elevator button and glanced at her watch. “I think I’m on the losing one. Tell me the truth, Sally. Is the gossip brutal?”
Her expression was all Gen needed. Her heart sank. It was humiliating to have her personal life picked apart and analyzed, especially when no one really knew what happened behind closed doors. Still, she would not break, no matter how hard it got here.
“Look, as soon as the Kardashians do something, everyone will be so over you.”
Gen grinned and stepped into the elevator. “Thanks. It’s nice to have one person left to talk to.”
“I’m tough. I’ll catch you later for coffee.”
She wrinkled her nose. “They don’t make it for me anymore.”
Sally shook her head. “Jerks. I’ll straighten them out. Meet you downstairs after your shift.”
“If I ever get out.”
The doors swished shut and Gen prepped to take her medicine.
Hours later, beaten up emotionally and physically, she managed to slip into the break room and found it blessedly empty. She grabbed a paper cup and slugged down some water, trying hard to keep it together.
“Genevieve?”
She stiffened. There’d been no time over the past few days to talk, and she didn’t know if she had the strength right now. Who would’ve thought being hated by the entire hospital would take so much out of her? He moved beside her and she struggled to straighten up and meet his gaze. “David.”
He studied her face. “You look tired.”
A humorless laugh escaped. “I am.”
Her refusal to elaborate made him tighten his lips. “I’m sorry you’re having a hard time. Things will blow over and get back to normal soon. I’ve been thinking about us.”
“So have I.”
“I’m glad.” Determination carved out his features. “I’m going to do better. We’re going to be better. I figured out how I was expressing myself and intend to change. I also think the wedding was too much pressure. This time, we’ll elope. My parents will be disappointed, but this way it’ll be more subtle and stamp out some of the negative press. When things settle down, we can throw a tasteful party when we can both enjoy it.”
Nausea clawed at her stomach, and her heart thundered in her ears. Why didn’t he get it? She shook her head hard, frantic to make him see they couldn’t keep going on like this. “You’re not listening. I spent my time thinking about us, and what I want. We’re not good together. This is not something we can change. I’m ending it.”
The shock emanating from him was almost palpable. “No. We love each other.”
“Not anymore.” She forced herself to hold his gaze. “This type of love is wrong. It’s not healthy, and I’m unhappy. We can’t do this to each other anymore. You have to let me go.”
He stared at her hard, assessing, then shook his head. “You’re mine, Genevieve. Always will be. I picked you when I could have had anyone because I see you in me. Our drive. Our purpose. Our need to be better. You’re wrong about love. Love is pushing the limits, not accepting.”