Page 45 of Lethal Attraction

Taryn chuckles. “You’re obsessed. Trust me. I was the same way when I first met Emma.”

They are the blueprint. I remember those long nights studying where Taryn would sneak off to the apartments on the other side of town just to keep her relationship private. I knew she was seeing someone, which made her coming out all the more comfortable.

She invited me to a coffee shop the day before finals, her whole frame wracked with nerves as I stood up at the busy counter trying to decide what I wanted.

“Reed,” she muttered nervously.

“Hmm?” I hummed absently as my eyes skimmed the menu.

“I…” Her sentence trailed off, followed by a long, stunted breath. I could tell just how hard that moment was for her, so I didn’t rush as I waited for her to speak. When she finally did, her words were so low and wobbly it made my chest ache for my friend. “I’m gay. And I’m seeing someone.”

I nodded, scrubbing a finger over my chin. “Cool. I can’t wait to meet her. Should I get two or three shots of espresso?”

Taryn blinked in surprise at my easy approval. “You—you’re okay with me being gay?”

My head reared as I finally met her gaze. “T, we’ve been friends since freshman year. I’ve always known you were gay. Why wouldn’t I be okay with it?”

Her eyes widened as she punched my bicep so hard I yelped. “You knew?!”

“Oh, please!” I smirked. “Just last year during homecoming you couldn’t keep your eyes off Amara Grey.”

“I just really liked her hair!”

“Keep telling yourself that,” I snorted before wrapping my arm around her shoulder. “Sexual orientation doesn’t change a single damn thing. I only hope you’re happy.”

Two months later, I met Emma, and the rest was history. I’ve known their endless love for eight years, and I find myself wanting that.

And I can’t seem to help that every time I imagine that for myself, there’s a certain raven-haired woman who makes an appearance in my daydreams. Everything is new, but Taryn knew the first time she met Emma that she was the one…

“Your patient is waiting, Dr. Dreamy.” My friend reminds me with amusement as she shoves me out of the nurses’ station. “Call Thalia and invite her to dinner!”

I chuckle as I backpedal towards the ER doors, feeling the lightest I have in a long time. “Wish me luck!”

“Don’t screw this up!” She croons.

I wave her off before making my way to the general clinic. Ruin this? I would be absolutely insane to mess up my chance with my Mystery Girl.

Chapter thirteen

Reed

Mrs. Johnson. Mrs. Johnson. Hmm.

I tap the patient’s chart with my pen as I amble through the general clinic, wracking my brain to see if I can remember a Mrs. Johnson. My last two weeks of surgery have been mostly geriatric patients, and I can’t seem to connect a face to the name. Maybe it was a fast procedure? It’s odd. I always remember my patients…

“You seem distracted.”

I turn my chin over my shoulder, blessing Casey with a smile. “Only trying to remember the face of who I’m about to see.”

She hums noncommittally, her hips tilting as she returns to the laptop in front of her. “Room two.”

I nod before making my way down the sterile hallway. I hear the door and offer a polite knock before waiting for someone to answer. When I don’t hear anything, I push the door open, my eyes glued to the chart in my hand as I use my foot to close the door behind me.

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Johnson. I’m Dr. Bellamy—” My gaze shifts up, only for my words to die as my heart pounds at the sight before me.

Thalia sits on top of the medical exam paper, her ankles crossed as she swings her heeled boots. Her hands are gripping the edge of the exam table as she tilts her head at me, offering a smile that makes my pulse race.

“Good afternoon, Dr. Bellamy,” she preens, her eyes fluttering sweetly.