Page 113 of Pucking Amazing

I glance up, unable to believe my old mentor at Harvard Med got back to me so quickly. “It’s an email from Dr. Janssen. He thinks he might be able to pull some strings and get me interviews for residency programs.”

“Oh my god, Syd, that’s amazing!” Emma exclaims. She reaches over to squeeze my hand. “See, I told you things would start looking up for you!”

“It’s not a done deal yet,” I say, trying to tamp down the balloon of optimism inflating in my chest. “Interviews are just the first step. Those happen in the fall and winter, and then I’d still have to actually get accepted somewhere. It would be another year until I started a program. If I get into one.”

Selena waves a dismissive hand, her bright red nails flashing. “Please, once they meet you, any hospital would be crazy not to take you.”

I give her a wobbly smile, remembering all the late nights we spent as kids playing doctor. Selena always enjoyed creating dramatic backstories for her ‘injuries’ and I was always the brilliant physician who cured her.

Somewhere along the way, I lost sight of that dream.

“I’m really proud of you, sis,” Selena says softly. “I know this last year has been rough, but look at you—taking charge and going after what you want. Paul can suck it.”

I chuckle at that, even as a shiver goes through me at her repeated use of my ex’s name. Emma notices and shoots Selena a look.

“The point is, we’re here for you, Syd,” Emma says, turning back to me. “Whatever you need, we’ve got your back.”

I nod, blinking back fresh tears.

“Thanks guys,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Um, crash and burn, obvs,” Selena teases with a wink.

I laugh and swat at her arm. “Watch it or I won’t give you any free medical advice when I’m licensed.”

I take a deep breath and smooth my pencil skirt as I walk into the sleek glass lobby of the Midwest Addiction Treatment Center. Relax Sydney, you’ve got this. You already aced the phone interview, so meeting a few people in person will be no sweat.

The receptionist smiles warmly as I approach the front desk. “Addiction specialist interviews?” she asks. “They’re expecting you in Conference Room B.”

I follow her directions down a brightly lit hallway, swallowing my nerves. This is a perfect opportunity for me—a short-term gig that would pay the bills while I try to get back on the residency track.

My first interviewer is an austere woman with steel-gray hair pinned in a tight bun. She squints at my resume over her bifocals. “I see you took some time off from your psychiatry residency, Ms. Nelson. Can you explain that gap?”

My throat tightens. I can’t exactly say, “My abusive ex-boyfriend made me question my self-worth and abandon my career goals.”

I paste on a polite smile. “I wanted to explore addiction counseling before committing to a medical specialty. But I’m eager to complete my training now.”

She makes a noncommittal, “Hmm,” and scribbles a note. Great start, Syd.

The next two interviews go more smoothly. I bond with a jovial social worker over our shared passion for holistic treatment approaches and the medical director seems impressed by my knowledge of the latest harm reduction strategies.

By the time the final interviewer walks me out, my nerves have settled. She gives my hand a warm shake. “I shouldn’t say anything yet, but between us, I think you’ve got this position in the bag.”

I beam at her, giddy relief flooding through me. A fresh start, doing meaningful work, Selena and Emma nearby for support—it’s all coming together.

So why does it seem like something crucial is still missing?

CHAPTER 41

DJ

The goal horn blares and my teammates mob me in celebration, but despite scoring a crucial goal in a crucial game my head isn’t in the moment.

Agony radiates from my knee and it takes everything in me to keep the pain from showing on my face.

We glide back to the bench for a line change and I catch a flash of dark hair in the stands. Just for a second, my heart leaps, thinking it’s Sydney.

But of course it’s not.

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