Page 65 of Doctor Hot Mess

As we walk out, I catch the faintest flicker of something easing inside me. It’s nothing I can put my finger on, but for the first time in a while, the load I'm carrying doesn’t feel quite so heavy.

TWENTY-FOUR

Harper

The Essential

8:29 AM

The patio is bathedin sunlight. It's the perfect antidote to the past few days and the cap to my overnight shit.

It always feels like a little escape to come here, especially now that the weather is nice, so we can sit out here. Walking out with the sun hitting my face is the closest thing to normal I’ve had in days.

Especially considering I get to share it with Jonah today.

He’s already seated when I walk out. He has a cup of iced coffee in front of him while his fingers drum lightly on the edge of the table. He looks more relaxed than he did a couple of days ago when this all started, but there’s still a tightness around his eyes that betrays the weight he’s carrying.

“Hey,” I say, sliding into the chair across from him.

He looks up and offers a faint smile. “Hey. Thanks for agreeing to have a post-workout coffee with me, even though I haven't been the sweetest version of myself.”

“Of course,” I reply, setting my bag on the chair beside me. “I love this spot.”

“Good choice,” he says, glancing around. “The weather’s perfect today.”

“Hard to argue with sunshine and good coffee,” I say as I hang my bag on the back of my chair. I take a long, delicious sip of my iced matcha latte and settle back in my chair. “So, how’s Lila doing?”

He lets out a breath, his hand moving to his coffee mug. “She’s struggling, but she’s holding up. My parents showed up yesterday, which, I’ll admit, was a surprise.”

“Really?” I ask, tilting my head. “Is that unusual for them?”

He nods, his jaw tightening slightly. “Yeah. They weren’t the most productive nor present parents back in the day. But they’re here now. They’re even taking her to visit some gambling rehab programs today.”

“That’s a big step,” I say carefully, gauging his reaction. I don't want to push too hard this time for fear he will shut down again.

“It is,” he agrees, though there’s a hint of skepticism in his tone. “But Lila’s got a long way to go. She owes a significant amount of money to some very dangerous people. She admitted they’ve been threatening her.”

My stomach twists at the thought. “Threatening her how?”

“Not just her—she says they’ve gone after people she knows. And they want her to come up with the money fast. She’s barely getting any breathing room. It’s… a lot.” His voice drops slightly, frustration bleeding through.

I try to hide my shock, drawing lines in the condensation on my cup. “How much does she owe?”

“Eighty grand,” he says flatly, rubbing his temples. “They told her to come up with at least half in two weeks. She says she’s trying, but… I don’t know. She’s scared.”

“That’s…” I trail off, shaking my head. “Insane. Sorry for my reaction, but I just can't believe all of this.”

“Yeah,” he says bitterly. “And now she’s in over her head, caught up in a mess that keeps getting bigger. It’s why I told her to take the rehab idea seriously. She’s never had the willpower to follow through, but this… this feels different. Maybe seeing Mom and Dad step up is making a difference.”

Hearing him admit this after his stark response to my suggestions of rehab is refreshing.

“That’s hopeful,” I say softly. “If she’s willing to go, maybe it’s exactly what she needs.”

Jonah nods, though his shoulders remain tense. “Yeah, maybe. I just wish it hadn’t taken her getting in this deep to make it happen.”

“That must be strange for you,” I say, watching his reaction carefully.

He lets out a dry laugh. “Yeah, you could say that. Mom’s trying to handle this differently. She admitted some things she never has before. About how they handled things with me and Eddie. About how they—” He stops, shaking his head. “Never mind.”

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