Page 39 of Merry Little Heartbreak

“Getting involved with Drake is unprofessional and could jeopardize my application for the new position.”

“When do they decide about this new position?”

“By Christmas.”

“And you don’t want to risk him quitting, so you need to keep him happy.” Izzy smiled. “Two birds, one hot, sexy hookup. He’ll decide to stay, and you two can make cute babies.”

“This is a mess. I’m not going to sleep with Drake to convince him to stay at Mercy.”

“No, but you can sleep with Drake because you two have chemistry, history, and still care about each other. You can have your cake and eat it too. Test the waters with Drake outside of work. Convince him he wants to be a Mercy doctor while at work.”

“That sounds like a recipe for disaster, and if I get the position at the end of the month, then what?”

“Then you take the job, and then it’s up to Drake what he wants to do, but my guess is he’s already plotting how to stay. I think he has realized he made a mistake.”

“He did say he shouldn’t have left me behind, but I think that means he thinks he should have convinced me to go to UCLA. He isn’t exactly the type to second-guess himself, and he’s created an impressive career in LA.”

“Look, don’t get ahead of yourself. For now, just focus on your application, and if you and Drake want to spend time together outside of work, then so be it. It isn’t an all-or-nothing situation.”

Margo flopped back on the bed. Should she let herself have time with Drake? Just because they still had some chemistry didn’t mean it would turn into anything more.

“It’s not just that. We’re two different people now, and all that time between us? It feels like we missed our moment. Like our path together split, and we both kept moving forward and we can’t make them cross again. I think there is too much standing between us.”

“You owe it to each other to find out,” Izzy said, lying next to Margo and squeezing her hand.

Visions of Drake in her apartment, in her bed, flooded her mind. But before she could consider it, the sound of the doorbell ringing snapped her out of her thoughts about Drake. The party started in a flourish of kids, high-pitched chatter, and festive music. Margo quickly became so busy helping the kids with the relay races, making s’mores, and jumping in the moon bounce that she managed to forget about Drake for a bit, but by early evening, his threat to track her down loomed.

He wouldn’t just show up at her parents’ house at her niece’s birthday, right?

She better just check her phone to be safe. A text with an unknown number stared back at her.

I wanted to make sure you have my number.

Got it. Now I know who to call if there is an emergency need for éclairs.

I can’t stop thinking about touching you.

Me either.

I’m in surgery tomorrow, but then after our shift I want to see you.

Okay, she texted back before she could second-guess herself.

Don’t freak out.

His final text produced actual butterflies in her belly, and her cheeks ached from the smile Drake put on her face.

When she looked up, she found her sister standing inside the doorway of her room, watching her with a knowing smile.

“Let me guess. Romeo?”

Margo nodded.

“Well, you should probably get better at lying because you look guilty and very interested.”

Margo needed to figure out what to do about Drake. Even with the new position on the line, she didn’t have the strength to stay away from him anymore. Not even if it was for her own good.

Chapter Fifteen

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