Page 77 of The Doctor

“We’re in love, Paulo,” Clara said, cutting him off like she could somehow save me from this.

My friend smiled, though it was tighter than Clara’s painful grip on my arm. “I believe you. I’m just…” He scrubbed a hand down his face, then turned his eyes on me. “I’m surprised. Though now I’m wondering why I didn’t see it before.”

“See what?” I tightened my grip on Clara, as if doing so could somehow keep him from taking her away.

Paulo lifted his hand, gesturing to the two of us, like that was answer enough. “This. You. Your relationship.” He dipped his chin. “I always knew you two had something special between you. I just didn’t realize… How long?”

“I’ve loved him my entire life.” Clara straightened her back and lifted her chin, a storm cloud of emotion emanating from her.

Despite my discomfort, I pressed a kiss to her head. “If you’re asking about our physical relationship, it’s recent.”

Paulo’s shifting didn’t go unnoticed. “I…” he shook his head, then wiped his palm down his face. “I’m assuming your father doesn't know?”

“Why would he? Until this afternoon, I hadn't seen him for months.”

“This afternoon?”

She looked up at me, but any happiness she might have felt was hidden behind that dark cloud. “I tried to take Mic to my favorite coffee shop, but I found him sitting on the patio with Raoul Provenza.”

Pressing my lips into a thin line, I dragged my gaze over her face. There was something off about her, something about the way she spoke those words, and I couldn’t put my finger on what it was. Jealousy flared to life inside of me at thoughts of what she and Mic had done. Worry swirled in my gut as I pondered another change to her meds. And guilt ate at me as I wondered what lies she was readying to tell.

“Paulo.” Nadia swept past us, rushing to his side. It didn’t escape me that he kissed her much the same way Clara and I just had. When she finally pulled from his grasp, she peeked up at him. “What are you doing, harassing Zeno and Clara? You leave them alone.”

Feathers ruffled, Paulo shook his head. “I wasn’t—”

“You were.”

“Clara—” I couldn’t say more to her, not when Nadia raised her hand, calling for our silence.

“They are doing nothing wrong. They are both consenting adults. That’s more than I can say for us when we first—”

“It’s not the same, Nadia!”

“No, you’re right. It’s not. They’re two adults who love each other and can make their own choices.” She reached out and cupped Paulo’s cheek. “I was still a minor, and you were my stepbrother.”

“By marriage—”

She placed a finger to his lips. “Shh. I know.” She kissed him again, though thankfully, this time was more brief. “You can hardly complain, my love. Let them enjoy their love. God knows, we were never able to.”

He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them, he turned his attention my way. “I’m sorry.” He released Nadia and came to stand in front of us, holding his arms out and wrapping Clara in an embrace. “Nadia’s right. And I am happy for you. You just took me by surprise.”

Paulo released her, then surprised me. He pulled me into a hug, and for a moment, I couldn’t find it in me to move. As I did, as I returned the gesture and hugged him back, he said quietly near my ear, “When I told you to live your life for yourself, I didn’t believe you’d actually do it.”

“What do you mean?” I pulled away, brow furrowed and the desire to pull Clara close nearly crushing me.

He shook his head, a wry smile on his lips. “You’re one of the most stubborn people I know, Zeno. You do everything for everyone else, but never anything for you. I was prepared to revisit that conversation another twenty times. Yet here you are, taking my suggestion as if it was an order.”

A long breath left me, but my chest swelled with one look Clara’s way. She wrapped herself around me, as if she could feel my love for her calling her to my side. “She didn’t give me much choice,” I murmured before pressing a kiss to her head.

Paulo laughed, his eyes bright as Nadia joined him in front of us. “At that, I’m not surprised. Because you, Clara, are one of the most determined people I know.”

Most determined. Hardest working.

The most beautiful, wonderful, most infuriating woman I’d ever met.

The only woman who could have ever made me break my vow.

Paulo told me to, a voice said in the back of my head.