Chapter 5

[…]

"I thought you were gone…" Claire tried to fight this urgent need to come in Neil's office to check if he was already gone. But she didn't. She needed to do something before. It had crossed her mind for the whole day. Damn, she was becoming crazy. Once, it will be done she knew she could focus on anything but this and Neil. Because as charming as he was, he was her boss and you were not allowed to think about your boss this way.

He laughed. "No… Still here. You too? I thought you were finishing early today."

"ER called before I ended my shift. A guy falls from his ladder and needed a splenectomy."

"You did it alone?"

"Yes! All the surgeons were busy and I was the only one available… And as my residency ends in only 2 months, no one argued… And the poor man was bleeding to death."

"I'm impressed."

"I've learnt from the best." She grinned at him. He was almost embarrassed by what she had just said. "I just wanted to tell you something… I didn't have the time this morning… Can I steal a few minutes from your time?"

"Claire, you don't steal my time… And to be fair, I've something to tell you too and yesterday I couldn't do it because you felt asleep on my coach."

She made him a face. "Guilty as hell…" She entered his office. "Sorry for yesterday night, didn't mean to but I was so tired and…"

"No need to excuse Claire, I do know the feeling. I felt asleep on this coach so many times I didn't count them anymore."

They both laughed, embarrassed. Not knowing what to do next, what to say next. Looking at the ground as if it could change things, to help them to find an answer. Claire breathed deeply. The fastest the things were said, the quicker she will be relieved and judging by Neil's face, he was not about to do something.

"I... Um… I… Know we were supposed to make a gift… Only to the person we picked the name … But... But…" She swallowed hard. "But I've bought this for you." She handed him a little package, well wrapped, with a bow on it.

He didn't take it at first, embarrassed. Claire was sure he had blushed, even if he was good at hiding his emotions. He bent in one of his office drawers and got out a large box wrapped in red paper… Her favorite color. It couldn't be a coincidence. She grinned.

"I may have something for you too…" He chuckled.

"How convenient…"

"Isn't it?" She bit her lower lips to restraint a giggle. She didn't want to look like an hysterical teenage girl. "Maybe we could go on the balcony to be away from too curious people. There're too many of them in this hospital…"

She nodded. "Let me two minutes just to get and take my jacket."

"No need, Claire. Take mine, I'm not cold anyway."

"You're sure?"

"Of course."

She seized Neil's jacket on the coat rack and put it on her shoulder. It was pleasant to smell his perfume so close to her. For one moment, she forgot he was his boss and she was her resident. He was just Neil. She was just Claire and then anything was possible. She came back to her mind, took the gift which she had placed on the desk and followed Neil on the balcony. It was night, fog had taken over the city and the city looked like it was asleep from here.

He handed her the big box he was holding. "This is for you. Merry Christmas, Claire."

Her heart stopped for a moment, the emphasis he put on her first name every time he told it made her feel all sweet. She couldn't tell why it was like this from day one. Even more now that she was aware he was more than her boss, more than her "platonic friend".

"Merry Christmas, Neil." She answered with a large smile handed him her tiny package and taking hers. She shivered when their hands brushed. He did too. They both lowered their heads and focused on unwrapping their gift.

"Ohhh new kicks! You shouldn't have, they are so expensive! This too much, way too much..."

He smiled at her. "How are you supposed to outrun me, then?"

She let out a laugh. "You do know I will beat you soon. I may be small but I can run fast."

He laughed. "This day is not there yet!"

"We'll see this."

He liked when she used her mischievous look. He made her even cuter. He would like to forget about these thoughts crossing his mind regularly. But he couldn't. He shouldn't fell this way for a resident, for his resident and then, he knew she was different, smart, special and not only in a professional way.

"Your turn, now." She was watching at him with sparkles in her eyes.