Page 8 of Dr. Baby Daddy

Kate starts to type out the jazz club’s address on her flyer template. “We’re going to make sure that there are lots of people there to see you play. Dex is going to love you, but he’s going to need to know that seeing you play will draw in a crowd.”

My stomach twists and turns itself into tight knots. “I’m going to have to start practicing. Do you think two days is enough time?”

“You’re going to do great.” She moves around something on the flyer before hitting the print button. “And we’re going to spend the rest of the afternoon canvasing the neighborhood with the flyers. We’ll go to some other apartment buildings too. I have some friends who would be more than willing to buzz us in to drop flyers in mailboxes.”

The nerves give way to excitement as we print off nearly a hundred flyers. Colorful paper spits out onto the floor of my bedroom, advertising my upcoming performance at The Gilded Raven.

I take a deep breath and cross my fingers as we head out the door.

I need this performance to go well. The job at the jazz club is going to keep me able to live in New York.

Kate leads the way to our apartment’s mail room, throwing open the door with a deep bow. Laughing, I walk past her and head over to the shiny metal boxes with a stack of flyers.

I skip my own but spend time carefully folding and shoving flyers into the other nineteen mailboxes. My grouchy neighbor’s is the last one, and for a moment, I consider not stuffing one in there.

Giving him a flyer will only give him another reason to come to my door and complain about my practicing.

Kate hums to herself as she works on folding more flyers for the other buildings we’ll be visiting. I hesitate for a moment longer before stuffing one of the folded flyers in his mailbox.

Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe he won’t yell at me. Maybe this will be a way to bridge the tension between us.

CHAPTER 5

OLIVER

Two patients dead in a week and a half.

I close the door to the room, wishing there was more I could have done.

Victor sighs and shakes his head as we walk to the locker room. “I wish this job was easier. I don’t know why I thought working in the emergency department was going to be a good time. I should have picked obstetrics or something.”

My shoulders slump as we turn a corner. “Sometimes I think I never should have become a trauma surgeon at all. I should have been a librarian. Get to sit in a dusty library all day and not have to worry about people dying.”

He nods and pushes the door to the locker room open. “We did everything we could.”

“And in the end, it still wasn’t enough.”

Victor opens his locker and pulls out a change of clothes. “There are always going to be people we can’t save, no matter how much we do. I just wish that it would get a little easier over time.”

I open my locker and grab my backpack. “At least I have the next two days off. I plan on having a drink and then not waking up all weekend.”

“Still not sleeping?” Victor chuckles and disappears into one of the stalls to change. “Maybe you should have a conversation with that neighbor of yours. You might even like her if you spend the time getting to know her.”

“Not going to happen.”

He opens the door to the stall and comes out wearing a pair of joggers and a T-shirt. “And why not?”

“Well, first of all, she’s annoying as hell. I have to listen to her incessant piano practice every day when I get home. It’s impossible to get any rest.” I sling my backpack over one shoulder. “I’m hoping that tonight is the night she finally gets a life and goes out.”

“You need to relax a little and have some fun too.”

“When are you going to stop trying to insert yourself into what I should and shouldn’t be doing with my life?” My head tilts slightly and I raise an eyebrow. “I didn’t think you cared so much.”

Victor rolls his eyes. “You’re going to live a very boring life if you never let anybody in. I’m just trying to help you.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t need it.”

He flinches at the sharp tone. “Based on the day you’ve had, going home and talking to someone other than a wall would be good for you.”

---