Page 34 of Doctor Hot Mess

“You’ve been practicing,” he says, jogging to the back wall after one of my returns nearly clips the corner.

“Not really,” I reply with a grin. “Maybe you’ve just lost your edge.”

His laugh echoes off the walls. “Keep talking, Gray. Still full of hot air.”

After some intense back-and-forth, I land the winning shot. I can’t help but throw my arms up in victory, laughing as Jonah groans dramatically.

“I believe that makes me the winner,” I say, leaning on my racquet.

“Barely,” he mutters, though he’s grinning. “Rematch next time?”

“Anytime,” I say, tossing my towel over my shoulder. “But maybe pickleball next time. You might stand a chance.”

"You should come work out with me while you're in town. It's good for me to get some healthy competition."

"Do you think I could get a short-term membership? Don't most gyms require a commitment?"

"Come with me. You don't have to do anything. Remember, no commitments."

I see what he did there. Making a commitment joke without being crass. I can handle that. I can't ask a zebra to lose his stripes, after all.

"I'll think about it. I'm more of a commitment girl, myself."

We head toward the locker rooms, still catching our breath. I glance at Jonah out of the corner of my eye. There’s a bead of sweat sliding down his temple, and his usual polished charm is replaced with something looser, unguarded. He looks… normal. Real. Not the Jonah who’s always juggling life-or-death situations in the ER or flashing a grin to charm his way out of trouble. Just Jonah, my old friend, who’s annoyingly good at everything—including making me forget, even for a second, why I’ve been keeping my distance.

It’s weirdly easy, falling back into this—joking, competing, not tiptoeing around old wounds or misplaced comments. For the first time in what feels like forever, we’re just... us.

“Hey,” he says, stopping outside the locker rooms. “Thanks for coming. I enjoyed doing this with you.”

I smile, the sincerity in his voice catching me off guard. “Me too, Jonah. You act like this is goodbye! Go shower, and I'll see you in five.”

The last thing I need is for Jonah to go from completely un-self-aware to gushy. Pull those reins back, Buddy!

THIRTEEN

Jonah

5:17 PM

The tires crunchover the gravel driveway as I pull up in front of Harper’s place. The ride back had been easy enough—light banter, a few laughs—but now, as I kill the engine, the quiet between us feels heavier, like something unsaid is hanging in the air.

The sun is starting to dip, so an orange glow catches on the edges of the house, highlighting its charm. It’s small but polished, tucked neatly behind a larger estate. “This is where you're living while you're here?” I ask, leaning forward to get a better look. “Not bad, Nurse Gray. Got yourself a nice little setup here.”

She smirks as she unbuckles her seatbelt. “Jealous?”

“Maybe a little,” I admit, glancing at her. “I’ve got to know—who did you sweet-talk to land this?”

“Just some hospital magic,” she says, stepping out gracefully and reaching for her gym bag. “Thanks for the ride.”

“Anytime.” My hand lingers on the steering wheel as I watch her. Even in the late afternoon gray, after a workout and a long day, she carries herself like she has nothing to prove to anyone. It’s a disarming kind of confidence, and I feel it tug at something deep inside.

She pauses halfway to the door and looks back at me. “You want to come in and see it? It’s not much, but the view of the pool and manicured lawn is pretty spectacular.”

I hesitate. Part of me knows it’s not the best idea—whatever this is, we’re still feeling it out. But the invitation, casual as it seems, is an offer I don’t want to turn down.

“Sure,” I say, stepping out of the car. “But don’t blame me if I rearrange your bookshelves. You know I have a flair for design.”

“Well, dodo, this is a pool house, so there are no bookshelves here,” she shoots back, unlocking the door and motioning me inside.

---