Page 16 of Saving Love (Pulse Medical #2)

He reached them within seconds, panting slightly. “Hi. Sorry. This is weird, I know, but are you Emily? The doctor from Oakridge.”

“ Orthopedic surgeon, ” Tessa declared, stepping down onto the bottom step, acting like a barrier between Emily and the stranger. “Who are you?”

“I’m Jamie Bridge,” he said, panting slightly. “You’re Emily, right? You know my cousin, Bette.”

Emily blinked, surprised, at the same time her stomach did an uncomfortable somersault.

Bette’s cousin Jamie was standing right in front of her for reasons she couldn’t even fathom.

She stole a glance over his shoulder to the bar, hoping Bette was watching them, waving.

But the physical therapist was no longer there.

Bette had probably spotted Emily and bolted.

A sharp sting of disappointment flared in Emily’s chest before she could shove it down. It was ridiculous to feel this way; Bette didn’t owe her anything. But then why did Emily feel like she’d just been left standing in the rain without an umbrella?

Jamie must’ve noticed the sag in her shoulders or the way Emily couldn’t keep her lips from turning down, because he followed her gaze, then quickly said, “She’s gone inside to get us drinks. I don’t have much time.”

“For what?” Tessa asked, folding her arms over her chest. Emily couldn’t see her face, but she knew her expression was sitting somewhere between severely intrigued and somewhat suspicious.

Jamie shoved his hands into the pocket of his pants and looked at Emily.

“She doesn’t know I came over here. I just figured…

” He hesitated, blowing out a breath like he was reconsidering the whole reason he had crossed the street.

“Look, I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but Bette hasn’t spoken about another woman since… well, since Reba.”

Emily assumed Reba was the ex-wife. Bette hadn’t exactly elaborated on her history, and Emily hadn’t asked. She wasn’t sure if it had been out of respect or self-preservation. All she knew was that the tan line on Bette’s ring finger was fading.

“My cousin is a tough nut,” Jamie went on, rocking back on his heels.

“And I mean diamond hard. She’s been hurt badly before.

But ever since she met you, it’s like she’s…

” he trailed off, frowning slightly as if he were searching for the right words.

Clearly, they remained out of his reach, because he then sighed and added, “I just don’t want?—”

“What are you saying.” Emily interrupted, arms crossed, trying to ignore the weird, tight feeling in her chest.

Jamie shrugged. “I’m saying you shouldn’t give up on her so easily?—”

“What the hell is going on here?” a voice cut in. A voice Emily knew all too well.

Bette crossed the street, her forehead furrowed so deeply, Emily half-wanted to reach forward and smooth out the creases herself.

“Emily,” she said, her gaze flicking from Jamie to Emily, something unreadable flashing behind her eyes. “What are you doing here? Why are you talking to my cousin.”

“Um…” Emily’s tongue felt stuck to the roof of her mouth.

“We’re trying out Luna Azul,” Tessa cut in before Emily forced out a reply. “Jamie was just admiring the neon sign.” She turned her attention to him. “Should we go in and check out the place? Let the two of them…um…talk.”

Jamie, who unstuck his hands from his pockets, nodded his head. “I’ll buy you a drink.”

“Fabulous,” Tessa said, stepping forward. She looped her arm through Jamie’s and steered him toward the entrance, tossing a quick, not-so-subtle look over her shoulder at Emily before she disappeared into the building.

Traitor.

The one time she actually needed her best friend to be an immovable force of chaos, to stand like a barrier between Emily and Bette, she basically hand-delivered Emily on a silver platter.

She’d deal with Tessa later, possibly spoil an episode of Downton Abbey for her.

A small price to pay for such blatant betrayal.

A stretch of silence followed. The kind that made Emily’s skin itch, like she needed to move, to say something, anything, to break it.

But what? What could she say to the woman who had somehow made her feel the whole world with her touch?

Should she mention the push, the pull, the longing that simmered under her skin?

Should she mention how maddening it was, how infuriating also because Emily had no right to feel so much after just one hot encounter?

Finally, Bette exhaled, running a hand through her short hair, not quite meeting Emily’s eye. “I heard you put in a request for another physical therapist.”

Emily stiffened, and for the first time in ages, a twinge settled in her shoulder. Instinctively, she reached for it, rubbing her knuckles against the sore spot before she caught herself and crossed her arms. “It’s not a big deal,” she muttered, “I just thought it might be easier. For both of us.”

“Really?” Bette’s voice was as sharp as a butcher’s knife. “If it’s not a big deal, why didn’t you tell me you planned on transferring? Why did you go behind my back?”

Guilt suddenly prickled at the back of Emily’s neck, but instead of explaining, instead of telling Bette what she really thought of the whole situation, she snapped back, “Why do you even care? I’m doing you a favor by going to see someone else.

I’m making it easier on you, so you don’t have to see me three times a week when clearly seeing my face is the last thing you want. ”

Bette flinched. “Is that really what you think? That I don’t want to see you again. That it’s that easy to just…” she trailed off, clearly biting back what else she’d meant to say. The words didn’t come out. “You’re wrong, Emily. It’s not about that. Not at all.”

Emily’s heart slammed painfully against her ribs, but she couldn’t bring herself to apologize for not telling Bette about the transfer. She wouldn’t. Instead, she shoved down the rising lump in her throat. “I thought it’d be easier this way.”

“Easier for who?” Bette asked.

Emily dug her fingers into the fabric of her dress. “Does it matter?”

Bette’s gaze hardened. She didn’t say anything at first. Only after what felt like a century of silence, Bette nodded, once, sharp and decisive. “Understood. I wish you all the best, Doctor Sharp.”

It was a cold and final blow.

Emily’s chest tightened like an elephant was sitting on it. She couldn’t get any words out. She couldn’t even say goodbye. All she did was watch as Bette stepped back, glancing at the club entrance. “If you see Jamie again, tell him I went home.”

With that, she turned and walked away, disappearing down the dark street, leaving Emily standing there cold and alone.