Page 38 of Jordan’s Breakthrough (Unexpected Love #3)

When the shuttle appears in front of the main entrance of the hospital, I paste a smile on my face and get off.

A surprise waits for me in my locker, making me pause.

I double check the number on the door, confirming I hadn’t accidentally opened someone else’s.

247. Okay. So it is mine, but where’d this sunflower come from?

I pick up the small orange pot, finding a card tucked underneath.

I saw this and thought of you. My little sunshine! Love, Ana. P.S. The hot chocolate on the maternity floor is way better than ours! Come try it!

I crack a smile. Oh, sweet Ana. I needed this. I could definitely use a little hot chocolate today too.

At the nurse’s station, I grab an iPad and log into the employee portal. A message from Administration is in my inbox, marked urgent.

Subject: Schedule and Assignment Update

Dear Mr. Miles Breckton,

This letter serves to confirm the approval of your request for a partial contract, effective immediately following the conclusion of your current term.

Please note that, due to department availability, your assignment will transition to the Surgical Floor for the duration of the 90-day period, beginning September 3rd.

Your new schedule will be 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday.

If you have any questions or require additional clarification, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

We are grateful for your flexibility and heart to serve our patients.

Sincerely,

Kathy Waivers

Administrative Coordinator

The email hits like a punch to the gut.

I read it twice, hoping I’ve misread the time, the floor, something—but no. It’s all there, clear and clinical. Surgical floor. Ninety agonizing, 12-hour days. Mondays through Thursdays.

Mondays. Jordan’s one guaranteed day off. Not only that, but I’m getting off when Jordan is barely starting his shift on the other days. The hours couldn’t be any worse. We won’t have any time together!

I stare at the screen, and the letters stare back. Mocking me. You asked for this!

The ground beneath me seems to shift, like the last support beam just gave out and I’m about to collapse. How is this going to work? How am I supposed to go without talking to Jordan? I mean, we literally won’t have time!

I reach for my phone to call Jordan, needing to hear his voice. I need him to tell me it’ll be okay, that we’ll be okay. We’ll figure it out.

But I stop, my hand freezing just millimeters from the screen.

I can’t tell him this.

I can’t!

He’s in the worst part of his transition period.

Some days, it takes everything just to get out of bed or answer a message, but he still tries.

He’s even forcing smiles for me—for me !

The medicine is working, but slowly. And hearing this could make him feel even more adrift than I do. It could—would—set him back.

This could send him back. To the dark place.

No. I can’t. I won’t.

I’m supposed to be his anchor.

I’ll tell him eventually, and it’ll have to be soon, since the new shift starts in three weeks. But he’ll need to be prepared. We both will. He can’t know how upset I am.

I lower my hand and take a deep breath.

“Be strong, Miles,” I whisper. “All of this is temporary.”

Besides, it’s only three months. I can do three months. I’ve done longer positions without Sophie.

But the thing is, I’m starting to accept that I don’t want to anymore.

I’ve learned I’m not the kind of person who likes being alone.

Coming here without Sophie has made that abundantly clear.

I would’ve gone crazy had I not met Jordan online.

I need people. I need friends. I always have.

Even after accepting this job, I clung to Sophie, going where she goes and pretending it was my preferred city too.

But really, my preference was being near her.

I wanted to travel, but I wanted to do it with her.

She was my person. She made life fun and interesting.

Gave me confidence. Without her, it’s just not the same.

I lean forward and bury my face in my hands. This isn’t sustainable. I don’t know how I’ll handle being alone for three more months.

When I see Dr. Mullins approaching, I force myself up. Time to box my emotions up for now.

I go through the motions, passing off the important cases to David because I know I can’t handle them tonight. He’s clearly worried, but he doesn’t ask questions. He’s not that kind of guy.

On my lunch break, I avoid the cafeteria. Instead, I hide in a corner of the waiting room. It’s quiet and dark, since it’s the middle of the night.

Unable to stop myself, I message Jordan.

Me: Thinking of you. xo

It’s not my usual long, wordy message, but it’s all I have in me.

Almost instantly, my phone buzzes, and Jordan’s face pops up with an incoming video call. I take a breath and swipe to answer, forcing a smile.

“Hey. You’re home early.”

“Hey, yeah. Worked an opening shift again, so I left around nine.” His voice is warm and groggy around the edges, and it feels like a balm to my heart. I needed to hear from him tonight.

“That means you still did a full shift, right? That’s good.” That’s progress. For the last week, he’s been only working a few hours before going home.

“Yeah, I did.” He pauses, brows furrowed. “You okay, hon?”

“Sure. Why?”

“You just sound… I don’t know. Off.”

My fingers tighten around the phone. I almost say it. I got an email. My shift is changing. We’re going to be on completely opposite schedules soon, and I’m heartbroken about it.

Instead, I lie. “It’s just work. Got a lot dumped on me today. It’s busy again.”

It’s not. It’s actually pretty calm tonight.

“Sorry. You want to talk about it?”

No. Yes. God, yes.

But Jordan is clearly exhausted. He has bags under his eyes, and his hair is a mess. Even if his voice is sounding more like the old Jordan and his lips have a slight smile to them, he still might not be okay.

“Nah. It’s nothing unusual. Just stressful patients and doctors thinking they’re kings again.” At least that part is true. Dr. Mullins is in a particularly annoying mood tonight.

Jordan pulls the phone closer. “Where are you? I can hardly see you.”

Shit. There isn’t enough light in this corner.

“Sorry, hold on.” I move to another chair closer to the hall, where it’s still private. “Better?”

His brows knit again, but I cut him off before he can ask if something’s wrong. “Will you stay up for me tonight?”

“Yeah. You sure you’re okay, Miles?”

I fist my hand. Keep it together. Be his anchor. “Yep. Like I said, just a long night here.”

“You sure that’s all it is?”

Damn him for knowing me too well.

I hesitate just a second too long.

“Talk to me, hon. What’s up?”

So I say the only truth I can manage. “I just really miss you. That’s all.”

My voice cracks, and I hate myself for it.

He doesn’t reply right away, but I can see how my words hit. His face softens and chin lowers. When he speaks again, his voice is richer somehow. Full of emotion. “I miss you too.”

My throat clenches, but I don’t say anything else. I can’t. If I do, I won’t be able to hold the truth back, and I need to. At least for a little bit.

Jordan is quiet too. Whether it’s from exhaustion, his mental state, or just trying to figure out what to say, I don’t know. But the quiet stillness spreads between us, warm and familiar. Somehow, it helps. Seeing his face is enough to push the worst of it away.

I soak in every perfect feature.

“I should go,” I say finally.

“Call me tonight?”

I nod.

“I love you.”

My eyes slam shut before he can see the tears. “I love you too.”

I hang up and set the phone on my chest like it can somehow transfer his body heat. The words I could have said still burn behind my teeth. I need you.

Keep it together, Miles.

Just a little longer.