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I shrug. “It is the nice thing to do.”
I exit the OR. Donovan falls in step alongside me.
Donovan is gruff. Thorny around the edges. About as cuddly as a hedgehog. But he’s different. As the son of the CEO and the top surgeon, everyone at the hospital treats me like a God. Except for Donovan. We’ve known each other since we were teenagers. He teases hard and I tease back. It’s how we’ve always operated, and there’s comfort in that.
“Thanks to you, Isaac’s heart will live to beat another day,” Donovan says, which is as much of a good job as I’ll get from him.
“Ditch the old heart. Bring in a new one. If only it were that easy for all of us.”
I try not to sound bitter, but I can’t help it.
Donovan reads between the lines. “Have you heard from Nadine?”
The mention of her still feels like a thorn in the back of my neck. I roll my shoulders back. “No. I’m trying to just…move forward. Eyes on the future. Leave the past behind. You know?”
Now, Donovan breathes a light laugh. “I have a feeling that’s going to be harder than you think.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Guess who’s in town?”
“Cher. Bono. Oh! The naked cowboy?”
He narrows his eyes at me. “Stop guessing. Kenzi Stratton.”
Kenzi. Her name sends a whispering shiver up my arms. I stop in my tracks, my shoes squeaking against the polished hallway.
“Wow. It’s been—what. Ten years?”
“Thirteen.” Donovan’s gaze doesn’t leave mine. “I told her we might meet up later. If you’re interested.”
“Absolutely. I’m interested. Let’s do it. Right now.”
Donovan’s eyes sweep over me. “You need a shower first. And a shave. You look like a bear.”
I pick at my black beard. I have let it get overgrown. “Protect our forests.”
His shoulders square off. “Not the kind of bear I was talking about.”
I growl, low and feral.
Donovan lifts his hands. “I’m walking away.”
“Only you can prevent wildfires, Donovan!”
His retreating figure flicks me the bird.
34
Group Text
GROUP TEXT: Donovan, Jason, Kenzi
Donovan: Hey. Starting this off. You’re welcome.
Kenzi: :)
Kenzi: Wow. Can’t believe the gang is back together
