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Kaylee:Oh. Anyway, Viv said nothing’s wrong when I asked.

Arrow:She’s not replying to my text.

Kaylee:Text her again. I can see her at the kitchen table.

Arrow:Ok.

What happened last night? Did something happen at her office? Had she actually been there and seen me at the party?

Arrow:Any plans for the weekend?

No reply. Vivian was avoiding me. But why?

Kaylee:Her phone just buzzed with your message. She looked at it and went back to her laptop. You’re in trouble. (devil emoji.)

Arrow:(dunno emoji)

Kaylee:Maybe she’s PMSing. Gotta go now!

Arrow:Have fun.

What had I done?

CHAPTERNINETEEN

VIVIAN

I didn’t usuallywork on Saturdays, but I made an exception today. I’d squeezed two urgent appointments in for my patients who had trouble getting in during the week.

Having performed one urgent extraction and a lingual frenectomy, a laser procedure that treated tongue-ties, I drove home in my car. I’d offered this laser treatment when I had my California practice too. It had helped so many mothers trying to breastfeed their infants. If the connective tissue under the tongue was too short or too tight, that could prevent babies from latching on to breastfeed. If untreated, some people grew up with a lisp. But every case was different and needed a thorough analysis. It made me happy to make a difference without breaking people’s bank accounts. I didn’t charge people as much as I should.

On one hand, the lower fees helped people but also made them question my skills and professionalism. But repeat patients knew how good I was. On the other hand, I wouldn’t be saving enough for my retirement.

But I wasn’t doing this work for money.

People assumed I was happy with a successful career. Sometimes, I was happy. But most times, I was as alone as a hawk, hunting in the sky. Was the hawk ever sad? Did it wish it had a companion to soar with?

Maybe the hunter was alone because it didn’t want to rely on someone. Doing things my way was easier and more efficient. I didn’t have to explain anything to anyone or wait for any outside approval.

No one could get close enough to hurt me. But that also meant I could never be intimate with anyone either. My dad and Kaylee were the closest to me. But even then, I hardly shared my private thoughts with them.

But damn it. This yearning to let everything go blazed through me. For some stupid reason, I’d wanted to share my burden with Arrow. My heart had cracked open a little for him on the day he’d kissed me. I’d been too vulnerable.

I hated when my mind wandered back to him. Shaking him away, I steered my thoughts back to how I could make a difference in the world. I was a Vietnamese-Chinese-American individual with a blend of culture to share.

If I had all the money in the world, what would I do? I’d create the most exceptional dental tools for my patients to make their visits feel like a spa retreat. I had ideas, but had shoved them away because I didn’t have a clue where to begin. Wasting my time on farfetched things wasn’t beneficial to me. But that didn’t stop me from dreaming about a larger dental fund to help those who couldn’t afford care. I’d love to open dental clinics in places that didn’t offer dental care. While parts of the world thrived with new technology, other parts were still stuck trying to find basic needs. I’d start with Vietnam and China because they were my roots.

I blinked and realized I was halfway home when I stopped at the red light. I’d been driving mechanically, not paying attention to the road. That wasn’t good at all.

A burst of laughter drew my attention to the sidewalk. Arrow stood with his ex, Sylvia.Ugh.In two days, I’d seen enough of them.

I get it, universe. You’re telling me to move on.

Couldn’t I just let my emotions roll through me at their own pace? I couldn’t just take out the disappointment and sadness in me as though they were teeth extractions. If things were that easy to discard, no one would have issues.

Jealousy emerged in me. I shouldn’t be jealous. I’d been the one who kept rejecting him. But I didn’t like seeing him with her. A car honked from behind me, and I jerked at the sudden disruption.

“Green means go!” a man shouted.