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“Well, okay then.” The director of recruitment nodded. His greying hair was slightly balding on top. “It will take me a few months to put out the necessary feelers and find someone to replace you.”

“That’s fine.” Standing, I headed toward the door.

“Hey, Dr North?”

I turned and forced a smile. “Yes?”

“Why the sudden decision to move? Forgive me but I thought you were born and bred here? I don’t mind admitting that due to your young age but already impressive record, I’ve already earmarked you for taking over as medical director one day.”

I nodded politely. “Thank you for your trust in me, Dr Parker, but things change.”

“They do indeed.” Shuffling some paperwork, he nodded with a sad smile. “In that case, I guess I’ll be in touch.”

“Thanks.”

Slipping out of his office, I headed back downstairs to the staffroom where I had ten minutes before checking on a patient.

I checked my phone for the millionth time, hoping, wishing, fearing a message from Sailor.

But nothing.

I didn’t have the courage to send that final text from X ending things.

And I couldn’t survive the pain of messaging her as Zander, knowing what she’d done with X.

I couldn’t be mad at her for sleeping with another man who wasn’t me.

Shehadslept with me.

But she’d also shown that I didn’t mean as much to her as X did, and now, I had nothing left.

* 51 *

Sailor

Cupcake Confessions

“SO…ARE YOU READY FOR ME TO tell you all my secrets because I’m only saying this once and only once and then I have a plan to put into action but I didn’t want to put it into action until I’d spoken to you because I need your advice and I’ve been thinking about this non-stop for eight awful days and it’s doing my head in until I can’t see straight anymore and so yeah…only saying this once.”

“Whoa, jeez Louise, did you breathe at all in that terrible run-on sentence?” Lily grinned. “No more coffee for you.” Taking away my empty cappuccino cup, she shoved another tiny vanilla cupcake onto my plate instead.

My first outing to a local café, and it was to the one closest to Lily’s real estate office. I’d driven here by myself, parked in an alley, walked down a crowded street, and waited for her in a bustling restaurant with no problem whatsoever.

Goblin-Milton never said a peep.

I didn’t jump or flinch or freak out if someone looked at me or got too close.

I was back to myself.

And I only had Zander to blame.

“If I’d known you wanted to spill the beans when you called me this morning, I would’ve chosen a quieter place.”

I shook my head, fiddling with my napkin. “This is perfect. I can blurt it out, suffer your scorn, and then go. At least you can’t berate me for hours.”

“Uh-oh, what’s going on?”

“Oh, you know…nothing much. I just had the best sex of my life with a man who I didn’t know his name and just found out he’s been lying to me this entire time, but for some reason, I can’t stay mad, and now…now, I’m seriously considering running after him.”