Page 88 of Undeniably Enemies

The power few of us realize we have is looking around despite previous failures or heartbreaks and saying, wow, there are so many things in this world I can do. It’s a dare to the universe. A try and stop me. It’s courage and determination. It’s grit and resiliency.

Instead, most of us use those previous failures and heartbreaks as food to feed our demons and insecurities. You know those fuckers. The ones who tell you you’re not good enough or smart enough or you’ll never make your dream a reality. Let’s face it, chasing that is scary as fuck, and if you don’t try, then you can’t fail, and you won’t have to feel that crushing defeat all over again. I mean, that shit is daunting and terrifying, and it’s much easier to allow the world to cripple us, right?

I have my reasons for being nervous and allowing stupid thoughts to trickle into my head as I sit alone in a conference room at the head of an intimidatingly large oval table. I’m waiting for the board and Callan to arrive, trying not to fidget or even get my hopes up. More than that, I’m trying to talk myself into this position, which feels odd for me. Ambition isn’t something I’ve ever lacked.

But if I’m not chief, if I’m simply an attending, what does that do to my life? Or more importantly, what does that do for my potential with my too-pretty and too-perfect-to-be-ignored neighbor and student? I’d still be her boss in a way, and there is a hierarchy, but it’s not the same as chief to intern. It’s just not. That’s pretty much a forbidden no-go any way you slice it.

As the board walks in, I have to remind myself that it doesn’t matter if I’m her boss or not. Wren doesn’t want me that way. She told me so. She’s not looking for a relationship with me, and I’d be a fucking fool not to take this shot. I can’tnottake this shot. It’s not who I am.

Slowly everyone greets me, and I put the girl to the back of my mind and get my game face on. I smile and shake all their hands. I joke and shoot the shit before we get down to it. I’m impassioned. I’m honest. I hold nothing back. I give this interview my all and when I walk out of there, I know that I left my blood, sweat, and tears on the field—or in the boardroom—as always. It’s what I do. It’s who I am.

But as I make my way down to the ER, I’m feeling an uncomfortable and unfamiliar twist in my gut. I can’t even fully describe what it is. I just know it’s not good. And when I catch a flash of a blonde ponytail crossing the hall, I know it’s the notion that I just potentially gave her up for good. I take a moment to let that sink in, and when I do, nothing feels right.

My scrubs are uncomfortable and scratchy. My skin cold and tight.

Last night with her… I want last night to be every night with her. I want last weekend to be every weekend with her. But that’s not an option, right? I mean, it’s not, is it?

I stare at the hall she’s no longer in and wonder what would Wren Fritz do if I told her I was in love with her?

“Jack, we have a VIP coming in, and you’re the one attending here today who can take her. It’ll just be you and me, and we need to keep this quiet.”

I spin to find Margot with her phone in her hand, and I tilt my head. “Why? What’s going on?”

Margot glances around and nods for me to follow her a bit so no one overhears us. “It’s Octavia Fritz.”

“What?” That instantly gets my heart going. “What’s going on? Is she okay?”

Octavia Abbot-Fritz is the matriarch of the Fritz family. The reigning queen of Boston, and that is no exaggeration. She’s also ninety-one years old.

“I don’t know the details. I just know she fell.”

“Shit,” I hiss. Half of her family, children and grandchildren, work in this hospital. Hell, didn’t I just see Wren walk down the hall? Thankfully, Sorel and Layla aren’t here today. “Does she need a trauma room?”

Margo shakes her head, her brown curls swinging with it. “No, but I don’t know the extent of the fall or her full injuries.”

“Let’s prep one of the isolation rooms then. They’re big and separated from the rest of the ER.”

“Good call. Plus, they’re near the back ambulance bay, and that’s where they’re bringing her in.”

“She’s coming by ambulance? It’ll be everywhere in five minutes.”

Margot smirks. “Their chief of security made the paramedics all sign NDAs and took their phones until after she’s out of their rig.”

I laugh. “Smart man. Let’s get this going before she arrives. You know Wren is here.”

“I do, and Rina is upstairs along with Katy, Keegan, Carter, Grace, and Oliver.” Oliver is Keegan’s dad and the youngest Fritz son. He’s actually one of the people Owen was named after since he’s best friends with Owen’s mother, Grace. Speaking of Owen…

“Shit. They’re all going to kick my ass when they realize I’m hiding their mother and grandmother here.”

“You and me both. But we have no choice, and I won’t let Dr. Marshall take her, so let’s do it.”

Margot and I prep the room and decide to keep it between just us. No aides or techs to help us out. At least not until we know what’s going on and know her wishes. Ten minutes later, the ambulance pulls in, and we tell everyone we’ve got it and to back off. They do, and we wheel Octavia, who greets me with a smile and a “Hello, Jack, dear,” into the room.

She has a cut on her cheek, one on her forehead, and an obvious wrist fracture. She’s also alone, which I don’t like.

“Mrs. Fritz, where’s your security, and where is Dr. Fritz?”

Dr. Fritz, meaning her husband.

---