Page 38 of Forgot to Tell You Something

“Fine,” I mutter, sipping the water and taking long, slow breaths.

“Keep an eye on Lu, will you? She works too hard.” With a squeeze to my shoulder, Dr. Watts walks out, leaving me alone with the man who spent last night buried inside me.

The man who spent the last two weeks feeding me one lie after another.

The fury overtakes the anger, particularly when Owen sits next to me, placing his hand on my knee.

“Tally—”

“Don’t touch me,” I snap, jerking my knee from his grasp.

I’m a professional. It’s time to act like one.

Pushing myself to a standing position, I adjust my glasses, avoiding Owen’s—I meanDr. Stevens’s—gaze. “If you’ll come this way...Dr. Stevens.” I don’t wait for him as I walk out the door, turning left toward the cath lab.

“Tally, please. Let me explain.” He’s at my side, and I hear the panic in his voice.

I, on the other hand, am cold as ice. At least, externally. Internally, I’m suffering a nervous breakdown, temper tantrum, and crying fit all at the same time. But Owen will never know. “The doctor’s lounge is at the end of the hall.”

“Tally.”

“There is an employee gym down there, as well. I don’t go there often, but I’m sure some other medical staff can give you the lowdown.”

He grabs my shoulders, backing me against the wall. “Tally. Stop.”

For the first time since this liar upended my happiness, I meet his gaze. His eyes are wild, and I feel the fear washing off him.

His hands massage my shoulders, but I shirk his touch, tensing. “Darlin, please talk to me.”

“I don’t appreciate pet names, Dr. Stevens.”

But he isn’t listening, intent on making me hear him. Fat chance of that. His forehead presses against mine, and I smell his minty breath. I’m mere inches from his lips—lips that loved every inch of my body while spouting countless lies.

No. No more. I lift my hands to Owen’s chest and push against him.

“Tally—”

“What?” I snap, shoving at his muscled torso. “What do you have to say, Dr. Stevens? I have a job to do here. I’d appreciate it if you’d let me finish, so I can continue my day.”

“I wanted to tell you. So many times.”

“But you didn’t. Instead, you lied—so many times—and here we are.” I suck in a lungful of air when he backs off me, rolling my shoulders and willing up my last vestiges of courage. “I’d like to finish the tour. Beyond that, we have nothing to say to each other.” I turn, taking a few steps down the hallway.

“So that’s it, then? Less than twelve hours ago, we were discussing marriage, Tally. While we were making love. Now you’re going to act like you don’t know me?”

This man didnotjust try to turn this situation on me. Not again. Never again.

I whirl on him, my eyes blazing. “No, Dr. Stevens. I don’t know you at all. The man I knew doesn’t exist. You made him up. I’m not sure why. To fuck with my head? My heart? Bravo, doctor. You win. You sick bastard, you involved your mother in your game. Is it something you two do for kicks?” I take in another deep, shaky breath before setting off down the hallway. “It doesn’t matter. It’s over and done with, so if you follow me, I’ll show you the cath lab.”

I’m not sure how I manage the rest of the tour. I give myself credit that I didn’t impale the good doctor with something. Lord knows there is all variety of sharp instruments in a hospital. The place is a veritable treasure trove of torture devices—just ask our patients.

I purposely avert my gaze from Owen during the rest of the tour, but I feel him burning holes into my visage.

Look all you want, doctor, that’s as close as you’ll ever get to me again.

Rounding the corner, I make a beeline for the nurses station, catching Stefani’s wide-eyed gaze when she sees Owen.

“Owen? What the hell are you doing here?”

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