Page 169 of The Doctors Will See You Now

“Exactly,” she said with a grin. “My son deserves better than gold diggers.”

I wanted to say that gold diggers or not, your son appeared pretty fucking happy surrounded by all of the beautiful women he tends to keep in his company, but I bit my tongue and breathed past the stinging pain in my chest. Holy fuck, what was that? There was no way I was jealous of Scott’s revolving door of dates…right?

Good Lord, this party had morphed into some kind of alternate universe where relationships sounded like a good idea and I actually liked Scott Shepard. Had Linda and Tanner put drugs in the punch or something? Cripes. I needed to leave before I started thinking about marriage or kids or something else that was equally terrifying.

“He’ll learn one day,” Nicole added. “I’m just hoping it’s sooner rather than later that he finds a nice, pretty girl like you and settles down.”

My eyes popped wide open in shock. Nice, pretty girl like me? Settling down? Did she think I was good enough?

Oh Jesus, Harlow! Not the fucking point.

Yeah, I need to leave. Now. Before I have to resort to self-inflicted violence.

“I’m sure Scott will find his perfect girl, Mrs. Shepard,” I reassured while mentally adding, but it definitely isn’t me.

“Well, I better head out.” I quickly changed the subject toward my exit. Because, yeah, this anniversary party was a mindfuck, and I was better off anywhere but here. “Have a good night, you two. I’ll call you tomorrow, Daddy,” I said, and I didn’t give them time to say anything else as I shuffled through the partygoers and headed for the door.

The instant the cool air of the New York City night hit my face, I breathed a sigh of relief. I glanced down at my phone to check the time. Ten p.m. glowed into the darkness, and I decided even though I didn’t necessarily have a plan, I’d rather walk the city than take the subway or a call a cab.

Hopefully, the walk will do me good. Lord knows, my brain needs some time to think about all the bullshit she’s been putting me through tonight.

But the reprieve lasted not even ten minutes before my phone chimed in my purse with a text message from Scott. I hated that there was a part of me that felt excited about it.

Sexy AF Doc: Where are you headed off to?

Okay, yeah. I might have nicknamed him in my phone during a moment of weakness while thinking about how perfect his ass is.

I quickly typed out a response while thinking, God, he is a nosy bastard.

Me: None of your business.

Not even a minute later, he sent another message.

Sexy AF Doc: You should take a right at the next block. There’s a perfect bar called The Library.

Seriously? Who named a bar The Library? It sounded like a sad place where men or women went to cheat on their spouses…Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Hold up. Did he say take a right at the next block?

How did he know where I was?

I stopped in my tracks and stared down at my phone for a brief second, before slowly turning around to find Scott standing a mere fifty feet behind me, grinning like a cocky son of a bitch. I responded to his message while shooting mental spears at him across the short expanse.

Me: Are you stalking me?

He smirked. I watched as he looked down at his phone and typed out another response.

Sexy AF Doc: Just following you a little to make sure you’re okay. You left pretty abruptly back there.

He was right. I’d left the party like a total lunatic. No explanation, nothing. Just up and walked away from him on the dance floor. But I kind of felt like he was being a bit of a lunatic, too, by following me.

He’s a lunatic. I’m a lunatic. Maybe we are the perfect match?

Clearly, my brain needed to shut up.

Me: Just following? And that’s somehow better than stalking?

Sexy AF Doc: It’s less creepy.

Me: It feels CREEPIER. Like I should get a restraining order kind of creepy.