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Sloane
“I’m really glad we got a chance to do this tonight.” Dr. Kiley…Steven…smiles at me and sips from his flute of champagne.
I force a smile and pretend to take a tiny sip. The truth is, I really hate champagne. The bubbles always give me a hangover headache before I can finish a single glass. But I didn’t want to tell Steven that when he seemed so excited to celebrate properly.
I had some celebratory ideas, too. None of them involved champagne…
Argh! Stop thinking like that! Why should you waste another second pining over a guy who found something more important to do? Again?
I push thoughts of Max to the far corners of my mind to clear the way for someone new, someone who actually has taken interest in me and things that are important to me. I can’t believe I opened myself up to that jackass, but I won’t make the same mistake again.
I’m moving on. No, I have moved on.
Max is over.
“I really appreciated your support tonight. It means a lot to me.”
Steven smiles. “I’m really impressed with you, Sloane. You’re one of the most selfless people I know, and you deserve all the success in the world.”
“Thanks. It feels good to help, and I’m just glad so many other people feel the same way.”
Steven slides away the glass of champagne after only having a couple of sips. He picks up a glass of water and gulps it down. He grins at me afterward and shrugs. “I’m not really much of a drinker, but it just felt like the night needed champagne, you know?”
“I don’t drink much, either,” I confess. “And if we’re being honest, champagne gives me monster headaches.”
Steven chuckles and holds up his water glass to toast. “I’ll remember that for next time. If, um, there is a next time.” He slides his glasses up his nose. “I’d really like there to be.”
I nod slowly. “That would be really nice.”
His grin widens, and it makes my stomach roll. I can hear Jules in my ear right now, telling me I’m crazy for having second thoughts about getting involved with Steven. But then again, she’s never had a Max. Come to think of it, I don’t think she’s had anyone more than once. Self-protection, she always says.
Maybe I should have been smart and done my own form of self-protection. Instead, I feel like there’s a Welcome mat plastered across my forehead where Max is concerned.
I clench my fists under the table, as if the sudden force will block the images of his face from my mind. I want to focus on someone else now, so take a hike, please!
But still they float around, taunting me, torturing me, and cock-blocking me, if I’m being honest. I place my head in my hand, smiling politely at Steven as he explains how he decided to become a doctor and tells me about his adventures in medical school. He’s really animated and talks a lot with his hands, so much so that you’d think he was Italian.
I let out a sigh and swallow a groan. Italian. Great, and the hits just keep coming.
“How about you? What made you decide to go into nursing?” He grabs a thin breadstick and munches on an end.
“I did it because of my mom. She died years ago. Cancer.” I glance down at the table, not really wanting to elaborate. I don’t want to talk about my mom right now. It’s so strange, but I just don’t feel ready to share any of that with Steven. With Max, the emotion just poured out of me even though deep down, I always knew his feelings were questionable. Steven has made it pretty clear that his feelings are real, so what the hell is my problem?
Am I doomed to make bad guy choices forever? Am I always going to shy away from the decent ones and run into the arms of scumbags?
“I’m sorry to hear that,” he murmurs. “For what it’s worth, I think you made the right choice. You’re great with people, compassionate, smart, funny.”
I let out a tiny giggle and waved a hand at him. “Stop, you’re making me blush.”
“I’m serious. You’re the whole package, Sloane.” Steven’s eyes take on a lust-tinged look that makes me squirm a little bit. Uhh, I am not ready for that. At all.
He blinks and pulls out a tiny pager from his pocket. He adjusts his glasses again, squints at the number, and stands up. “Excuse me for a minute. I’ll be back.”
I pick at the now-cold appetizer in front of me with my fork. I forced down as much I could, and now it sits in my stomach in a hard lump.
“Hey, Sloane!”
I look up to see a pair of brilliant blue eyes staring down at me.
