Get me out of here, I beg silently to whoever might be listening—God, my guardian angel, fairy godmother, anyone. I know where this is going. He’s hinted at it before, but until now I’ve always been able to dance around his advances.
But my prayers go unanswered. This time, he’s not leaving me any loopholes.
“There’s a function next Saturday for all the doctors in the area,” he says. “And I’m allowed to bring a plus-one. I was wondering if you would come with me.”
I am shaking my head before he’s even finished talking. “I’m really sorry,” I say, as apologetically as I can muster, “but I can’t. I’m too busy with nursing school and taking care of my mom. You understand.”
“Do I?” He makes a face somewhere between a sneer and a leer. It’s an unflattering combination.
He sucks in a slow br
