Page 79 of Doctor One Night

She turns back to me before she leaves. “He really did love you, Frankie. He never stopped. Losing you broke a piece of his heart that was never whole again.”

And with that, she’s gone, leaving me alone with my thoughts, my grief, and the overwhelming sense of loss. I stand there for a long moment, unable to move, unsure of what to do next.

The first person I want to call is Hunter. I need his steady presence, his calm, his understanding. But even as I reach for my phone, I hesitate, not wanting to burden him with more after what he’s just gone through with his own mother.

With trembling fingers, I type out a message, asking if he can come over.

TWENTY-SIX

Hunter

City Walk BHAM

4:59 pm

I slam the ball over the net, aiming for the corner of the kitchen. Shep lunges, his paddle outstretched, but the ball whizzes past him. Game point.

“Damn it!” Shep curses, wiping sweat from his brow. “That was a killer dink shot.”

I can't help but grin. “Thanks. Your third shot drop almost had me earlier.”

We shake hands at the net, both of us breathing hard. The late afternoon sun beats down on the court, gluing my shirt to my back.

“Good game, man,” Shep says, clapping me on the shoulder. “But I demand a rematch next week.”

“You're on,” I laugh. “Maybe by then you'll learn how to handle my backhand drive.”

We grab our water bottles and head to the bench. As we cool down, Shep asks, “How's that pacemaker trial going? Heard you got some big-shot sponsor on board.”

“Yeah, it's moving along. Still a lot of red tape to cut through, but we're making progress.”

“And how's working with Dr. Renna? I've heard she's brilliant.”

I nod, trying to keep my face neutral. “She is. We make a good team.”

As I reach for my phone to check the time, I notice a missed text from Frankie. My stomach drops when I read it.

Hunter, can you call me when you get a chance? It's important.

Something about this message, now, when she knows I'm playing pickleball, sets off alarm bells. I quickly start packing up my gear.

“Everything okay?” Shep asks, noticing my sudden change in demeanor.

“Not sure,” I reply. “I've gotta run. I'll catch you later, alright?”

He nods, concern evident on his face. “Sure thing. Let me know if you need anything.”

I hurry to my car, my mind racing. What could be wrong? Is it about the trial? Or something more personal? I need to call Frankie and find out.

The cryptic nature of the message leaves too much to the imagination. Did she find out something from the IRB? Surely it’s too soon to know already.

I hit the call button, my heart pounding as hard as it was during my run. She answers on the second ring, and I can hear the tension in her voice immediately.

“Hunter…”

“Frankie, what’s going on? Are you okay?”

There’s a pause, and then she exhales softly. “I just… I really need to see you. If you’re not busy.”

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