Page 53 of Lakesides and Longing

He didn’t really want to see her. Debbie had a way of making everything about her, and he didn’t want to deal with her drama. He hadn’t realized how much it bothered him until he started dating Paige. She was so easy. He didn’t know women could be like that. He’d just assumed they were all like Debbie. Or in the case of his friend’s wives, hiding it around others.

“I’m getting too old for this,” a voice said. Blake spun around and found Jacob standing behind him. He dropped his bag on the bunk next to Blake’s.

“Yeah, you gonna retire from the team after this?” Jacob was an infectious disease specialist and the best in his field, but he was probably nearing his seventies by now.

“I could try, but they won’t let me.”

Blake chuckled. “Well. At least you know you’ll be saving lives.”

Patricia poked her head in the door. “Everyone’s here. They’re going to brief us now.”

Blake went into the lab and spotted Debbie on the other side of the room, tapping a finger on her knee. She probably didn’t know what to do with herself without her phone.

She glanced over and met his eye. She gave him one of her million-watt smiles, but it didn’t affect him like it used to. He gave her a nod hello though.

Dr. Oaks walked in, and everyone quieted. Blake had been with this team for several years now, and he still didn’t know Dr. Oaks’s first name.

“Okay people. An Ebola-like disease has been discovered in a small town in Bolivia. So far it’s contained, but it’s airborne.”

A collective gasp went around the room. They’d always talked about what would happen if Ebola went airborne. Two-thirds of the earth’s population would be wiped out.

“What’s the fatality rate?” Jacob asked.

“Eighty percent.”

Blake whistled. “What do you need from us?”

Dr. Oaks’s face remained serious. “We need a treatment. None of the medicines for Ebola have proven effective. You guys need to find something that will kill this son of a bitch.”

Blake rubbed a hand along his face. This would not be an easy task, and he would have to work closely with Debbie. Once Dr. Oaks ended his speech and handed out assignments, Blake headed to his usual table. Debbie was already there, poring over the reports. He wondered if she even bothered listening or just got right to work.

“Anything useful in there?”

She shook her head. He didn’t want this to be awkward because they had to work together.

“Congrats on your marriage.”

She jerked her head up, her face a mask of surprise.

“It’s over.”

“It was just like two months ago.”

“He cheated on me during my honeymoon.”

Ouch.

“I’m sorry.” Though he was no longer in love with her, he still wanted her to be happy.

She shrugged. “It’s over, and I’m okay. That just means you and I can sneak off to the bunk room when we need a break.” She winked at him. So much for things not being awkward.

Paige’s beautiful face flashed in his mind. “I’m seeing someone.”

“So.”

“So, I won’t cheat on her.” Debbie was never one to care for boundaries like that. He wondered how often she cheated on him.

She placed a hand on his arm and puffed her chest out. “Come on, Blake. We both knew it was only a matter of time before we got back together. This seems as good a time as any.”

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