Hi Max

How is my girl today?

Ok

Just okay?

Just ok

Because of me?

U and other things

I’m coming over

U can’t. I’m going 2 c Amanda

We should talk

She needs me

I need you

She needs me more

**frowns** I want to see you

I’ll send you a picture

Now?

No. I’m not dressed

Waiting for picture

You want me to sext you?

Waiting for picture

I’m a sexting virgin

Waiting for picture

I might get hurt

How?

Your phone is so big **trembles**

True. Phones don’t get any bigger than mine

So modest

Waiting for picture

I’m not that kind of girl

What kind of girl are you?

Naked kind

Max likes naked kind

Confused kind

Max likes confused kind

Sorry kind

Don’t be sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed you

I was scared

I know

But also **blushes**

Max likes **blushes**

I have 2 go or I’ll miss the bus

I’ll send Lewis to take you. He’ll wait until you want to go home

No need. Bus is fine

You take care of Amanda. I’ll take care of you

***

“Mac, I have a favor to ask.” Dr. Drake flips my desk sign to Closed and rounds the partition to join Big Doris in my cubicle.

My stomach twists and I clasp my knees together and look down. After the unwanted glimpse into his sexsational life, I’ve been trying to keep my distance from him for the last two days. But fate has seen fit to reward me with Big Doris and Kink on a Stick in my cubby at the same time.

“Good morning, Doctor Drake.” Big Doris blushes and looks down at the stack of green slips in her hand. “I was reprimanding Mac yet again. She had two pens point up in her pen box. It violates our health and safety protocols. We don’t want employees to accidentally drop a hand on the pen box and get stabbed. She whips a green slip from her pad and drops it on my desk.

Dr. Drake frowns and grabs the slip. “I hardly think that is conduct worthy of a green slip.”

Big Doris’s nostrils flare but she recovers quickly. “Of course. What was I thinking?” She gives me the sweet smile of a fox about to rip the head off a chicken. I predict a hailstorm of green slips coming my way. “Perhaps I could help you.” She lays her hand on Dr. Drake’s arm and bats her tiny, pale eyelashes.

Ignoring the quivering Big Doris in front of him, Dr. Drake drops a gold envelope on my desk. A meaty hand snatches it up. “What’s this?” Charlie asks, coming up behind me.

Seriously? My cubicle is barely big enough for one, much less three. I slide my chair to the corner and hold my knees to my chest.

Dr. Drake raises an eyebrow. “Mr. Brown, don’t you have work to do?”

Charlie shakes his head. “No.”

“Are there not patients who require admitting?”

“Not by me.”

Dr. Drake sighs. “I suppose you could all help me out. The hospital is having a black-tie charity fund-raiser at the Regency Center on Thursday night. We need people to circulate and solicit donations. We also need people to help with the heart auction.”

“Heart auction?” Charlie’s eyebrows fly up. “Someone’s donating their heart?”

Dr. Drake rolls his eyes. “The hospital has solicited famous artists, jewelers, and sculptors as well as patients and the public to create and donate a heart in any material or on any medium to be auctioned for the benefit of the hospital. It is most entertaining. No one knows the provenance of the heart they have bid on until the end of the auction.”

“I heard last year someone bid one hundred thousand dollars for a glass heart, thinking it was a Chihuly, only to discover it was bought at a dime store and painted by one of our four-year-old patients,” Big Doris titters. “Count me in.”

“Me too.” Charlie gives Big Doris a wink and she shudders.

“What about you, Mac?” Dr. Drake snatches the invitation from Charlie’s hand and slides it across the desk to me. “We could use all the help we can get.”

I want to help, but I’ve spent every evening this week consoling Amanda. Max will not be pleased if I cancel our date so I can spend the evening with Mr. Humping and Pumping.

“Um. I’m sorry. I’ve got other plans.”

Dr. Drake tilts his head to the side and studies me. “The money will be used to buy badly needed equipment for the children’s ward. The more people we have, the better chance we have of making the fund-raiser a success. I could authorize overtime pay for all of you. Triple time. It is a work function, after all.”

I make a quick calculation. Triple time plus two nights at the club would more than cover the next payment to Sergio and then some. I sigh a dejected sigh. “Count me in.”

Dr. Drake beams. “Done. I can give you a ride. I saw you a few times at the bus stop after work. Charlie told me you sold your car.”

Charlie whistles and looks away from the fierce scowl I shoot in his direction.

“I can take the bus,” I protest.

“You can pick me up,” Big Doris booms.

“I’ll pick you up.” Charlie pats her shoulder and she shrugs him off.

Dr. Drake’s lips curl into a smile. “Excellent. Mr. Brown, you can take Doris, and I’ll take Mac.”