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“Barring any problems, late tomorrow morning.”
And the wheels are already turning in my head. “Listen, I’ve got some work to take care of. I’ll be back later to keep you company. I’ll bring my Ninja Turtle jammies.”
Loren frowns. “I don’t want you to have to sleep on that dollhouse sofa.”
“Too bad. I’m staying until they kick me out. Besides, I’ve been looking for the perfect opportunity to use my new Ironman sleeping bag,” I say softly then lean in for a quick kiss, though I let my lips rest against hers a second longer than I should, mostly because I’m so relieved she’s safe.
Tenley looks amused once I pull away. “I’ve actually got to check on another patient. I’ll walk you out.” Then we both bid a whiny Loren goodbye.
“What on earth are you plotting?” Tenley asks as soon as the door shuts behind us.
“What makes you think I’m plotting something?” I ask, already pulling out my phone. She narrows her eyes at me. “Fine, I’m calling in reinforcements. I don’t want her worrying about having to move her things into my place, and I also need to have some control over what she brings, because the woman is an absolute book hoarder.”
She chuckles as we turn down the hall. “That’s a pretty nice gesture for a fake boyfriend. So is insisting on staying the night with her.”
My brow shoots up. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Save it. Lo’s already fessed up.”
“Oh.”
“I also suspectyouarenotfaking it. Not as well as you think you are, anyway.”
I scoff. “Please. Blake the Snake doesn’t do relationships, remember?”
She stops me with a hand on my arm, frowning at my sarcasm. “You sure about that? I heard he was recently engaged.”
“Come on, Ten. You know I only said that so the receptionist would let me in.”
“You could have just pulled the ‘I’m with the midwife’ card and you know it.”
I exhale loudly. “What do you want me to say? I panicked, all right.”
“Blake,” she begins, her expression softening. “The last thing I want is for either of you to get hurt, especially when there are two babies involved. But you really ought to come clean. Trust me, these feelings aren’t just going away.”
I brush her hand off my arm. “Why is everyone so sure I’m going to break her heart?”
“Oh, I think you’re the one that’s about to get his heart stomped on, if I’m being honest,” she replies dryly. “If you keep playing this game, Loren’s never going to trust you by the time you finally tell her how you really feel.”
“And maybe you’re advising the wrong patient,” I return, a bit too harshly.
Tenley frowns as she reaches down to scratch her belly over the top of her scrubs, making her small bump visible. “I’m sorry. I guess she hasn’t told me everything.”
I shrug, feeling guilty for snapping at her a second ago. “Yeah, well, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised to hear that she’s confessed to fake dating me but not to actually caring about me.”
She smiles ruefully. “You know I can’t repeat what Loren’s confided in me. But I won’t leave you thinking she doesn’t care.”
An inkling of hope springs within my chest, and I bite back a smile of my own.
“Don’t give up yet. And don’t be afraid to go after her if she runs scared. I let her go once, and it was one of my biggest regrets,” Tenley continues.
“So I’m just supposed to keep chasing her, even if she tells me she doesn’t want me?” I ask incredulously.
“I thought you’d have figured this out by now, but, yeah—women are weird. Anyone who claims we aren’t influenced by our hormones doesn’t believe in science,” she says with a short laugh. “And you’re about to be saddled with two more of us. Do you have any idea what you're up against?”
“I’m starting to grasp that, yes,” I say on an exhale.
She bites her lip. “Although I’m not surprised by the way you’ve stepped up and prioritized your little family, I am proud of you, Blake.”
