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“If you think you can just talk to me like that,” he starts But he doesn’t finish Because a moment later, a familiar voice interrupts from a nearby room

“John? That you?” Russ ees from a patient’s room He must have taken a break from the OR to come visit one of this post-operative patients up here on our floor It happens every now and then

One glance at Russ and my heart squeezes in sy around his mouth and across his forehead from the stress His forehead shines with sweat, and his hair is aale to reach up and brush it back froht now, for Dad to suddenly realize what’s going on between Russ and me, when he’s already in a furious mood

I avertto calive away anything I’ toward Russ, drawn into his gravitational pull alainst my will

“Russ Perhaps you can help irl” My father crosses his arlare in my direction

I shoot Russ a guilty glance and look away again quickly Shit The last thing I want is to get into it right now Or to o, Dad,” I try, but Dad’s already talking over s lie

“I was just telling Maggie that she needs to get her priorities straight Jane Showman is up on the top floor in her usual private suite, and she has so a nurse can handle on their own That nurse ought to be hter, to demonstrate how seriously this hospital takes it when one of our own boardshe can’t be bothered—”

“That is not what I meant, Dad, and you know it I’ht now”

“We have a huge staff who area feounded poor people on their own—”

“Let et another word in edgewise I stop bothering to try and avert ht up shoot pointed stares at Russ now, all but waving my hands at him

Stop, I want to yell, but I don’t dare Don’t do this Not now, not here The last thing I want is to get Russ into trouble Especially over me Especially when Russ is the one who told me I need to stand up to ht now Me getting into trouble potentially