Cry to Me

"Hey Dulci, can I get you interpretation of this cytology?"

Dulci looked up at her boss and fellow colleague and back towards the daunting pile of medical records on her desk that still needed to be reviewed or completed. Sure. I guess I can stop what I'm doing to participate in your elementary tests regarding my education. I've only been out of school and practicing for two years. She politely obliged followed the owner of the clinic, Dr. Harrison, into the lab and toward the microscope

"Can I ask the source of the cytology?" She asked before bending down to peer into the lenses. After seeing the obvious mutation of the lymphocytes, she stood up taking the slide off of the microscope and handed it back toward her boss

"It looks like lymphoma, but the best option would be to send it to a lab for interpretation by a pathologist for confirmation and staging." She noticed the remained staring at her, one hand on his hip while the other gestured her to continue. "Depending on the stage of the lymphoma, the patient could potentially be referred to an oncologist for chemotherapy. The success rates of chemo and remission with lymphoma are quite good," she concluded, hoping that would suffice so she could go back to the undocumented charts from her morning patients.

"Well done, Dr. Hammett," Harrison praised with a smile on his face as he reclaimed his slide to discuss the options with the owner. Turning on her feet, Dulci rolled her eyes and walked back towards the doctor's office where she could hopefully get some of her charts done before surgery started.

Pulling her hair a bun, she sighed audibly and started documenting her first patient of the day.She was quickly pulled out of her concentration when she noticed her cellphone buzzing with new notifications.

Hey bitch!I’m back in town! We MUST go for drinks ASAP! Are you free tonight?

Before she could start typing a response, one of her technicians peeked into the office. “Dr. Hammett, you’re first surgery is prepped and ready.”Dulci’s response would have to wait.

----

Dulci was pulling off her surgical mask and gown as one of the receptionists, Savannah, scurried into the treatment area with an irritated look on her face. Dulci instantly liked Savannah from her first day at the clinic. She had an incredibly kind personality but was not above giving someone a reality check. "Dr. Hammett, your ‘sister’ is on line one. She said to interrupt you,” putting sister in air quotes.

"I don't have a sister," Dulci said more to herself then to Savannah as she contemplated who could be claiming a relation

"She introduced herself as 'Carly, Dulci's sister.' She's kinda bitchy," Savannah snorted as she walked back toward the reception area.

Dulci couldn't keep the smile off of her face as she walked back toward her desk to take her "important" phone call. Carly was her best friend. They'd met at Virginia Tech almost a decade ago because Carly needed tutoring in a multitude of science and math courses. Carly was also the opposite of Savannah in that she was overbearing, egotistical, cold and turned off toward most people, irritable; someone Dulci usually wouldn't want as a best friend. But, throughout their undergrad years and tutoring sessions, they went from being acquaintances to best friends. Eventually Dulci was included in Carly's inner circle and the two were inseparable.While Dulci stayed in Virginia for another four years, Carly moved around a bit looking to fall into place.That place ended up being Pittsburgh, and on the pretense that Dulci and Carly would be roommates when Dulci graduated, she made the move as well.

"Good afternoon.This is Dr. Hammett.How can I help you?” Dulci asked feigning ignorance.

“Oh my God, you sound so freaking professional! Why didn’t you answer my text?”

“Hi Carly.I was in surgery.How was your trip?” Dulci laughed as she heard Carly’s uncontained squeals and giggles.The two had talked and texted for the past year, but with Dulci’s hectic work schedule and Carly spending every waking moment with her boyfriend, they could rarely find time to go out.

“It was fantastic!Canada is gorgeous!Lets go out tonight!Are you free?”

“I think I can manage that.My last appointment is at 6:30 so hopefully I’ll be done by seven.”

“Perfect!Dulc, I cannot wait to see you!I have so much to tell you.You also need to meet my boyfriend.He’s been dying to meet you.

“I highly doubt he’s dying to meet me.More like you want me to meet him,” Dulci scoffed as she rolled her eyes.She had known for months about this mysterious boyfriend of Carly’s but never knew his name or much about him until recently.She was sworn to secrecy, as their relationship was not made public and the only solid pieces of information Dulci was told was his name and his celebrity status around the city.

“He does want to meet you because he knows you’re important to me.I’ve told his hot friends about you and they’re definitely excited to meet you,” Carly answered suggestively making Dulci chuckle.

“Christ,” Dulci mumbled shaking her head. She knew Carly was talking out of her ass and the thought of being set up with an arrogant, overpaid and undereducated athlete was off-putting. “Listen.I’ve gotta go check on my surgery patient.I’ll call or text you when I get off.See you soon!”

“Can’t wait!Bye!”

----

It was 6:45 and Dulci was just about finished with her medical records for the day.As she walked toward the front desk to drop off her charts, she noticed the two receptionists watching a YouTube video on one of their computers.One of them, Amy, was fanning herself off while they other, Laura, was very flushed.

“What are you guys watching?” Dulci asked as she kneeled down next to them.

“Oh we’ll replay it for you, Dr. Hammett,” Amy beamed as she pushed the repeat icon.

“Something tells me you guys have watched this quite a few times given your red faces.”

The video started in slow motion with a guy doing various exercises in a dimly lit gym with a few voiceovers talking about him.“Will the greatest player in the world live up to that title?”“His passion and dedication never come into question.”“This season is going to be his season.” Half way through the video, grunting, groaning, and heaving breathing replaced the voiceovers and the exercises pick up in tempo and ended with the guy throwing a bench press bar with weights above his head while turning to walk away.

“God.I bet his sounds like that in bed,” Amy said fanning herself off again.

“Who is that in the video,” Dulci inquired.

“Are you serious right now?” Amy asked with a horrified look on her face.Dulci nodded.Was she supposed to know who the man was?

“That’s Sidney Crosby.Captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins,” Laura explained.

“Smoking hot captain of the Penguins, might I add,” Amy chipped in

Wait.That was Carly’s boyfriend?Even though she knew he had a high profile, she never thought to look him up once she was given his name.It didn’t surprise her, however, given that Carly was tall, blonde, slim, had fake boobs and tan; everything you would think wealthy athletes would want.

“Well, I can definitely see why you guys are blushing.He is very attractive.He probably has a small wiener, though or doesn’t know how to use it,” Dulci shrugged.Most guys always had to compensate. Putting that aside, Dulci knew she couldn’t tell the girls that he was off the market because of her best friend, and wouldn’t because a little fantasizing never hurt anyone.

“I’m going to leave, do you guys need anything before I go?” Dulci asked slowly making her way towards the doctor’s offices.

“Yeah, Crosby’s phone number and a dry pair of underwear,” one of them quipped.Dulci shook her head and headed toward her desk.Slinging her bag over her shoulder, Dulci noticed she had another text message.

I’ll be at your place at 8:30.

Her breath caught in her throat as a blush crept up her neck and face.It was Henry, the guy she’d been having uninhibited and exquisite sex with for over six months and it had been the best sex of her life.Playfully she responded.

What makes you think you’re welcome?

Without a beat, she got a response that made her gasp and clench her legs together.

Because you know I’m going to make you come again and again and again until your neighbor’s known my name.

Exiting out Henry’s text, Dulci quickly sent Carly a message to bail out of meeting her and her boyfriend for drinks.

Don’t hate me! I have a risky procedure tomorrow and need to read up.Rain check?I’ll call you tonight.

Dulci threw her phone into her bag and quickly made the drive home.

-----

Dulci looked at the clock on her stove.8:27.Henry was always very punctual and their routine was always the same.She sauntered over to the kitchen island where she had been sipping on red wine to calm her anticipation.Shortly after arriving home, she jumped into the shower to spot shave her legs and armpits.She was thankful she had recently been to get waxed in her nether region.She curled her hair and applied sultry make up.She was tapping her nails on the island counter waiting impatiently for Henry to arrive.8:29.She saw headlights pull into her driveway. This is it, she thought.She pulled her satin robe off and draped it over the island stool so she stood in her kitchen completely naked and waiting.She debated whether to have him find her standing cross-legged with her butt pushed out a little as she leaned into the island or if she should be sitting in some sexy pose on the stool.She chose the former as she heard a quiet knock on her door.

“It’s open,” she called out.

She quickly turned her back toward the entry into the kitchen as she heard someone shuffle toward her.In her best attempt to come off as irresistibly sexy, she brought her wine glass to her mouth and slowly rubbed the rim on her lower lip.She remembered what Carly always told her; “Guys go wild when you distract them by putting things in or near your mouth.They instantly think blowjobs.”She would usually never act this way in front of a guy, but there was something about the way that Henry looked at her that made her feel incredibly sexy and alive, but he still intimidated the hell out of her and she was always nervous during their trysts.

Something was off.Usually Henry would say something or start touching her right away.Dulci closed her eyes to give herself courage and slowly turned around so she could display herself to him.When she opened her eyes, everything started happening in slow motion.She saw a man standing about eight feet away from her.He wasn’t as tall as Henry, but about five foot eleven and he was muscles for days.He was wearing expensive looking sneakers, dark jeans, and a grey long sleeved tee shirt.He also had a leashed dog with him.His face was red with a very evident surprised expression.

Then everything hit her at once when her brain finally digested the situation.She was standing completely nude in her kitchen with a stranger who she’d actually seen earlier that day, with two receptionists, in a video on YouTube.

She screamed and dropped her wine glass while running toward her couch to grab the throw blanket to provide some coverage over her nudity.However, she tripped over her cat and fell face first into the coffee table with a resonating thud.Her face was already hot with embarrassment, but the stream of blood coming from her nose was even warmer.She quickly wrapped the blanket around herself while holding her hand under her nose to catch the blood.When she turned to head toward the bathroom, she ran into him as he was rushing over with the dishrag that was hanging from stove.

“Put some pressure on it,” he instructed as he brought the towel gently to her nose and gingerly replaced his hand with hers.

“Lean forward and sit back onto the couch,” he instructed as he jogged over to the freezer and grabbed a bag of frozen peas.

“Where do you keep your tampons?”

Dulci furrowed her brows.Why the fuck would he need a tampon?“In my bedroom under the bathroom sink,” she murmured as the adrenaline worse off and the pain set in.

He walked back toward her with a tampon, bag of peas, and a new washcloth he took off of the rack in her bathroom.Dulci watched as he tore the tampon in two and handed a piece it her.

“Stick this in one of your nostrils.It’s a trick in sports medicine.”

Dulci did as she was instructed, careful to leave one hand clutching the blanket to her body.It was no use, however, because she knew he saw ALL of her.

He wrapped the bag of peas in the washcloth and handed it to her.

“Put this on the bridge of your nose for fifteen minutes.It’ll help with the swelling.”

While the pain was getting worse, the cold peas were really helping.Closing her eyes, he could only imagine what she must’ve looked like.Red mouth and chin stained with blood, splotchy cheeks from crying and the eye make up mess that comes with crying.After ten minutes, She was brought out of her thoughts are he cleared his throat.

“I’m gonna go.I’ll come back another time.Maybe call before I come,” he joked causes Dulci to quietly laugh at the awkwardness of their situation.With that, he called for his dog that’d been obediently sitting in the kitchen entry throughout the debacle.

Dulci waited a few minutes before getting up.She was hesitant to move through the kitchen, but noticed all of the glass and wine had been wiped off of the floor.When did he have time to do that?Oh, probably while you were inserting tampons into your nose.She rolled her eyes at the thought.Once arriving in the bedroom, she picked up her phone off of the nightstand and noticed two messages; one from Henry and other from Carly.She read Henry’s first.

Who’s Range Rover is in your driveway?

She’d have to explain the situation to Henry later. Carly’s text was more important, however, as it explained the shit storm that took place in her kitchen twenty minutes prior.

Hey Dulc! Sid’s dog is limping on one of her legs.I’m sending him over alone because I’m busy. I’m confident that you two will be fast friends! Hope you don’t mind!Thanks a million! :D

She fell backwards onto her bed and let out a much-needed breath.It wasn’t exactly how she pictured meeting her best friend’s high profile boyfriend.

Notes