The Algorithm Will See You Now: A Novel by Lycette JL

Author:Lycette, JL
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Published: 2023-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

MONDAY 22 OCTOBER 2035

5:55 PM

Cecilia’s lab, PRIMA

“Should we wake her?” Dalton’s voice intruded on Hope’s thoughts.

Hope contemplated Poppy’s sleeping form and checked the time. Still not 6:00 PM. “We can give her a little longer. Jacie should be almost to Maddox’s office. We can wake her when Jacie returns.”

Poppy had dozed off a few hours ago, her head on Cecilia’s desk, while Hope and Dalton had spent the day visualizing the surgery. After the group had met this morning to review the plan, Jacie had needed to head to rounds and Abbie to her OASIS shift. Jacie had left them with Izabella’s records, including, most importantly, her imaging.

Dalton, Poppy, and Hope dared not leave the lab until they were ready to implement the plan since they couldn’t risk being spotted where they didn’t belong. Fortunately, Cecilia kept a refrigerator in the lab stocked with food and water.

Hope draped her jacket over Poppy’s shoulders.

Dalton shook his head and smiled. “You haven’t changed, have you? Always looking out for everyone else.”

Hope fidgeted with the equipment, trying not to think about the possibility of Jacie getting caught. Her nerves were more on edge than she cared to admit. She cleared her throat. “Thanks for changing your mind. To be here, I mean.”

She hadn’t been sure what to think when he’d initially refused to assist with Izabella’s surgery. But somehow, Jacie had convinced him, and they were a team again.

Dalton glanced away and then back. “That’s what friends are for.”

“Are we still? Friends?” Hope attempted to make her words casual, but her voice came out strained.

“We worked together for years.” He closed the distance between them. His eyes seemed to darken. “Didn’t you consider us friends?”

Hope straightened the equipment more and tried to ignore the sensation of her heart rate speeding up. “Did you? I mean, since…”

She trailed off.

Dalton gave her a pained stare. “I didn’t have a choice. I was the High Resident, and I had to keep things professional. But I’m not, now.”

Hope forced a lightness into her voice. “Not keeping things professional?”

“Not your High Resident anymore.” He took her hand. “Do you want me to keep things professional?”

Dalton’s thumb traced small circles into her palm, and her mind headed toward places she didn’t want it to. She couldn’t afford to be distracted right now, but she was tired. So tired of being strong, of being alone. He was here now. He’d come back for her, hadn’t he? She must be at least part of why he’d allowed Jacie to convince him, even if he hadn’t said so aloud. They could be a team again, not just in the operating room. He understood her for who she really was. And he smelled so damn good…

No—there wasn’t time for this. What was he implying? That he’d wanted more all along? Did she want that, too? She didn’t know. Or did she?

His other hand found its way to the back of her neck, his thumb and fingers digging into her tense muscles.

Hope cast a guilty glance toward Poppy, but her friend remained asleep, emitting quiet snores from the desk.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.