Page 38 of Pretty Desperate (Pine Village #6)

With a nod, I walk over to one of the chairs in the corner of the waiting room and have a seat.

There are two televisions in the space, one over by a children’s table with blocks, books, and a few small toys showing a cartoon, and the other on the opposite side of the room with a news program on.

I can’t help but smile at the stark difference between the two halves.

For as long as I’ve been coming to the Pine Village Medical Clinic, they have always taken care of patients from birth to one hundred, but ever since Blair joined the practice, as a pediatrician, I’ve been seeing a lot more for the younger patients.

And from what I’ve been told, their practice has grown considerably, thanks to having her on staff.

Her father, Dr. O’Connor, started the practice and has since retired, but he’s still very much a part of the business.

He fills in for Gabe and Blair when needed, especially when she was off after having their daughter.

It’s very much a family business, and I know they’re all happy and proud of what they’ve built and continue to grow.

The sound of voices in the hallway catches my attention. As I look up, I see an older gentleman exiting the area where the exam rooms are housed, and before he makes it to the front door, Stella says, “Kameron, you can go on back to his office.”

I nod in appreciation and head for the doorway the older man just walked through.

A few of the doors are closed, letting me know there are still patients in the building, and I quietly pass by them and make my way to Gabe’s back office.

One of the nurses, Makenzie, is in the small room known as the nurses’ station, and as I pass, she offers a polite wave.

I return the gesture but keep my feet moving to where Gabe is.

When I reach the threshold, I find him already inside, moving a small stack of folders from his desk to the credenza behind it. “Hey, this is a nice surprise,” he says as I step into the room.

“Yeah, sorry for just dropping by like this,” I reply, feeling guilty for interrupting his workday.

He waves off my comment. “Close the door. I just finished my last patient, so the only thing you’re keeping me from is the notes I need to enter into the patient’s chart.”

I close the door and walk over to one of the chairs in front of his desk.

The room is much more crowded than it used to be.

Since he and Blair married, they moved her desk over to this office.

They wanted to be together in the same room.

The other office is used by her dad when he’s here, but also for more space for the office staff.

The moment I sit in the chair, he asks, “You okay?”

“Yeah,” I reply quickly, running my hand through my hair. “It’s not me, it’s…Jillian.”

He seems to sit up a little straighter in his seat, but he doesn’t say a word.

“She’s been, I don’t know, tired a lot lately. And her stomach has been a mess for a bit. Like, probably a week or better? I know you can’t talk to me about someone’s medical stuff, but I was just wondering, as a friend, should I be worried?”

Because I am.

Worried as hell.

“Could she be pregnant?”

His words catch me completely off guard. I open my mouth and nothing comes out.

“That’s the first thing that comes to mind,” he says, leaning back in his chair, “And by the shocked look on your face, I assume that’s a possibility?”

I nod, my mind going back to all those times we’ve slept together in just a short amount of time. Especially that first night. The one where the condom broke. She said it wasn’t the right time, but what if she was wrong? What if she’s pregnant?

“Of course, there are lots of other reasons she could be tired and sick too. There’s a pretty rough strand of Influenza lurking around.

We’ve been seeing a lot of patients with it.

Takes anywhere from three to seven days before a patient starts to feel better.

There’re also other things like stress, menopause, endometriosis, medical side effects, IBS, anemia, diabetes, thyroid problems?—”

“Okay,” I interrupt, holding out my hand.

“My point is, if she’s still a bit under the weather, she should see someone, even if it’s just a lingering case of the flu. If it’s been more than a week, I’d suggest sooner rather than later.”

I nod.

“You care a lot about her.” It’s not a question.

Meeting his gaze, I give him a confirming chin lift. “More than a lot.”

He smiles back at me. “’Bout time. I’ve been waiting years for you to fall.”

My throat is thick as I think back over the last decade.

Hell, longer than that. Not many people know about my time in Chicago, but Gabe does.

Not because he was there, but simply because I shared the details with him one night right after my restaurant had opened over a bottle of red wine.

He was complaining about his ex-wife, Amara, and I let all the dirty details about my time in the Windy City fly.

“I have to tell her.”

His eyebrows shoot toward his hairline. “How you feel?”

“Well, yes, but I need to tell her about Chicago.”

Realization sets in. “Yes.”

I stand up, determination setting in. Just as I reach for the door, I turn and say, “If she’s pregnant, I wouldn’t be upset in the least. In fact, I’d be elated.”

Gabe grins widely. “Go get her, buddy.”

I open the door and take off down the hallway. Blair is stepping out of one of the rooms and turns, surprised to see me. “Kameron. What are you doing?” Then something that looks like worry transforms her face. “Jillian? Is she okay?”

“She’s fine,” I reply, hoping that’s true. “I’m on my way to see her now.”

Blair nods and smiles. “Okay, good.”

I continue down the hall and wave to Stella before walking out the front door. Then, with the sun setting off in the west, I set out toward Flour Power Bakery. If she’s been avoiding me the last couple of days, well, she’s not going to be able to do it any longer. I want to see her.

No, I need to see her.

She’s the oxygen I need to survive, and it’s time she knows it.