Girls in the City Alison - Suzanne Jenkins Page 0,2

taxing.”

“You sound like your mother now,” Eddie had said.

“I know. She’d have a cow if she knew we were sleeping in the same room. And now that Samantha is out, it makes more sense for you to have your space and me have mine. It’s what I want.”

So they were in separate rooms, and separate rooms meant no more romance. They pretended, or at least Alison pretended, that nothing had changed, but everything had because they’d once slept together and now they weren’t.

It was over. Relief. She pulled into her parents’ development, the foothills of San Diego County covered with sparkling lights, the pier lit up at night observed from above, and a sense of total accomplishment flooded over her. She’d made it! She was back in San Diego.

Chapter 1

July 1. First day for the new residents at UCSD. University of California at San Diego.

“It’s the New Zoo Review,” registered nurse Kendra Scott said, standing in the doorway of operating room number ten as new faces filed by. “Get ready to squash anyone who comes in too cocky.”

“I’m ready,” anesthesiologist Barry Lemon said, testing the anesthesia machine. “Nothing better than to knock some know-it-all first-year lackey down a peg or two.”

“I’m just worried Mortimer is going to hand the scalpel over, and we’ll be stuck teaching a wet-behind-the-ear surgeon wannabe how to operate.”

“No, not this year we won’t,” Barry groused. “I’m getting too old for this shit.”

Leaning against the wall, hunky, handsome Rich Mortimer was the fifth-year general surgery resident, chomping at the bit to be done with it, get a fellowship, and move on. He stood a few feet from room ten, watching the new recruits file by, and had a completely different inner dialogue than Kendra and Barry’s had been.

With a sheet of paper headed General Surgery listing names of the new residents, he picked them out, one at a time. Two guys and six girls. Looking down at his list, Alison Isabella Saint jumped out. There was one woman in the group who sort of floated across the floor with the grace of a ballerina. The others chatted together or looked scared to death, but this particular woman had the composure of a saint. It was a little unnerving watching her. He hoped she was one of his first-year residents, and then frowned and shook his head. He didn’t need any distractions.

The charge nurse leading the group of residents caught his eye. “Rich, do you want to take over your newbies?”

Five would go to different departments in the surgical services department. Three individuals stepped out of the crowd as the rest of the group moved on. One of them was the beautiful girl, fresh scrubbed, no makeup, elegant even in scrubs, and he got the chills.

“My pleasure,” he said, stepping away from the wall. “Greetings. Follow me.”

He led them into the scrub sink area outside room ten. “Mask up here, and I’ll introduce you to the crew.”

Long curly hair pulled tightly into a ponytail, the beautiful girl reached for a blue paper bouffant cap and skillfully pulled it over her head. The mask tied on, she waited while her male counterparts fumbled with their masks, laughing like high schoolers.

Patiently, Rich waited. His goal was to make use of them, not scare them. The faster he could get them indoctrinated and delegate his responsibilities, the better. But the girl unnerved him. Her complacent composure was all wrong. She should be sweating up a storm. Instead, he broke out into a little sweat, which pissed him off in a way. He didn’t like being intimidated.

“When you’re ready, we’ll go inside.”

The men were finally covered, and he pushed open the door. “This is the room ten staff, you’ll see others in here from time to time, but they are our regular general surgery team.”

“Mortimer, you’re so full of shit,” Kendra said, putting supplies away.

Snorting, Rich led the group to her. “Meet Kendra Scott.” He looked at his piece of paper. “You’re obviously Dr. Saint.”

Glad she had a mask on when she frowned, Alison leaned forward, offering the squatting nurse her hand. “Alison Saint.”

Kendra shook hands with her and, with a raised eyebrow, gave the others a look.

“I’ve got a printout for you,” she said, standing, “but it’s basic operating room protocol that you would have learned in medical school regarding sterile technique. Rich, introduce them to Barry, and I’ll get their folders.”

Barry usually didn’t do more than nod, but he noticed Dr. Saint, too. “Are you related to John Saint?”

“He’s