Page 11 of Forever Flirting

“Sheesh, what does he need now?”

“Hep-A, for sure… and I would do an Influenza shot, since he’s in daycare,” Everly said openly, “You’ve got to have the last Hep-A, but I also don’t want our little pumpkin getting the flu.”

“You know when he cries – I cry,” Mallory uttered openly, looking very upset and haggard.

“Mal, it’s best for him,” Everly said gently. “Besides, you are my last appointment today – so how about we grab a pizza and watch television?”

“That sounds great, but I have to kick you outta my room at eight tonight. We ought to get you a television, I swear.” Mallory smiled wanly. “I’m on at seven in the morning and scheduled for a twelve-hour rotation.”

“Ugh,” Everly said openly, making a face. “Why do you sign up for those? And no thank you – I will stick with my sappy romance books.”

“Because I need the money,” she admitted easily. “Student loans, daycare for a child in diapers, having to pay for a crummy car that is moderately dependable – it all adds up. Yeah, I’m a doctor… but a broke one.”

“Right? Tell me about it.”

“I seriously don’t know what I would have done if you didn’t let me stay with you,” Mallory said openly, smiling at her. “You saved my butt when I got pregnant and didn’t know what to do. I wasn’t expecting you to ask me to move in…”

“I just didn’t feel like I could abandon you like…”

Mallory smiled sadly before finishing Everly’s sentence.

“I know – they didn’t abandon you, but rather tried to show that they love you in their own weird way. You bought your office, put a good chunk down on your house so that way the payments are affordable, and most people don’t have it that good.”

“I know I should be grateful – but it’s hard to hear how they are having such a great time in Vera Cruz when I am working, have nothing going for me, and feel so alone.”

“You aren’t though.”

“I know,” Everly said quietly and then looked at her friend, feeling tears sting her eyes as she closed them. Alex was there, in her memory, leaning towards her to kiss her, and she could still smell his cologne. That single moment made such an impression on her it was staggering – and hopeless.

Everly opened her eyes and gave her friend a faint smile.

“Do you ever wonder how our lives would be different? I mean, Mallory… I still see his face and hear his voice. Isn’t that the craziest thing? I mean, am I supposed to still miss some stranger from two years ago?”

“He was no good for you,” Mallory said sternly. “You are just sprinkling pixie dust on the hard fact that he’s a typical man, wanting typical guy things. I, frankly, am proud of you for sticking to your guns, or you could have ended up like me – impregnated by some Royal Jerk. You were right and we should haveneverbeen there…”

“All he wanted was my last name or to call me…” Everly smiled sadly, shaking her head. “And sometimes I wonder if I passed up my chance at meeting the man of my dreams.”

“It’s in the past and you need to meet someone good.”

“Mal, I think he could have been, because he was so sweet to me…”

“Buying you a bottle of water or shot of tequila is not ‘sweet’– it’s called manipulative and predatory. I’m surprised you weren’t roofied.”

“Were you?”

“Nope. I was completely stupid and fell for all the perfect lines, had one too many drinks, and was trying to let off some steam. I never imagined the ‘two-pump-chump’ would be so pathetic…”

“Ouch,” Everly winced at the bitterness in Mallory’s voice and how brutal she was in referring to whoever Caleb’s father was.

“Sorry to be so blunt, but you’ve asked about that night so many times in the past and you need to understand that there are some real dogs out there. I think that night we were surrounded with duds, and we both met up with some real losers.”

“Maybe…”

“Definitely,” Mallory corrected. “Now, immunize my baby – make me cry – and let’s get the pizza so I can crash into bed.”

CHAPTER5

MAESTRO

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