Page 12 of Doctor Hot Mess

Jonah

Thursday, February 5

CityWalk BHAM

950 22nd Street N

The popof the pickleball hitting Hunter’s paddle is followed immediately by his groan of frustration as it sails out of bounds.

“You’re getting worse,” I tease, sending the ball back his way.

“Or you’re just more annoying,” he fires back, narrowing his eyes. “Anyway, what’s with the face? You look like someone just told you your favorite craft beer was discontinued.”

“Nothing,” I say, smacking the ball with a little more force than necessary. “Just a weird lunch.”

Hunter snorts, sending the ball back with ease. “Weird how? Did someone finally call you out for being a complete dickhead?”

“Funny,” I say flatly. “No. Did you hear Harper Gray is back in town?”

“Harper Gray...” He pauses mid-serve, his brow furrowing. “Oh, the cute nurse from a few years ago? Didn’t she do the travel nursing thing?”

“That’s the one,” I say, lunging to return his serve.

“Don’t tell me you gave her the Jonah Welcome Party,” he says, his tone laced with mock horror.

I stop mid-move, holding the paddle out like a shield. “What the hell is the Jonah Welcome Party?”

“You know.” He leans on his paddle, smirking. “Charming smile. Witty banter. Maybe an inappropriate innuendo or two before you offer to show her your stethoscope.”

I groan, rolling my eyes. “You make me sound like a caricature.”

“If the scrubs fit...” he says, shrugging.

“I didn’t do that,” I say, waving a hand. “We were just catching up. Talking. Then I made a joke about—” I stop myself and shake my head. “Never mind. Forget I mentioned it.”

Hunter straightens and tilts his head. “Wait, are you saying youdidshow your stethoscope in the past? And then you brought it up again after two years?”

“It wasn’t like that,” I protest, aiming a wild shot that Hunter barely hits. “We’ve been friends for a long time. I’ve known her since residency. It was a meaningless one-night thing. I thought I was reading her flirty vibes.”

“Jonah, dude. It’s never meaningless to the girl,” he says, lobbing the ball back with maddening precision. “You are a fucking idiot. What’s wrong with you?”

“I’m serious! That’s how our friendship was,” I insist, hitting the ball with more force than necessary. “I just suggested we could, you know, casually hook up again while she’s in town.”

Hunter freezes, the paddle hanging loosely in his hand. “You what?”

“It was a joke!” I add quickly. But in reality, I meant it. Seeing his reaction, I don’t dare tell him that. “I thought we were on the same page. She was laughing one second, and the next, she was ready to shank me with her butter knife.”

Hunter stares at me for a long moment, then bursts out laughing. “I don’t even know what to say to you right now. For someone who’s so gifted with the ladies, you have no clue.”

“Thanks,” I mutter, tossing the ball into the air and catching it again. “That’s really helpful. Appreciate the support.”

“Seriously, though,” he says, wiping his eyes. “Think about it. You hooked up with her once, two years ago, and your first thought when she shows up is, ‘Hey, let’s revisit that one time we fucked’?”

I frown. “Why is that such a big deal? I wouldn’t say that to just anyone. We joke like that.”

Hunter raises an eyebrow. “Water under the bridge now. Hopefully, the next few months won’t be too awkward for you.”

I glance at him tossing the ball again, though my grip tightens slightly. “I’ve got to make it right.”

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