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She stares at me with her mouth wide open. “Already? You’re such a nerd, Harley. It’s the first day of classes. What could you possibly have to discuss?”
I laugh. “Just some curriculum-based questions.”
She shakes her head. “So, how was Dr. Cooper? The gossip is spreading like crazy.” Oh my god. Everyone knows already? How did this happen?
I croak out, “What gossip?”
“That he’s hot as hell. Did you not notice?” Phew.
“I guess he’s attractive. Frankly, I didn’t think about it,” I lie. It’s all I thought about the entire class. He’s insanely attractive. Even more so than I thought the other night. And when he touched me in his office, I felt it in every part of my body. I’m pretty sure he felt it too.
“Of course, you didn’t. Anyway, Shelly Summers said she saw a big hickey on his neck. He took his tie off after class and she saw it just under his shirt collar.”
I choke on my drink. “A hickey?”
“Yep, she said it looked fresh. Sounds like Dr. Cooper had himself some fun this weekend.” She giggles.
I’m all of a sudden having a flashback of me sucking on his neck, while my legs are wrapped around him, and he’s pounding into me. My whole body is now warm and flushed.
“Are you feeling okay, Harley? You look all red.”
I start to fan myself with my hand. “It’s just really hot in here.” It’s time to steer this conversation in a new direction. “How was class with Dr. Waters?”
“It was boring. He’s so full of himself. That class is going to be brutal. I need to find a way to transfer into the hot professor’s class. He’s all anyone is talking about.”
It’s going to be a long year.
CHAPTERTWO
THE PRESENT
HARLEY
Aunt Cass holds up a glass of champagne. “To Harley on her medical school graduation.”
Aunt Cass, my sisters, and even Mom, hold up their glasses. “To Harley.” We all sip our champagne.
“Thanks, everyone. I still have to study for and pass my Boards, but finishing medical school is certainly a big step.” I grab Mom’s hand. “Thank you, Mom, for coming to the graduation and coming out to dinner. I know it’s not easy for you.”
She looks embarrassed. I didn’t mean to make her feel that way. I meant to let her know how happy I am that she’s here. She so rarely leaves the house. We had to drag her out last year for Reagan’s college graduation. She’s been a little bit better about going out this past year though. It’s not too often, but it’s certainly more than the first two years after Dad died. The only time she consistently leaves the house is every Friday morning when she visits his grave to talk to him. She also leaves to watch football with my father’s group of high school friends.
She rubs my back. “Of course, Harley. I wouldn’t miss this for anything in the world. I’m so incredibly proud of you. I know Dad would be proud too.” Tears start to well in her eyes, but she keeps them at bay. That’s certainly progress. Normally she can’t talk about him without crying. “I have your letter for you at the house whenever you want to come by.”
“I’ll come by this weekend and grab it.”
Even though Dad died suddenly of a heart attack, because of his extensive family history of heart disease, he always assumed he would die relatively young. Mom would never talk about it, but he knew the likelihood, and planned accordingly. He left a series of letters for all of us when we reach certain life milestones. Mom won’t tell us which ones, only when she has one for us. I did assume my medical school graduation would be one of those milestones. It’s incredible to be able to hear from him. I can’t wait to read my letter this weekend.
Mom doesn’t know it, but I have one letter saved for her that he entrusted to my sisters and me. We’re supposed to give it to her when she falls in love again and is having a crisis of conscience over it. I can’t imagine her dating, let alone falling in love, but I’m hopeful that one day she will move on from my father.
She’s only forty-eight years old and is absolutely stunning. It’s weird for me to think that because she and I really do look so much alike, everyone says so, but no one could possibly deny that my mother is a beautiful woman. She’s incredibly funny, loving, and smart too. At least shewasbefore he passed.
It would be amazing for her to find someone new to share her life with. Reagan, Skylar, and I want that so much for her. But right now, she barely leaves the house, so I don’t think love is coming her way anytime soon. Aunt Cass tries desperately to get her to go out, but she’s only been successful a small handful of times.
Reagan always attempts to lighten the mood when things get too heavy. “Aunt Cass, any good dating stories for us?” Aunt Cass often indulges us with her latest and greatest crazy stories. Especially her crazy dating stories. Her nickname among Mom and their friends is actually Crazy Cassandra.
“Hmmm. Nothing too out of the ordinary lately. As I get older, the men get more mature and more boring. Frankly, I prefer someone who makes me laugh before they make my toes curl.”
She’s deep in thought for a moment. “Oh, I’ve got one. I was on a date with a new guy last week. He was super flirty the whole time, which I don’t mind at all. In fact, I prefer that as long as I’m into him, and I was definitely into him. He was really good-looking. At some point during the meal, he slipped me something across the table. At first, I thought it was money, and that maybe he thought I was a prostitute. But it wasn’t money. It was a condom. It wasn’t your regular run-of-the-mill condom though. It was a personalized condom with his face on it.” We’re now all hysterically laughing, as we usually are with her absurd stories.
