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“Well, I don’t brag about my connections. He was my neighbor when I lived with my grandparents.” My mind is still on that man who was staring at me with anger. It was totally unnerving.

“Wow, so you come from a wealthy family.” It’s not a question but a statement of fact, and he’s not wrong, but I don’t think about things like that because of who my father is. I wonder if the angry man is someone my father knows, and he recognized me.

“Oh, there you two are. What took you so long?” the pretty thirty-five-year-old phlebotomist asks with a bitchy tone. All I know is I’m grateful not to work with her. She’s a real cunt and seems to hate the female population.

“Calm down, Eva. We got caught up in the governor’s exit,” Jacob explains.

“Oh. I hope you didn’t bother him, Calista,” she scoffs as if I’m a troublemaker. Jacob gives her a guilty and apologetic look, and I can tell there has been some fraternizing.

Shaking my head, I lay a dead stare on her. “I don’t want you drawing my blood,” I tell her flat out. This woman has had it out for me since I arrived at the hospital a few months ago. Everything I do pisses her off, even when it has nothing to do with the blood center or labs.

“Fine. Eric can draw your blood. Don’t flirt with him too.” I clench my teeth and roll my eyes. Ah—I just discovered what the bitch’s problem is. I turn my head from her to Jacob and then back again. Their expressions say everything I need to know.

“Having an affair with a student while married is terrible, Mrs. Bunn.” She gasps, but she can’t get the lie out before we’re interrupted by Eric.

“Who is next?” he asks with a grin, eyes landing on me.

I raise my hand and smile at Eric, enjoying the look on Eva’s face as I pass by her. “I’m your next victim.”

“Come into my lair. What’s your name again?”

“Calista.”

“Very pretty,” he says, tossing me a wink before pointing to the bed I need to get on.

I take a seat, and then I see a man and woman enter. The same man that was staring at me so rudely is holding the woman’s hand. Eric gets me started, rubbing my arm before gently sliding the needle in. The way he does it feels intentionally erotic.

“Thank you for being gentle,” I say, thinking that Eva would have intentionally hurt me.

“Anything for a gorgeous doctor,” he adds.

“Yeah, I don’t want a vein blown out. Besides, I’m not a doctor yet.”

“Of course. I’ll be back to check on you.” He pats my shoulder and then walks off to work on couple.

They share conspiratorial looks with each other. Every once in a while, they glance my way. I scowl at them because I’m not in the mood for this shit.

Five minutes later, Eric returns with his paperwork on me. “So, gorgeous, you seeing anyone?” Eric asks after checking the blood bag.

“Yes,” I lied, even though my thoughts immediately went to Ian. I missed him like crazy.

“That’s a shame, because you are stunning.” Why is every phlebotomist in this place a horn dog? Seriously—I just want to get my job done and go home, although I have a feeling my shift is going to be a long one.

He gives me a tight-lipped smile before taking the vials he needs, and then he closes up the line to the blood bag. He removes the needle from my arm and bandages me up. “Okay, you’re good to go and sit down a minute in the recovery room.”

“Thanks,” I mutter.

I overhear the woman speaking to the man. “Love, they said we are capable of donating. It sucks that Connor had to leave before donating. Do you think they’ll make up?”

“Yes, love. He’s in love with her,” the rude man says.

“I could see it.”

“Calista, are you all right?” Jacob asks, standing in front of me and waving his hand.

I snap to attention at Jacob and give him a soft smile. “Sorry. I’m totally ready.”

“Okay.” He raises a brow and then turns to the couple. I grab his face and then turn him to look at me, so they don’t confront me or report me just to be assholes.