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feeling well, Leila, then we can have the doctor come take a look at you.”
    “No. I’m fine. Matt will take care of me, won’t you?” She didn’t even bother to look in my direction.
    Matt grimaced. “Don’t worry, I’ll check in on her to make sure she’s okay. I’m going to take her back to her room now. If that’s all right with you?”
    “Fine. Go ahead. But do make sure you check in on her later. And Leila, let them know if you don’t start feeling better soon.”
    “Will do, Doc.” Leila wiggled in Matt’s arms. One of her hands wound up behind his neck to play with his hair.
    Fuck . In that moment I knew for sure. Something was going on between Leila and Matt. The thing was, there was also no mistaking that she wanted me to know about it. Leila wasn’t the type of person to act careless about such things. For that reason alone, I let it go. I wasn’t stupid. I knew that it had happened before—orderlies fucking around with patients. Usually even the suspicion would garner Matt a lot of trouble. But I was going to watch and bide my time. I refused to let Leila play me like she so clearly was with Matt.
    I’d win the game with her by refusing to play.
     

     
    “Problem?”
    I glanced up from my laptop to see Ella hovering by my open door. “No.” I forced my voice to stay even. I was getting the distinct feeling she was looking for any excuse to pull Leila’s case from me. It was my professional opinion that all women were a little crazy when it came to jealousy of each other. Ella, despite her position, was no exception.
    “Then what has you looking so…put out?”
    I closed my laptop with more force than I meant to, raising my gaze to meet Ella’s. “Do you want me to smile while I’m surfing the net? Would that put your mind at ease that Leila’s case isn’t getting to me?”
    “You brought up Leila, not me. Obviously she’s on your mind, not mine.”
    “Can we not do this stupid dance, Ella? We both know what’s happening here. Personally, I was under the misconception that we were professionals and adults—not teenagers in high school.”
    Ella pursed her lips before flicking her gaze to the floor. “You’re right. I’m sorry. She’s just…there’s something about her that seems to draw men to her.” She slumped against the doorframe, sighing heavily. “Did you know that she’s been getting fan mail? Her, a murderer…getting fan mail.” She snorted. “And don’t tell me you haven’t noticed what she looks like. That woman could have been a model.”
    I ran my hand over my head, mentally making a note that I needed to shave it soon. “I have eyes, Ella. But just because someone is attractive doesn’t mean I’m attracted to them.” I wanted to remind her that we weren’t a couple. It would be a risky move though. I had to keep biding my time until the completion of Leila’s case. Then I could walk away from my current job and the barnacle that was Ella. “And let me remind you that I’m also a professional. My only interest in Leila is getting to the bottom of her psychosis.” Lie. Why did that feel like a lie?
    “You’re right. I’m sorry.” Ella hung her head.
    “So she’s really getting fan mail? Have you read any of it?”
    She shook her head slowly. “Yeah, she really is. And I’ve opened a few. If you’re curious, you’re more than welcome to it. Some of it is just bizarre.”
    “I just might.”
    Ella laughed, pushing off of the door, and making her way towards me. “You’re so weird sometimes.”
    I shrugged. It was the truth. “If that kind of thing didn’t interest me, getting a peek into people’s mental states and wanting to figure it all out, then I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
    “You always take it a step too far.”
    “Maybe.” I eyed Ella, her timid form standing in front of me. I knew what she wanted. Validation. “Shut the door, and take off your panties.”
    She flushed as she hurried to