If Lena left too, I’d seriously have no one to talk to.
I get that life’s just a big cycle of peopleing and going–friends, family, rtionships. But I
wasn’t ready for Lena to be one of the ones who drifted away
“It’s not like that,” she said, catching my worried look.” just want some more time off. They suspend
me whenever they feel like it, bring me back whenever they want. Do they think I’m that easy?” She
rolled her eyes, making meugh.
“Oh, Dr. Lane, are you finally nning to put them in their ce?”
“Absolutely. If I don’t push back now, they’ll drop me the second anything else happens.” Lena was
always so solid–at work, in love, everywhere.
“Not worried they won’t take you back?” I teased.
She poured me a ss of water, smirking. “Please. If one ce doesn’t want me, there’s a line that
will.” She leaned in close, her face inches from mine. “Think I’m low on options?”
Now that was confidence.
With Lena’s skills, hospitals would be lining up for her if this one didn’t work out. She’d already
turned down a bunch of offers, just because she wasn’t the type to jump ship. But if they actually
pushed her out, she’d be aiming higher, no question.
“Enough about me,” Lena said, switching back to me. “What’s your n?”
She meant Hayden, obviously. I took a sip of water, copying her words: “If he’s not the one, I’ll just
move on. It’s not like I’m low on options.”
Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.
Lena grinned and gave me a thumbs–up. “There she is. Men, jobs–they’re just the extras. We’re the
ones who shine, with or without them.”
Her words loosened something tight in my chest. She helped me sign the discharge papers, and we
headed home together.
That night, Lena and I stayed up way toote, sipping drinks and talking about everything and
nothing. Just as I was drifting off, Lena murmured, “Prairies are all the rage right now. Wanna go
see where the sky meets the earth?”
“Sure, I’ll put in a leave request,” I mumbled, half–asleep. Then I remembered how Ron had been
extra chill with me because of Hayden, and added, “Hopefully he’ll approve it. I’ve been kinda
AWOLtely.”
T
Lena grunted, and Iughed, “If he doesn’t, I’ll quit. It’s not like I need that job to survive.”
She snickered, and I fell into a deep, peaceful sleep, only to be yanked awake the next morning by
the doorbell ringing over and over.
Reluctantly, I stumbled, to the door, and there was Tanya, staring at me like she’d just smelled
something nasty. We’d been neighbors for a while now, but she’d never actuallye to my door.
I don’t usually wake up cranky, but being woken up by her? Not the best start. “If you’ve got
something to say, say it. Otherwise, leave.”
She gave me a sugary smile. “Nothing in particr. Just thought I’d stop by for a little chat.”
Right. She was still fishing for that team–up she’d hinted at before.
“If it wasn’t clearst time, let me spell it out: we have zero to discuss. And don’t get any other
ideas, Tanya–we’re not the same, never were, never will be. So let’s just pretend each other doesn’t
exist, yeah?”
I knew I sounded sharp, but she didn’t seem fazed. “Aren’t you even a little curious to hear me
out?”
“Not interested,” I said, shutting the door right in her face..
“Keira!” she yelled, her voice slicing through the quiet hallway, but I couldn’t have cared less.
”
Yawning, I went back inside to find Lena on the phone, saying, she’s way too nice. If it were me, I
wouldn’t even look at you if you were on your deathbed. You nearly wrecked her life–you should be
begging for forgiveness…”
I frowned, trying to guess who she wasying into. Then she looked up, saw me, and said, “She’s
here. I’ll let her talk to you.”
She handed me my phone, not even pretending to be discreet. “It’s Jace,” she said, way too
casually.
GET IT NOW.