Page 4 of Hearts Clash

“Sure you would,” Gianna retorted, “but really, it’s all good. The kid made it through surgery and is expected to make a full recovery. So now, margaritas.”

She grinned brightly as the bartender handed them each a tall glass rimmed with salt. They made their way over to their usual booth toward the back, sinking down into the plush leather seats.

“To me and my kick-ass cardiac surgery skills!” the elder sister quipped as she lifted the cocktail in the air to toast, “I love me. How great am I?”

“Eh, you’re okay,” Bianca fired back instantly, raising her glass to meet hers. “I love you anyway, though.”

“Oh, shut up,” Gianna snorted as the glasses clinked together. “I’m awesome. If anybody had half a brain in their head at the hospital, they’d make me the head of cardiology. I’m the best damn surgeon they’ve got. But no, I guess Doctor Anderson is gonna stay there forever. And anyway, if it ever does open up, I’m sure perfect prim Scarlett Miller will swoop right on in there just because she’s been here longer. Ugh. I hate that woman.”

“Is that the hot redhead you keep complaining about?” Bianca asked, her eyebrows suggestively quirking up and down quickly. “The one you totally want to have hate sex with in the supply closet?”

“Oh my god, I do not,” Gianna protested, swatting playfully in her sister’s direction.

Well, maybe a little bit, sometimes. Okay, more than a little bit. She 100% wanted to have hate sex with Scarlett Miller and mess up her perfect hair. But mostly, she hated her guts. Scarlett was cold, inflexible, stuck-up, and condescending. Sure, she was gorgeous and obviously a highly accomplished surgeon, but she always acted like she was better than everyone else.

“Uh, yeah, you totally do,” Bianca contradicted, her expression unimpressed, and reached out to poke her sister’s arm. “You’re obsessed with her. All you talk about is her.”

“Because you keep asking me questions about her!” Gianna argued. “Anyway, even if she wasn’t totally insufferable, I’m not looking for anything right now. I’m done with all the relationship drama. Just casual hookups and fun dates from now on. No strings, no worries, and definitely no getting mixed up with anyone from work.”

“Nah, Gigi, I’m not buying it. You’re a relationship type of woman. I totally respect that you’re having your no-girlfriends phase right now, but I give it until New Years, tops. You’re a hopeless romantic,” Bianca teased gently. Her dark eyes shone with mischief in the dim lighting.

“Nope. Not anymore. After Jade, I’m never doing relationships again,” Gianna replied sternly.

“Whatever you say,” her little sister said, clearly not believing a word of it.

Gianna drained the last dregs of her margarita in one go. Her sister followed suit, and over the next couple of hours, they worked their way through several more rounds. They gossiped about their coworkers and mutual friends, enjoying a carefree evening together.

***

At about eleven-thirty, Gianna stumbled through her front door and flopped down on the couch. A bundle of fur hopped up on the seat next to her and curled up next to her leg, purring affectionately. Her tabby tomcat, Cocoa, was a strictly indoors animal, and he was terribly clingy. As soon as the door opened, the fluffy feline would be at the doorway to rub against her legs and follow her every step.

“Hey, you,” she greeted him in a sweet voice as she patted his soft head and back. “Did you miss me?”

The cat continued his loud purr, stretching out along her thigh. Within moments, he had made himself comfortable and drifted off to sleep, his paws kneading softly.

Carefully so as to not disturb the adorable furball, Gianna lifted her sleek white laptop from the shelf behind her. She balanced the machine on her thighs and booted it up, then went straight to WomenConnect. Determined though she may be not to get seriously involved with anyone, there was nothing wrong with a little harmless online flirting. Keeping her options open was a sensible life choice, right? Just because she spent every night talking to the same person and anxiously awaiting the mystery woman’s messages didn’t mean she was becoming attached. Right? Right.

Checking her friends list, she grinned to herself when she saw that her favorite username was currently online. For the past few weeks or so, they had been chatting every night, sometimes for hours. Her new online friend was also a surgeon, so they’d had that to bond over immediately. From there, the conversation just flowed. Unlike Gianna, who had been comfortably and openly out since her mid-teens, the enigmatic DrHeart was still coming to terms with her sexuality. Usually, Gianna avoided women like that, having been burned in the past. This was just a harmless online thing, though, and anyway, it was nice to help someone out, like she had once wished someone would do for her.

Grinning widely, she quickly typed out a message.

EmergencyKisses: You’re up late. I thought you had a rigid circadian schedule that needed to be strictly maintained at all costs. Should I be worried?

A brief pause, but only for a few seconds. She bit her lip excitedly as the three-dot chat bubble appeared in the corner of the screen.

DrHeart: Hey. Yeah, just got back from dinner with my parents. I couldn’t fall asleep afterwards.

Her heart squeezed in sympathy. Her own parents had accepted her easily enough. Well, relatively speaking, compared to a lot of people. There had been some awkwardness and confusion, and some unintentionally hurt feelings and miscommunication, but they always did their best to support her. Her poor internet friend, though, seemed pretty hung up on her parents’ potential reactions.

EmergencyKisses: Something happen? I’m here to listen.

DrHeart: Aww, thanks. It wasn’t really bad or anything. Just awkward. Mom’s still trying to set me up with every single man she comes across, that’s all. It’s exhausting.

EmergencyKisses: Ahh, that kind of thing sucks. My dad was like that right after I came out. He stopped as soon as I brought my first girlfriend home, though. He liked her more than I did, I think. It’s been twenty years, and he still asks me about this woman I dated for five months in college.

DrHeart: Haha, well, that’s reassuring. Maybe. Not sure how they’d take it, to be honest. They’re very, you know, traditional.

EmergencyKisses: Oh, I hear you. Good luck, my friend. If you ever need anything, my inbox is always open.

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