Page 17 of The Doctor's Surprise Family

“I don’t think so.” I closed my eyes, feeling tired. “I mean, it crossed my mind he might’ve showed up on purpose, but when I saw him, he looked… surprised. And he didn’t try to talk to me, or come after Oli. He just kind of stood there as I walked away.”

“Still, that is so weird.” Joelle made abrrsound. “He called Sam as well, out of the blue, like he didn’t just ghost him for almost four years.”

“Four years.” I sighed. “His timing’s the worst.”

“Sam said the same, when he told me Blake called. You’re just starting your residency, andnowhe shows up? Not when, oh, I don’t know, you needed the help?”

“He hasn’t really shown up,” I said. “Or, not in any way that matters. He’s here, but he’s not… he’s not in our lives.”

“Do you want him there?”

I bared my teeth. “No.”

“We can ghost him as well, if it’d make you feel better. Sam’s busy anyway, and we’ve got our work friends. And Blake’s kind of boring, with all his books.”

“He’s not boring,” I said. “He’s more just… he’s quiet.”

“He’s a douche and a liar. And a deadbeat dad.”

I pressed my lips together. I’d thought all that, too. But giving voice to it felt somehow wrong, like betraying some confidence. Crossing some line.

“You’re not thinking of seeing him?” Joelle’s tone was sharp.

“What? No. Of course not. He left us. We’re done.”

“But you jumped to defend him when I whipped out my claws. Youareover him, aren’t you?”

“Soover him.”

“Because I can come over there if you need me to slap you. I was there, remember, all those nights you sat crying. All those times you wrote him and he never wrote back. Whodoesthat, just dips, not even a Dear Jane?”

“Keep talking,” I said.

“He’s a dick and an asshole. A whole dick and ass. And you — you’re a catch. You deserve a good man. I mean, come on. You’re hot. You’re a doctor. You’ve got a great kid, and you’re the best mom I know. You don’t evenneeda man, but you’d have your pick. If you got on the apps, I’m telling you… whoa.”

I smiled. “Thanks. I needed that.”

“Damn right you did. Now, let me hear it: a whole dick and ass.”

“I’m not saying that. But, yeah. Blake’s the worst. He walked out on me when I needed him most, and he walked out on Oli, and I can’t forgive that.”

“Yeah. Now you’re talking.”

“Awhole… D and A.”

“That’swhat I’m saying.”

“You always know what to say.”

Joelle laughed, then she sobered. “You should come by. It’s been a while since we barbecued, or hell, just hung out.”

“With work, and with Oli?—”

“I know. But you’ll bring him. He can nap in the guest room after dessert.”

“Sounds perfect,” I said. It really did. It had been a while since my life had felt likemine, since I’d done much of anything that wasn’t kid-focused. Getting back to my residency was a big step, but I needed a social life. A little adult time.

We hung up, and I switched my phone to silent. I lay back and gazed at the stars on my ceiling, most of their glow gone with the passing years. When I’d seen Blake, my heart had leaped, pure joy. Relief. That had lasted a second, then the panic had hit. Then came the anger, the hurt, the betrayal, wave after wave trying to sweep me away. But Joelle was right: what I felt didn’t matter. Neither did anything we might’ve once had. Blake had walked out on Oli, and that was the end. So he was back now — so what? So nothing. I couldn’t let him distract me, not from work or from Oli. Nothing else mattered. Nothing at all.

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