Chapter 3
I turn first towards my newfound friends, but find them both back at the table already. Jamie is laughing at something Jason just said, and neither is looking my way. Uneasy, my eyes search the massive room, but I do not see anyone looking my way. Maybe I’m just being paranoid. He used to show up at my work sometimes, just to make sure I was actually where I said I was. Maybe just be subconsciously expecting him to show up.
Yeah. That’s all it is. Just being paranoid.
My name is called from the counter, and I nearly jump out of my skin. Chuckling a bit at myself, I thank the man for my food, and shuffle over to our table. I settle in, and dig into my lunch as I realize just how hungry I am. I have to hold back a moan as the first bite hits my tongue. This is so much better than hospital cafeteria food. Seriously, this is better than some actual restaurants I have had, and I have to stop myself from polishing the entire bowl off so that I can ration the leftovers out later.
Jason and Jamie effortlessly pull me into their conversation, and despite the lingering feeling that someone’s eyes are on me, I am surprised by how easy they both are to talk to. Jamie tells us that she’ll be working on the pediatric floor– which makes perfect sense with her bright, bubbly demeanor– and I am pleasantly surprised to learn that Jason will be working with me on the inpatient psychiatric unit. It will be nice not to be the only new person trying to learn the ropes. Misery loves company, and all that.
Having lunch with them is… actually really nice.
Jamie and I bond over the fact that we are both new to town, thanks to being hired here, and our mutual love of going to the movies. Not necessarily for the movie part, but for the experience of sitting in a dark, cool room with popcorn and candy for a few hours. Jason laughs at us, and promises to show us around town soon, and is sure to give us a list of the best things to do for fun, which restaurants we just have to try. Even though I haven’t spent much time with them, I can already feel an easy friendship forming between the three of us.
The 45 minutes that we were allotted for lunch flies by, and before I know it, it is already time to head back to the conference room to finish out the last few hours of the day. Jamie and Jason start to head back, but I tell them that I will meet them there and make a quick bathroom stop. Jamie offers to take my purse and leftover food back with her so I don’t have to bring them with me, and I gladly accept.
The bathroom is just as fancy as the rest of the hospital has been, with soft soothing music playing through the speakers. I hurry and do my business, then wash my hands with lavender-scented hand soap, and dry my hands on one of the real freaking towels that are folded in baskets on the counter. This place really is off the fanciness charts.
I am in a bit of a rush, wanting to make it back before the meeting resumes. I don’t want to walk in late, just to have everyone turn and look at me when I walk in. The stuff of nightmares, honestly. There is a reason that I am obsessively early to things. Half the time, I end up waiting in my car for things to start, just so that I don’t have to worry about being late.
Unfortunately, being in a rush means I’m not paying attention to my surroundings. So I am caught completely off-guard when a massive hand locks onto the back of my neck, and flings me to the side like a damn rag doll. I hit the wall. Hard.
Really freaking hard.
My head takes the brunt of the force, thunking against the wall and causing little pinpricks of light to burst and dance in my vision. I blink rapidly, trying to clear them so that I can stand a fighting chance right now.
“You’ve got a lot of fucking nerve showing your face here again,” a man’s seething voice hisses at me.
Showing my face here again? What the hell? I have lived here for all of five minutes and never set foot in this state before, much less this town, this hospital.
My eyes finally focus, and I see Dr. Reed standing in front of me, his chest heaving, his eyes burning with rage and hate as he wraps his hands around my neck, pinning me against the wall.