Page 7 of My Heart Before You

“It’s great.” Mentally, he made a note to tell Kate when she returned downstairs. “I really appreciate her viewing it for me and organizing the purchase.”

Max waved him off. “She was happy to help. Kate loves her job. She gets all jumpy, squealy girl over the really nice properties sometimes.” He chuckled. “Of course, not in front of the client.”

He smiled at the soapy water sliding between his fingers. “Of course not.”

“I’ll help you unpack boxes this weekend if you like. I saw we’re both off on Friday.”

A heaviness settled in his stomach at the idea of unpacking the boxes that filled his empty condo. “That’s okay. I’ve got it. I’m sure you’d rather spend the day with your family.”

Only the sound of running water filled the designer kitchen until his eyes flitted up to meet his friend’s.

“Colin, youarefamily.”

Pale blue eyes held his gaze for what felt like an excruciating amount of time, though it was only a brief second. As he focused on rinsing the last serving dish, his teeth clenched together, helping him keep the dampness that threatened at the corners of his vision under control.

Max cleared his throat, and his voice gained a teasing tone when he spoke again. “So you’re actually going to live in this condo, right? No sad bachelor pad like all your other places?”

“My places weren’t that bad,” he threw back, relieved to be on more familiar ground.

“I’ve seen freshman dorm rooms with more personality.” Max placed the dry dish on the counter and crossed his arms.

“You know the drill, man. Work trumps all. Saving lives takes precedence over decorating.”

His friend snickered. “You’ll have plenty of time now.”

“I guess . . .”

“You know you can order almost anything online now. All types of housewares.”

“It would be helpful to have a nightstand for my phone, so I wouldn’t have to get out of bed to answer it.”

“Watch out world!” An elbow hit him in the ribs.

“You’re one to talk. I’m sure Kate made this place look like a home, not you.”

“Hey.” Max thrust out his chest. “I picked out the Adirondack chairsandoversaw the fire pit construction.”

“My mistake.” He grinned, raising his palms.

“I’m glad you live here. It will be like med school all over again, but better because now we have paychecks.”

Max could always make him laugh.

“I’ll definitely have time to hang out.”

“Yes. Let’s do dinner out Friday, just us. I know this amazing steak place downtown. Kate won’t mind. She’d be excited to get me out of the house, so she can watch trashy reality TV without me commenting on its stupidity every six seconds.”

“Okay, that sounds great,” he said, excited by the prospect of spending the evening with his friend rather than being alone in his condo again.

“But seriously, you are going to love the reduced hours. Not at first. It’s going to seem really crazy, and you won’t know what to do with yourself, but soon you’ll discover you’ve got time for things you didn’t before. You know, like hobbies . . . maybe even a girl.” Max waggled his eyebrows.

Though he’d dated off and on, his focus had always been on his professional goals first. Initially, it was getting into medical school, then excelling at medical school, followed by getting into a top residency, and becoming a great surgeon. All those commitments took a tremendous amount of time. He could never find a woman who could understand his work hours or his dedication to his career. And since the accident, he’d just shut that part of himself down.

But then there was the memory of the honeysuckle scent of the brunette who bounced off his body in the hall. The fragrance immediately threw his mind to springtime as a boy, riding bikes in the humid air, vibrating with the knowledge that summer was right around the corner and with it, the feeling of promise, of potential.

That same potential, that oscillation coursed through his veins for the brief second his hands held her arms.

Mentally, he gave himself a hard shake. Better not to entertain that thought.

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