I glare at the screen.
Me: How the hell do you know?
Tessa: Scarlett told us.
Hadley: Be normal.
Erica: Do not lead with the soup commercial thing.
Tessa: Actually, lead with that. It was vulnerable.
Hadley: Do not listen to Tessa.
Scarlett: I trusted you with her number. Don’t make me regret it.
Me: I hate all of you.
Tessa: Text the girl, plague prince.
I throw the phone down again, but this time I pick it right back up because they’re right. I go back to Lucy’s contact. My thumb pauses, and for once I make myself think before I act.
Lucy said yes carefully. I know that without anyone telling me. I saw enough yesterday to know careful is built into her. She apologizes before anyone accuses her. She helped me like I mattered, then looked surprised when I thanked her for it.
So I need to go easy. I need to go slow and not be the version of myself that gets loud at the bar because my brothers are happy and I’m lonely and I’d rather turn it into a joke than admit it hurts.
I type before I can overthink it again.
Me: Hey. This is the giant idiot from the clinic yesterday. I survived. Barely.
The message delivers, then nothing. That’s fine, she has a life, but it doesn’t stop me from checking my phone every thirty seconds anyway.
When it finally buzzes I drop it on my face trying to read it. “Mother fucker!” I growl, rubbing my forehead.
Lucy: I’m glad you’re not dying.
I grin so hard my face hurts. It’s sweet and simple, and I can hear her soft voice in it. A little amused and probably shy.
Me: It was a close one there for a while.
Lucy: Sophie said you’re very dramatic.
Me: Sophie has a business degree, not a medical one. She needs to stay in her lane.
Lucy: So you aren’t dramatic? ??
Me: I was brave.
Lucy: With tissues in your nose?
I laugh, and it turns into a cough halfway through, but I’m still smiling when I type back.
Me: Those tissues were a tactical decision.
Lucy: Tactical?
Me: Essential survival equipment.
Lucy: I’ll remember the next time a patient comes in with a cold.
