I hear her footsteps that step in time with my heart beating in my chest. I overcome my urge to turn and look her way, by writing down the bullshit parts of my talking point sheet. Moments later, her scent intoxicates me as she enters the room, her bubbly demeanor filling the corners.
"Afternoon, David... I'm not interrupting anything important am I?" She asks, giving her brother a hug. I take notice from the back, that she's worn a nice, navy blue dress that comes to her knees, fitting her in all the right places, with two inch heels on again.
"Not at all sis. This is Dr. Huller, the one I told you about." He says releasing her from his grasp.
She turns saying, "Hello, Dr. Huller, I'm Sari..."
She freezes as I stand with my hand outstretched and a warm smile on my face.
"Sari, nice to meet you, I'm Dr. Huller. Dr. Brian Huller."
"It's Sarina, doc. Apparently, she's been awestruck by you." He turns his attention to his sister, "SEE! I told you he was a handsome man! Now, quit being rude and shake the mans hand!"
She finds her thoughts again, quickly smacking her brothers arm, "I'm not being rude. I've.. I did not know your last name was Huller, Brian." Sarina blushes from head to toe, looking everywhere but me.
I take notice of the front of her dress that has a twirled black lace material trimming her neckline that showing off a modest amount of cleavage. She dressed to impress, but kept it decent still.
"Wait, you two know each other?" her brother's jaw drops open in surprise.
I chuckle, "You know that woman I was telling you about, David?"
David nods in response, mouth slightly ajar, looking at me and his sister. "She's the one you were telling me about.?!"
I know my calm smile doesn't hide the twinkle of mischief in my eyes, "The very same one. What a coincidence." I chuckle.
David laughs, "Then this works out perfectly! I'm proud of you Sarina! I really like this guy."
Sarina blushes again, looking flustered, "Excuse me a moment, please." She exits the room and heads out.
"I'll be right back, David." I inform him.
"Sure thing, Doc." He waves as I exit the room to see her heading to the ladies room.
"Sarina." I jog and catch up to her.
She's avoiding looking at me, "Everyone knew last night, and no one said anything."
"We were just teasing you, since we knew you'd find out today." I take her hand, "I'm sorry if this went to far for you." I kiss it, and still hold on to it.
Her wide eyes shine at the action, before she blushes and looks around at the few people paying attention to the situation.
"I can handle some teasing. Now, I understand why you said to go ahead and dress nice..." She says quietly.
I step back, acting like I'm just now realizing what she's wearing. "I barely noticed..." I watch as her face starts to fall, "compared to the smile on your face, how could I see anything else?"
She starts to giggle, "Oh Brian." taking back her hand from mine, she covers her face as she giggles. "Stop it."
I step forward closer to her, lean closer to her ear and whisper, "Only because I'm working, but I plan on taking you out Friday. Where I'll continue where I left off..." I peck her cheek, before walking back to her brothers room, looking over my shoulder at her. I catch her blushing crimson, breathing heavy, and fanning herself with her hand.
I'm lightly chuckling as I step back in her brothers room.
"You make it right with her?" He asks me.
"I think I did. I think I made some new gossip for everyone in the ICU too." I laugh, noticing the nurses station is hanging on to every word coming out of this room. They hop back to work immediately, making me sigh as I pick my clipboard back up.
"Alright, David. Shall we go over a few things before we get you transferred to the facility by my offices?"
A few minutes later, Sarina comes back in the room and David still opens up easily with me. Which surprised me, but I made a note and continued on with my work. Asking a few choice questions not on my normal list, and asking him to elaborate on some of his answers to get a better comprehension.
"Now, when it comes to your health..."
"Hey doc, stop right there. Sarina, I need you to leave." David tells her.
"What why?"
"I'm sorry, Sarina. If David wants privacy right now, I do have to ask you to leave. It's policy by law." I inform her.
She bristles, but lets it out in a sigh, "Fine, I'll go down to the cafeteria for a drink. I'll be back shortly."
Once she's left, David opens up, "I don't think I can tell her doc. Look at her.. She's so happy and hopeful for me." He starts to cry, "I'm just going to crush her again."
I offer him a tissue, "If you don't want to crush her, I suggest you tell her sooner than letting her find out later after you've gone. I think you not trusting her to be able to handle this while you're still here will hurt her more."
He wipes his face, his bony scarred hand trembling and clenching.
"You don't have to do it now. We can talk about it at the facility after you've had some time to arrange your thoughts so you tell her everything you want to say."
"Alright doc, I will think about it. Before my sister comes back then, I want to ask a few questions?" David tosses the tissue to the trash can, making it.
"Nice shot! Fire away." I tell him.
He gives a smug smile, but gets back to business. "So you are serious about wanting to date my sister?"
I laugh, "Yes, I am."
"How did you meet my sister? You said you saw her and was drawn to her."
I sigh, "I saw her when the ambulance came in with you. She was obviously upset and I never said a word to her but our eyes met before she disappeared. I couldn't get her out of my head, she was absolutely breathtaking. Then our mutual friends introduced us. We've had dinner together at our friends house a few times too."
"Have you slept with me sister? She sure was blushing earlier for you to just be someone she's interested in." He gives me a hard eye.
"Your sister is a grown woman, but she is a lady none the less." I fold my hands in front of me, making it plain I would not elaborate on the subject farther.
"Thank you, Brian." Sarina's says as she steps into the room, looking annoyed with her brother.
David shrugs, "Love you sis. I'm tired. Doc, can you have the nurse give me my pain meds so I can sleep before I get transferred later?"
I nod, "Sure thing David. I'll stop in tomorrow morning and make sure they give you your medications like they are supposed to. I won't be seeing you until Monday though for our first session though."
Sarina holds up her hand, voicing her shock and displeasure, "Wait, pain meds?! He's an addict, why is he getting pain meds?!"
"Whoa, we are well aware of the fact, he gets them for pain from the nerve endings that are constantly trying to send signals to the parts that no longer work. It's a neural inhibitor that helps with the pain, it's given to him in a low dosage and they're given to him to help him sleep. It also doubles as an anti-depressant. I've prescribed it to help better treat him, with what's best for him in mind." I inform her.
David reaches for his sister, "Sarina, let the man do his job. He knows what he is doing. It really has been helping me."
"I just don't want you to get addicted to anything else." Sarina takes his hand and wraps her arms around her brother.
"I'll see you tomorrow, David. I've got to go and see to my other patients at the office." I wave to him and head towards the elevator.
I enter it when I hear, "Brian!"
I stick my clipboard into the door way just as Sarina comes into view. I give her a smile as she steps on to the elevator.
"I wanted to talk to you a bit more about his medications." She says as the door closes.
"I promise, what I prescribed is to help him, mentally and physically."
"I know, I'm sorry for doubting you. I really wanted to thank you for that. Giving him something that will help his pain and his depression."
"You're welcome, but I would have tried to help him to the best of my abilities anyways. Regardless of whether or not he is your brother."
"I owe you a thank you for getting my stuff back too, though." She steps closer to me and I reach for her hand.
"You can thank me properly tomorrow night. Remember, I'm taking you out. So dress..." I look her up and down, "similar to this. I'll be there by seven."
The elevator dings and opens up letting another person on.
Sarina blushes, "Alright, seven. Will I see you tonight, later?" She asks wistfully, twirling a loose strand of her hair around her finger.
I shake my head, "Not tonight. I promise, I'll be there tomorrow, seven."
The elevator dings and I place a kiss on her hand that I have refused to let go this whole time.
"See you tomorrow, Sarina." I wink at her and exit the elevator, leaving her dazed, staring starry eyed at me as the door closes taking her back upstairs.
In no time at all my day is over with and I feel like I've been walking on air. Happily, I head to the market and purchase some things for my place, remembering what Lirael had pointed out about my bachelor pad food options. Making sure I had some wine, I picked up something for breakfast along with a few other miscellaneous meal ideas and made my way to the cleaning section.
My place is not dirty, but it wouldn't hurt to try and make it a bit more welcoming if we end up there. I purchase what I need before heading home. My thoughts are full of the happenings of the day.
I'm going on an actual date with Sarina tomorrow. She was so adorable today when she was being so shy. She forgets I've seen how flushed she becomes when she cries out my name.... Oh I can't wait to get that sound on repeat tomorrow night.... Gosh tomorrow night, Lance is going to realize he's going to be a father. Lirael's going to be a mom.
I feel nothing but joy for my friends, and the reaffirmation that I no longer desire Lirael sexually hits me. I think I have Sarina to thank for that.
I'll make her breakfast Saturday morning, breakfast in bed.
I smile to myself as I start unloading my car and head into my apartment.