Page 61 of Dr. Roz Harrington
Roz’s chest tightened at the mention of Sam’s name. She turned away, staring at the empty lamp-lit corner. “I’m not talking about this with you.”
“Of course you’re not,” Olivia shot back, her voice sharpening. “You’re Roz Harrington, surgeon, stoic extraordinaire. You’d sooner bottle everything up and implode than admit you’re scared.”
Roz’s head snapped around, her eyes narrowing. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, I do,” Olivia countered, unflinching. “I know you’re scared because this isn’t justsomeone.This is Sam. And she matters to you. God forbid Roz Harrington actually care about something that could hurt her.”
Roz stood abruptly, pacing to the other side of the room. “You don’t get it, Liv. It’s not that simple.”
“Why not?” Olivia pushed. “Because Mom wouldn’t approve? Because you’re worried about the Harrington name? Or because, for once in your life, you can’t control how you feel?”
Roz whipped around, her voice sharp. “This isn’t about Mom.”
“Isn’t it?” Olivia shot back, standing now too. “Everything you do is about proving yourself to her. Roz, you’re not her puppet. You don’t have to let her dictate your life.”
Roz clenched her fists, biting back the surge of emotion threatening to escape. “Liv, just leave it alone.”
Olivia stared at her sister, her expression softening despite her frustration. “I can’t. Because I know you, Roz. And I know that if you let Sam go because of Mom or your stupid pride, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”
Roz said nothing, her chest heaving as silence settled between them. Olivia watched her for a moment longer before sighing, her voice gentler now.
“You don’t have to be perfect, Roz. You just have to be brave.”
She grabbed her coat, leaving the food on the table. At the door, Olivia paused, glancing back over her shoulder. “Sam thinks you’re worth it. I can see it in the way she looks at you. The question is, do you think she’s worth it too?”
Roz didn’t answer. She couldn’t.
The door clicked shut behind Olivia, and the silence returned. Only now, it wasn’t empty; it was unbearable.
The silence in Roz’s apartment stretched long after Olivia left, settling like a physical weight. The tension from their argument still pulsed through Roz’s body, leaving her feeling raw and exposed. She lingered by the window, watching the headlights of cars flash across the street below, but the movement did nothing to distract her from Olivia’s words echoing in her head.
“You’re scared because you care, Roz.”
Roz scoffed to herself, her jaw tight as she paced the length of her living room. She had let Olivia push too far and get too close. No one was allowed to strip her down like that—not her sisters, not Sam,no one.She ran a hand through her hair, frustrated, feeling like a marionette with her strings tangled.
A sudden knock at the door jarred her thoughts. Roz turned sharply, her pulse jumping. “Liv, for God’s sake, ”
“It’s still me,” Olivia’s voice came through, flat but firm. “Open the damn door, Roz.”
Roz hesitated, the earlier confrontation making her wary, but Olivia had never been one to quit easily. With an irritated sigh,Roz pulled the door open. Olivia was back, coat shrugged off and sleeves rolled up like she was ready for another round.
“Didn’t you leave already?” Roz muttered.
“I changed my mind,” Olivia replied, brushing past her again and dropping her coat unceremoniously on the couch. “We’re not done.”
Roz turned slowly, her shoulders squaring defensively. “Liv?—”
“No.” Olivia held up a hand, cutting her off. “You don’t get to shut me out this time, Roz.” She softened, shaking her head. “Not when it’s this important.”
Roz’s chest tightened, the mix of Olivia’s blunt determination and gentle concern throwing her completely off guard. She hated how well Olivia could read her, how quickly her sister had managed to disarm her.
“This isn’t about Sam,” Roz muttered, crossing her arms as if that could guard her from the truth.
“Then what’s it about?” Olivia challenged, stepping closer. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks a lot like you’re running scared.”
Roz’s glare was sharp, her tone clipped. “I’m not scared of anything, Liv. I’ve got it handled.”
“No, you don’t.” Olivia’s voice was steady, unwavering, the calm counterpoint to Roz’s rising frustration. “You think I can’t see what’s happening? You’re panicking because this is real. BecauseSamis real. And God forbid Roz Harrington care about something she can’t control.”
