Page 28 of What Should Have Been Ours

“I’ve always got your back, girl. But I still don’t think you can pull it off.”

“I am going to be just friends with him, Kins,” I try to get out convincingly.

“And I’m going to be a born-again virgin,” Kinsley says, giving me a pointed look.

I snort. “Okay, that was uncalled for.”

We both just laugh, but then Kinsley gets serious. " Listen, I know Parker did a number on you, and so have several douche bags before him. But I don’t want you hiding back in your shell and blocking something that could be good for you. Don’t write Cam off so fast.”

“Fine, I won’t, but I already told you he’s not looking at me like that anymore. He just wants to hang out with an old friend, and I’m gonna be okay with that.”

“Whatever you say, babes. But when I’m the maid of honor at your wedding, I get to say I told you so,” she quips.

I wave a hand at her. “Yeah, yeah. Let’s finish this day up and get out of here so we can go binge-watch Vampire Diaries while pigging out on Ben and Jerry’s until we are comatose and can’t think about men anymore.”

“I think that might be the most romantic thing you’ve ever said to me, Gab. If Cam doesn’t want you, I do,” she swoons.

I roll my eyes and laugh at her.

Okay, this is happening. It’s nothing to freak out about. It’s just a casual hangout. A casual friendship. That’s all this is.

So why does it feel like the least casual thing in the world?

12

Cameron

Stepping into the resident’s lounge, I can feel the exhaustion hitting hard from how long my night shift has been.

As soon as I step into the room, I spot Wes leaning up against the wall, flirting with another one of the female residents in our group.

I walk past him, clapping him on the shoulder. “Should we start a GoFundMe for all the emotional damage you’re doing in this hospital already, Wes?”

Wes barely even blinks, shooting me a smug grin before turning back to the girl. “Don’t mind him, Dr. Calloway. Cameron here suffers from a rare condition called ‘chronic cock blocking syndrome.’ Tragic, really. No known cure.”

I scoff, grabbing a coffee from the counter. “I’m just looking out for hospital morale. Can’t have half the residents heartbroken before noon because of you.”

Wes sighs dramatically, shaking his head. “It’s a burden being this irresistible, but someone has to bear it.”

Dr. Calloway crosses her arms, unimpressed. “Right. And tell me, Dr. Reed, how many times has this ‘irresistibility’ resulted in an HR meeting?”

Wes grins. “Define ‘meeting.’ Because I’d argue strongly worded emails don’t count.”

I nearly choke on my coffee. “Geez, Wes.”

He claps me on the shoulder, unfazed. “Jealousy’s an ugly color on you, Hayes. Maybe if you didn’t radiate ‘overworked and emotionally unavailable’ energy, women wouldn’t look at you like a walking cautionary tale.”

Dr. Calloway snorts, shaking her head. “On that note, I’m gonna leave before I lose any more brain cells around you two.”

She walks off, and Wes watches her go before turning back to me. “See? Not a rejection. She’s just playing the long game, gotta let the idea of me marinate a little.” He winks.

I shake my head, sipping my coffee. “You need help.”

Wes smirks. “What I need is for you to stop ruining my game.”

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out to see a text from—

My Future Wife: So, how much should I bet on you getting tackled within the first five minutes?