Page 23 of (Not Really) Faking It With My Best Friend's Brother

Once I was alone, the weight of what had happened began to settle. The sweetness of the ice cream, his infectious laughter, our fingers brushing. The more I thought about it, the more it seemed undeniable. I was falling for Nate, and not just in a "pretend for the cameras" kind of way. Or a small childhood crush kind of way. This was a heart-hammering, can't-stop-thinking-about-him kind of emotion, and it scared me. If I let myself fall for him, what would happen to my heart when our charade was over?

Chapter ten

Nate

The examination room was quiet except for the occasional beep of the monitors. I studied the pale, sleeping face of my young patient, Tyler, searching for answers.

His symptoms—fever, rash, joint pain—didn't fit any diagnosis I could think of. I furrowed my brow, racking my brain.

A knock at the door drew me from my thoughts. Ethan poked his head in, his usual easygoing smile replaced with concern. Behind him loomed Dr. Maddison, her sharp gaze missing nothing.

"No luck finding a cause?" Ethan asked.

I shook my head. "It's a puzzle. His labs are unremarkable, but his symptoms are persisting."

Dr. Maddison crossed her arms. "Well, keep digging. We need to get to the bottom of this."

Her sharp tone didn’t offend me. I knew she cared about the patients as much as I did.

"I'm not giving up," I said. "We'll figure this out. Tyler's counting on us."

Ethan clapped me on the shoulder. "We're here for you, man. Let us know if you need anything."

As they walked away, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. Tyler's case wasn't just another one to add to my list. I felt personally responsible for uncovering the truth. But what if I failed? What if I couldn't solve this mystery and let down one of my most vulnerable patients?

The scent of tomato sauce and melted cheese greeted me as I entered the break room later that day. Susan stood beside the table, an anxious smile on her face as she smoothed her floral print skirt.

"Surprise!" she said. "I hope you don't mind, but I thought I'd bring something for you and the other doctors. It’s homemade."

She gestured to the steaming lasagna sitting on the counter. My stomach rumbled, reminding me I'd skipped breakfast again.

"You're a mind reader," I felt a rush of affection for Susan. Even while planning the library fundraiser, she had gone out of her way to brighten my day.

Her smile widened. "Well, I know you've all been working hard. You deserve a break and a hearty meal."

Ethan and Dr. Maddison entered, drawn in by the tempting aroma.

"Is that lasagna I smell?" Ethan sniffed the air and went to look in the pan. “Susan, you are an angel. I’m still trying to figure out how Nate got so lucky.”

Dr. Maddison gave one of her rare smiles. "This was very kind of you, Susan. Thank you."

Susan blushed. "Oh, it was nothing. I enjoy cooking."

The mood lightened considerably as we gathered plates and dug into the cheesy pasta. Ethan told funny stories about his kids while Dr. Maddison asked Susan thoughtful questions about her work at the library.

We briefly forgot about the job challenges and enjoyed each other's company. Laughter filled the room, easing the ever-present tension.

After we'd eaten our fill, I stood up reluctantly. "We should clean up and get back to work."

Once we were done cleaning up the break room, I pulled Susan aside. "Thank you again for the lasagna. It was just what we needed."

She flashed me a mischievous grin and playfully whispered in my ear, causing goosebumps on my skin. “One of the perks of having a fake fiancée?"

I didn’t know how to respond to her comment. I was afraid she was becoming much more than a fake fiancée, but her expression turned more serious.

"Honestly, I'm happy I could offer some assistance, even if it were just a temporary diversion."

I hesitated, deciding if I should talk to her about the case. I felt stressed and decided it might be nice to have someone to confide in. “I was hoping to talk to you about something. It’s a patient of mine. A little boy named Tyler. His case has me stumped and worried. His symptoms don't quite match anything I've seen before."

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