Page 87 of Dr. Off Limits

“Let go?”

“Of the idea that you’re living in our parents’ shadow. That you have to make the right choice all the time. Of the promotion.”

“Even if that were possible, which it’s not, I’m not the only one with skin in the game. Sutton ended things between us, if you remember. She’s ambitious and wants to make a name for herself.”

“I liked her.”

Pride I had no right to bloomed in my gut. She wasn’t mine to be proud of anymore, but Zach rarely liked anyone and never so much as noticed most people.

“She’s a great person, a good doctor and... it hurts.”

“You know the stuff with the pee bottle at uni—”

“Yes, Zach, I was there. I remember.”

“Sometimes I wonder why you didn’t join the company and start doing other inventions. You made so much money.”

“Because I wanted to practice hospital medicine.”

“Like Mum and Dad.”

I nodded. “Exactly.”

“You had a plan and you stuck to it.”

“Mum and Dad are two of the most successful doctors in the country. It worked for them.”

“But they didn’t plan it out.”

“So Mum just said. I’m not planning things out so I can have exactly the same career as them. I’ve learned how to navigate things as a result of their career.”

“Really? I’m not sure that’s true. I think you have a plan in your head that two and two equals three. If you do this, this, and this, then you’ll have maintained the Cove legacy, but distinguished yourself and everything will be fine.”

“So what?” He was saying it like it was a bad thing.

“So you might gain those things you think you will—though there’s no guarantee. But have you ever thought about what you’ll lose along the way? I’m not saying you shouldn’t plan, but I don’t think you should be so narrow-minded that you lose out on things that could be bigger and better than you and your plan could ever have imagined.”

This didn’t sound like Zach. “Who is inhabiting my ultra-sensible brother’s body right at this moment?”

“I mean it. I’m not saying I don’t have a plan. I do, but if a bigger and better opportunity came along, I’m not going to say no because it wasn’t on my list.”

“Okay. But I’m not saying no to some huge opportunity.”

“I guess it depends on what your ultimate goal is and how you see Sutton.”

He paused and I let his words sink in. I’d been clear about my ultimate goal—I wanted to be successful. And I wanted to not shit all over what my parents had done.

“I can see you thinking,” he said. “Your ultimate goal should be a good and happy life that you enjoy. If you think that’s what you’re going to achieve with this promotion, that’s great. But if you think being with Sutton will help you live a good and happy life, then maybe she usurps the promotion. The goal remains the same but the paths change. It’s no different than going through the foundation program and changing your mind about what you want to specialize in. The goal is still to be a doctor.”

I sucked in a breath, taking in the clean, cool sea air. “I get it.”

“You’ve always been so focused, Jacob. But with that focus comes a lack of flexibility. I know you want this promotion, but what happens if you didn’t get it? Say they chose to give it to someone else.”

I raised my eyebrows. “I don’t want to blow my own trumpet, but it’s unlikely.”

“Of course,” Zach replied, unsuccessfully covering his sarcasm. “But just say some overseas specialist came in—or maybe they got rid of the role entirely. Then what?”

“Then I’d figure out another way to... Oh, so you’re saying if it’s possible to find another way if it’s forced on me, then...”

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