Page 99 of Doctor Hot Mess

Her ponytail sways as she steps out onto the patio. Although wrinkled, her scrubs look perfect on her. Her face is tired but beautiful, the soft light catching on her cheekbones.

My chest tightens, and my palms clammy against the table. I feel like I’m sixteen again, seeing a girl I’ve been crushing on walk into the room.

In her hand is the foil wrapper I scribbled on. She places it down on the table in front of me.

I glance down at the note, the hastily scrawled words staring back at me:

Completely stupid but somewhat charming guy wants to see you on the rooftop?—

A lump forms in my throat, but I manage to grin. “Guilty as charged.”

She chuckles softly, pulling out the chair across from me but not sitting just yet. “Well, here I am. You’ve got about ten minutes before they realize I’m gone. Make it count.”

“Can I get you a coffee? Tea?” I ask, standing up.

She shakes her head, crossing her arms. “I don't have the time, unfortunately. I snuck out, and Carly is covering for me, but they will notice because we are short tonight.”

I take a deep breath, rubbing the back of my neck as I try to find the right words. “I owe you an apology. Last night... I handled it all wrong. You were trying to let me in, trying to talk about your future, and all I could do was shut down. That wasn’t fair to you.”

She doesn’t say anything but watches me with that steady, unflinching gaze of hers. I'm trying to read her, but she's still here, so that's something.

“The truth is, I didn’t know how to handle it,” I admit. “You said it was a dream job, and all I could hear was that you were leaving. And yeah, that scared the hell out of me. Because it's not in my DNA to ask you to stay—I couldn’t do that—but the thought of losing you...” My voice falters, and I clear my throat. “It felt like there were no choices. And I acted like a dick.”

Her eyes soften, and I can see her starting to lower her guard.

“But Harper,” I continue, leaning toward her on the table, my hand finding hers, “I realized something today. I’d rather lose six months than lose you forever. If you’ll give me another chance, I’ll try to be better—not perfect, because I’m a work in progress—but I’ll keep working at it. I swear. And I'll send you love notes on gum wrappers every day.”

She blinks, and for a moment, I’m terrified she’s going to tell me it’s too late. But then she smiles—small, hesitant, but real.

“You’re such a stubborn ass, you know that?” she says, her voice shaky but light.

I laugh, relief flooding through me. “Yeah. I’ve been told.”

She takes a step closer, closing the gap between us, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I let myself hope.

“Six months,” she says quietly. “That’s all it is.”

I nod. “And I’ll be here when you get back. If you’ll have me.”

Her answer comes in the form of a kiss—soft at first, then deeper, more certain. The world falls away, and for a moment, it’s just us.

When we pull back, she rests her forehead against mine. “I have to get back to work,” she whispers.

“I know.”

She takes a step back, her hand lingering on my arm for a moment before she turns and walks toward the door.

Epilogue

HARPER

Wednesday, March 17

Jonah’s Condo

5:49 PM

The smellof corned beef wafts through the house, mingling with the faint floral scent of the shamrock centerpiece Jonah insisted we put on the table. I don't tell him, but the smell makes me a little nauseous.

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