Page 8 of Shifted

"Ah, so self-made, huh?" He can tell that I am now uncomfortable, so he tries to change the direction of the conversation, causing me to smile in appreciation. His arms crossed as I stood beside him, nodding, “Well, that's impressive, Miss..."

"Taylor, Hope Taylor." He offered his hand to me, and I accepted it.

"Reed Austen, cousin of the drunk loser in the corner." His eyes shift over to Grayson, who is blitzed out of his mind talking to people as Bella walks over to him.

"Rough," I mumbled as he nodded in agreement.

"Are you ever worried?" He questioned.

"Worried?"

"That Grayson will hurt her?" This leaves me more confused and slightly shocked. Bella wasn't always open about their relationship, but from what I knew, he hadn't done anything to hurt her.

“What do you mean?" I glanced at Grayson, who stared at Bella admirably as if she were his world. They were the most perfect couple I’d ever met, almost as if they were made for each other. I’d never seen a dent between them, and I'm sure they’d fight loosely, but all couples do.

"I just know Grayson… and I know Bella," he shrugged.

Before I could comment, I felt like someone was watching me, like a burning gaze against my skin. As I turned, I found Theo staring at me, at us, precisely at our proximity. For some reason, it looked as if he were about to crush the glass in his hand.

"So Reed, the dreamy doctor," I mused as I turned my attention back to him. What's your specialty? I know you're a surgeon, but what do you do?" A smirk grew on his face from my question. He was waiting for me to ask. Unfortunately, I was feeding him what he wanted: attention.

"Cardio-Thoracic, but I have been thinking about General." He marveled; the look on his face showed a love for medicine. From what I've learned, you have to love it to survive in that field.

"So if by some whack chance, my heart were to just, I don't know, burst-"

"Burst? If your heart were just to burst?" I nod.

"Yes, if it were just to burst here and now. You could open me up and fix me with the right materials and machines?” He stared at me, confused, and blinked his eyes three times at my outlandish comment. But I couldn’t help but laugh in response. "What? It was just a thought?"

"You speak your thoughts a lot, I see?" He acknowledged.

"Only the ones that are worthwhile.” Then I winked at him, "It was nice meeting you, Reed." I stepped away before he could say another word and excused myself to the back of the party to accompany Bella. As I turned, I still found Theo staring at me.

"Hope!" I looked at Maria as she called for me and said, "We need to discuss the shower.”

CHAPTER THREE

Hope Taylor

The rain outside was distracting today as it splashed against my office window. Though it was usually relaxing 99% of the time, today it was not. It was windy, making the rain splash against my window in weird splotches. The pattern distracted me as the wind outside howled, shaking the building.

"How's Cortez?" I looked up to see Lucas glancing down at my untouched papers. I hadn’t been as focused on my work after Bella’s shower. I don’t mean to not be on task, especially right now. But my mind was elsewhere. It doesn’t mean I’ve neglected one of the biggest cases in my career so far; I’m just slightly hazy.

"I talked with him and think I have a good angle on the case that will surely hold well in the court. He's not guilty; he's just in a weird position." He slid into the leather chair before me, and I slid the files his way. There had been minimal evidence against him, but the story built around it seemed plausible. His sage eyes scanned them and drifted back to me as he sighed, "Kaden?" I questioned.

"Max.” He says, and now I am confused; there was never any mention of a Max.

“She was my Tinder date a few nights ago, and things went well, and then she just ghosted me!" He explained with a slight hint of sadness in his voice. But I was caught off guard. I thought he’d give Kaden another shot. But now, a new character in his life had appeared.

"It went well on both ends or just yours?" His expression turned more annoyed from my unapologetic words. I didn’t mean to be a downer, just a realist. Sometimes, people didn’t connect as well with Lucas as he thought.

"We've been talking for a while. But then it's just been crickets for two days. She went cold turkey on me, Hope!" He whined like Joely, stomping his shoe against the floor, “What do I do?" He asked. I was slightly confused, but I knew supporting him was my only option. I’d rather be a supportive friend than a shit one.

"Hey fuck Max, find yourself a real one, Lucas. You deserve better!" I tilted my head at him in reassurance as he nodded in agreement. These weren’t the best words, but they were enough.

"I do, don't I," He sat up determined with a new spark of motivation.

"Don't feel sorry for yourself; feel sorry for Max!" I added, watching his confidence slowly form again. He just needed a little boost.

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