Page 15 of Sticky Situationship

My mom holds my gaze, watching me carefully. “She hasn’t,” she admits. “But I saw her this morning at the hospital, and she looks like hell.”

I almost wish my mother hadn’t added that last bit. It makes everything a million times worse, because it’s my fault Libby’s hurting. I haven’t been honest with her, and she rightfully thinks I’m an asshole who doesn’t care about her feelings when, in reality, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Charlotte’s eyes soften with genuine concern. “What are you going to do, Brock?”

There’s no doubt in my mind I have to do something. The thought of never seeing Libby again, never hearing her laugh or feeling her curl against me, makes my chest ache. I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t at least tell her the truth, even if it changes nothing.

I drain the last of my beer and rise from the stool. “Any chance I can take dinner to go, Mom?”

Charlotte beams, clapping her hands together. “That’s the spirit! I expect full details…and full credit when you and Libby are officially a couple.”

I roll my eyes then glimpse a smile tugging at my mom’s lips as she exchanges a knowing glance with Robert. Then she turns to me. “I’ll pack up enough for two.”

Libby

It’s late, but myapartment smells heavenly, like sweet vanilla, as I slide a tray of cupcakes—not chocolate and not overfilled this time—into the oven. Then, before I do anything else, I set the timer.

“You know,” Zoe drawls from her perch at my counter, “it’s been a while since you’ve made cupcakes, even though you proclaimed baking to be your new hobby months ago.”

I know what she’s up to and don’t take the bait. I love her to death, but my best friend’s attempts to steer the conversation to Brock all evening are pointless. Things between my next-door neighbor and I are over. Like a course of antibiotics that’s run its course.

Not that the fact we’re through makes the sting of finding out he’s had a girlfriend for months any less painful. Especially because of the way I found out. From his mother, a woman I have the utmost respect for and who I still have to see every day. She’s a stark reminder of the ache that’s set up shop in my chestand doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, anytime soon. It doesn’t matter how hard I try to put Brock out of my mind.

But I don’t want to relive that mortification, right now. So I swipe the batter dripping from the side of the mixing bowl, lick it off my finger, and focus on what Zoe actually came over to do tonight. “How would you manage a patient with new-onset atrial fibrillation and rapid ventricular response?”

She shoots me a look as I grab a dishtowel to wipe my hands. “You mean after I assess their hemodynamic stability?”

“Yes.”

“I would control the ventricular rate.”

“How?”

“Beta-blockers. Or calcium channel blockers.”

“Or maybe digoxin?”

“That would work. But seriously, Lib. You haven’t baked since you started seeing Brock. You were happy with him. I know you were.”

“First, I wasn’twithBrock. We were just sleeping together. And second, I’ll be happy when I’m board certified.” I busy myself cleaning up to avoid Zoe’s knowing gaze.

“I’m not saying you won’t be,” she says, clearly unconvinced. “It’s just that you’re baking enough cupcakes to feed an entire fire station.”

I toss the dishcloth at her. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“I prefer the term ‘insightful.’” She catches the towel with a grin before her expression shifts. “But, come on, we both know you have feelings for the guy. Feelings you didn’t let him know existed.”

“Because we had an agreement!” And because things between Brock and me were easy, effortless. Unlike everything else in my life. I didn’t want to ruin that.

“Why don’t you just talk to him?”

I lean against the counter, my shoulders sagging. The vanilla scent that had been so comforting now seems cloying. “What’s there to talk about? I accidentally fell for the no-strings firefighter next door, and he…is seeing someone else. It doesn’t matter now.”

Zoe lets out a sigh. “It matters because you’re miserable. And from what I saw today, Dr. Novak seems to havethoughtsabout the situation.”

I groan, thinking back to the conversation Zoe witnessed this morning at the hospital. Dr. Novak caught the two of us grabbing a cup of coffee in the breakroom after rounds. Her usually stern face softened as she said, “You know, Dr. Bauer, you can be a doctor and a daughter, a wife and a mother, and whatever else you want to be. In fact, the best physicians have balance. They have priorities and relationships outside the walls of a hospital. It’s not in spite of these relationships, but rather because of them, that they can relate to their patients and their patients’ loved ones.”

I press off the counter and add dish soap to the mixing bowl then turn on the hot water. “I don’t know why she felt the need to share, especially because only a week ago, she’s the one who indicated I’m not ready for my boards, but it doesn’t matter. Once I’ve passed the tests, everything will be different.”

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