Page 40 of Rival Hearts

Jett’s family seemed to really like Riley, which was incredibly important to Jett, but she wasn’t sure how Riley felt about them.

After Jett dropped Riley home Sunday, she asked Riley how things went. Riley said that she had a good time, but that she wasn’t used to doing things like that and that she was overwhelmed.

Jett knew about Riley’s upbringing and knew that she didn’t really have much of a family growing up. Jett wanted to give Riley grace and take her at her word, and just accept that Jett’s family was just something Riley would have to get used to, but a nagging feeling kept permeating the back of Jett’s mind.

She was filled with doubts and questions about what they were doing, wondering where this relationship was headed. Riley wasn’t Jett’s girlfriend, but did Jett want her to be? Jett didn’t know.

Throughout the days, Jett barely had time to think about Riley, but when she went home at night, that’s all she thought about. She wanted Riley to get along well with her family and for their relationship to grow and progress, but that idea also scared her.

Jett knew that if she wanted to be with Riley for a long time that she would have to open up and be vulnerable with her, and that was terrifying. She had already told Riley things that she had never told anyone else, but to be open with Riley about her feelings and wants? That was a whole other beast.

It didn’t help that Jett barely saw Riley lately in the hospital. She would occasionally catch glimpses of her as she rushed away in the opposite direction, but the two hadn’t worked together since the week before.

That desire to see Riley at work worried Jett. Was she becoming too dependent on Riley? Jett’s career also meant a lot to her, and she didn’t want a relationship to compromise that, but she couldn’t help but desire Riley whenever another doctor took Jett’s patient in the emergency room.

* * *

Riley texted Jett Wednesday night after Jett finally got home from work after another hellish shift.

Riley:Hey

Jett:Hi

Jett was exhausted and ready to hop in the shower.

Riley:I was wondering if you would like to hang out at my place tonight.

Jett:Not tonight, sorry. I’m tired.

Riley:Okay. Good night.

Jett didn’t respond. She wasn’t sure why, but she knew she was being cold and she felt bad about it, and she just couldn’t bring herself to respond. She found herself starting to distance herself from Riley. Just like she had done in her past relationships that eventually ended in disaster.

Jett didn’t even know entirely why she was doing that, so she just told herself that she was tired, that she would hang out with Riley another time.

* * *

Jett was filled with anxiety throughout the week. She wasn’t sure why, but she kept feeling like something was wrong. It all came to a head on Thursday when Jett was rushing a patient into the emergency room. The doctor that greeted her was not Riley, and instead, Jett saw Riley and Lucinda rushing off together in the opposite direction.

Jett wondered what on Earth could be so bad that it required two trauma surgeons. Why couldn’t one of them be spared to help her? Why couldn’t Riley help her?

The doctor that helped Jett, Dr. Carroll, was good at her job and did everything she could to help Jett’s patient, but the patient still died and Jett couldn’t help but blame Riley. She knew that it wasn’t right and that it was unfair, but Jett’s feelings were all over the place. They weren’t right or fair.

Jett was beginning to wonder if a relationship with Riley was a good idea, if it was sustainable, or if it was just going to crash and burn. She couldn’t deny her feelings for Riley, but they were starting to lead her down some dark and uncomfortable places. Jett wondered if a relationship with Riley was even possible, or if she should have ended it before it turned into disaster.

Jett also didn’t know how Riley felt. Both women had their moments when it came to sharing and exposing themselves, but they also each struggled to convey their emotions. Jett felt like Riley was holding something back. She felt it before the family lunch and supper Sunday, but it got worse as that day wore on.

Jett wondered if Riley had issues with Jett’s family. She had said otherwise, but Jett was worried. Her family was the most important thing to her and she definitely couldn’t be with someone who didn’t respect that or didn’t want that.

Jett didn’t know. She just didn’t know.

* * *

As Jett walked out of the room with Dr. Carroll, both of their heads looking at the ground and a frown on each of the devastated women’s faces, she could hear whispers as she walked.

At first, Jett didn’t hear what they were saying, but after a minute she realized that she was hearing her name and Riley’s name.

Jett looked up and saw a nurse looking at her before she looked away, giggling, and Jett realized what was happening. Her and Riley were becoming hospital drama. Jett froze.

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