“There’s going to be hell to pay when we get back.”
I shoved my shoulder into his, grinning as I watched the lieutenant retreating. “Yeah, but what can they really do? We got the hostages out, didn’t we? Fuck the orders. We got the results, bro. That’s all that matters.”
Chapter 2
Sofia
Discuss three root causes of common health issues affecting the wellbeing of children and families. A smile spread on my lips as I read the penultimate question of my last final for the semester.
The Determinants of Children’s Health class had been one of my favorite electives this semester, and I was blowing through the final with no problems.
Easy. I could think of at least six root causes I’d have been able to discuss in detail. Let’s go for childhood obesity, family disruption, and environmental health problems.
My pen scratching against the surface of the paper joined in the sounds of sighs and the ticking of the clock in the quiet room. The guy next to me kept letting out these annoying little grunts, but I tuned him out enough to concentrate on answering the remaining questions.
As I added the period to the end of my last sentence, I sat back in my chair and praised all that was holy that finals were over. Studying to become a doctor meant putting in long hours, but this week had been ridiculous. I hadn’t even brushed my hair in the last three days.
The tousled beach look I was rocking in my shoulder-length bob hadn’t exactly been planned. It looked tousled because it really was. But whatever. Once I got some sleep, I’d worry about personal care. At least the hot pink headband I wore kept the stringy strands off my forehead. Besides, I liked the messiness of it. I might even keep it.
I chewed on the end of my pen as I reread my answers. When I was satisfied I hadn’t messed up anything obvious, I packed up my stuff and slung my satchel over my shoulder.
Our professor stood at the front of the class. She was a remarkable woman who always wore power suits when she wasn’t in her scrubs. Her silver hair was twisted into a sleek bun behind her head and her makeup was immaculate.
I looked like a drowned rat in comparison, and it wasn’t just because I’d been up all night studying. She’d have been up all night, too. She just didn’t take shit from anyone or anything. Not even exhaustion could bring her down. Yeah… so, tiny lady crush over here.
I got up, taking the stairs in the lecture hall down two at a time and grinning at her as I placed my paper on top of the stack. “Thanks for everything. I’ll see you next semester.”
“Ms. Cantor,” she said when I started turning to leave, her voice sharp and clear. “Have you got a few minutes to wait? I’d like to speak to you in my office when the others are done.”
“Oh, uh, sure.” My heart bucked, but I couldn’t be in trouble. At least, I didn’t think that was what it was about. “I’ll wait right outside.”
She nodded firmly. “I’ll be out in approximately six minutes.”
“I’ll be there.” Seriously, Professor Carstens was a superhero in her field. I’d have waited forty days and forty nights for her if she’d asked.
The hallway outside was quiet, with only a few students trickling out of their exam venues so far. They hurried out with their books clutched to their chests or with their heads bent close to their friends as they furiously dissected whatever final they had just written.
Everyone in this hall was a medical student, and it was easy to see the toll finals had taken on them. Sallow skin, hair as dirty and eyes as red as mine. A few hadn’t even bothered to change out of their slippers before coming down. Hey, I’m not judging anyone.
My own classmates also slowly started finishing up, coming out of the lecture hall I’d just left with grim expressions on their faces. A lot of them were practically vibrating with stress, pulling their textbooks out and checking on answers while they walked.
I frowned. The final hadn’t been that hard, had it? I was feeling reasonably good about it actually. Just in case I’d missed something, I spent the rest of the time I waited double-checking my own answers.
“This way, Ms. Cantor,” the professor said as she breezed past me. “It will just take a minute.”
Jumping at the sound of her voice, I scrambled to stuff my book back into my bag and caught up with her. She didn’t look at me as she unlocked her door or as she set the stack of answer sheets down on her elaborate desk.
“Have a seat.” She waved a perfectly manicured finger at a chair before moving to her own. Gracefully lowering herself into it, she brought her clear blue eyes to my hazel ones. “I won’t take up much of your time. I know it’s been a long week. You must be dying to join your peers in celebrating your survival of the semester.”
“Celebrating can wait. The only thing I’m dying for is my bed.” I wound my fingers together in my lap. “Am I in trouble, Professor?”
A flash of surprise crossed her features. “No, not at all. The exact opposite actually.”
She gave me a gentle smile as she relaxed back in her seat. “You’ve done phenomenally well in my class. My colleagues have said the same thing.”
If I’d been standing, I’d have fallen over my own feet—while standing still. I opened and closed my mouth, but no words jumped to mind immediately.
“Thank you,” I said lamely when nothing else wanted to come out. “It means a lot.”
“You’re welcome. We wanted you to know that we recognize your hard work.” Her gaze strayed from mine for a moment as she pulled open a drawer. When she extracted her hand, there was a
