“Wait, are you watchingfootball?” Her eyes widen.
“No!” I exclaim, but I can feel a blush seeping into my cheeks.
Jana must have noticed too. “Oh, do tell,” she says, grabbing a bag of crisps and sitting across from me. “I sense an interesting story.”
“It's really not,” I say, resisting the urge to glance at the TV again.
“Please,” she whines, slumping in her chair. “I’m dying of boredom over here. I’ve had back-to-back sessions with two hypochondriacs and a conspiracy theorist, and I need a distraction. You’d be doing a public service.”
Poor Jana. Psychiatry always freaked me out. People aren’t my forte.
“It's nothing.” I sigh, catching a glimpse of the TV. “Just my neighbour, the guy manning the goal.” She frowns. “Wait, theneighbour? Insufferable, selfish, and allergic to hygiene?”
I wince, remembering spouting off those exact words. “Well, I got to know him. And it turns out he’s not that bad.”
She arches an eyebrow. “Why the smolder in your eyes, then? You say ‘not that bad,’ but I can practically see you two making out on your doorstep.”
I wince again, then bite my bottom lip. “It was in the gym, actually,” I mumble.
Jana leans backin her chair with a sigh. “Wow, I'm good.”
Her eyes settle on the TV for a few minutes, and lucky for us, Archie just blocked a goal and is about to clear the ball.
“He's a fine man,” she says when the screen flicks to another section of the pitch. “You're a lucky girl.”
I practically choke on my coffee. “Oh no, no, no. It's just casual, not exclusive or anything like that.”
“You know, the more times you say ‘no,’ the greater the chances you’re only fooling yourself.” She winks.
I must be beet-red by now. “Is that a shrink secret?”
“Definitely. And no woman in her right mind would let that man date other people. If I caught a fish like him, I’d throw out every other line and guard that pond with a taser.”
I force a chuckle, but she’s right. The mere thought of Archie kissing another woman makes me want to set the entire hospital on fire. Or vomit all over the floor.
But that’s the thing. I’m not in my right mind when it comes to relationships. Because no matter how much I like Archie, I know I can’t fall for him. It has to stay casual, for everyone’s sake.
Otherwise, it will only end with me broken-hearted and him strolling out to greener pastures—a woman who can provide him with the child I can’t, and won’t, give him. But I have to accept that. Everyone has their burden to carry in life, and this is mine.
My phone rings as I exit the hospital parking lot, and I see that it’s Grace. I almost ignore her. It’s just after midnight, I’m exhausted and vulnerable, and I’m a terrible liar.
But my midnight lack of judgment takes over, and I pick up.
“Hey, you,” she chirps, and despite everything, her cheery greeting makes me smile. It’s a nice change of pace, hearing my best friend this happy. She’s had a rough few years. “Shift ending or starting? Or in the middle?”
I chuckle. “Just leaving the parking lot. It was a long night.”
“Glad it’s over,” she says. “I’ve been in the studio all day recording another audiobook. Just wanted to take a small break and see how you were doing.”
“Oh, what are you recording?” I ask. I love that she gave up her high-powered job to do something she actually enjoys.
“My friend Aria’s new book. It’s so good. You’ll have to listen to it. Anyway, what’s new on your end? How’s your mum?”
“Did I tell you the spot on her neck was cancerous?” I ask, switching lanes. “I don’t remember where we left off.”
“No!”
“She’s fine,” I add quickly. “They caught it early, thank goodness. They’re removing it next week. Her boyfriend’s taking her since they’re back together now.”