Page 82 of The Ampersand Effect

Not wanting to put the cart before the horse, and refusing to let her friends prod her into sharing information she wanted to keep close to the heart for now, she logged off her computer and began gathering her things to lock up for the evening.

“Well,” she said, sliding her raincoat over her shoulders and zipping it up, “Iintendto see where things go with Tobin—at whatever pace she’s willing to set.”

She giggled at the eager and supportive smiles spreading across her friends’ faces. “Yeah, you do!” Alix cheered.

A few hours later, after Delta had been tucked into bed, Grier found her brother in the kitchen, cleaning up the remains of their dinner and packing Delta’s lunch for tomorrow. He smiled as she walked in.

“A few more days of this, and summer will be here,” he said, nodding at the lunchbox; school would be ending next week, just before Memorial Day weekend.

“She’s more than ready,” Grier offered. “All she’s talking about lately is her camp at the humane society. I wish there were more animal camps for kids around here. I won’t be surprised ifwe need to add an extension by the end of the summer with all the animals we’ll likely accrue over the next three months!”

Grant shivered.

Grier laughed softly but remained quiet, perching on a stool across from him and settling in for the rest of the conversation.

Sensing her quietude, Grant probed. “You seem a little off tonight. Everything okay?”

She shrugged, trying to make this conversational segue work in her favor. “Yeah. Grand rounds this morning turned into yet another spar with Dr. Vanders.”

She watched him close the lunchbox and fling a kitchen towel over his shoulder as he moved to put it in the refrigerator. “That’s not all that atypical with him. Why’s this one got you so funked?”

She took a moment to recall the entire conversation, and then the one with Dr. Miles that afternoon. “Well, it actually worked out fine. You will not be shocked, I’m sure, to learn that Vanders’s immediate reaction was to cut.”

Grant shook his head. She watched him intently as she delivered her account deliberately, gauging his reaction. “Dr. Rhodes immediately challenged him—clearly far more versed in the case than he was. He didn’t appreciate that she was running circles around him and started to lash at her.”

If she wasn’t mistaken, she caught a flutter in his pupils at the mention of Haleigh, and a slight twitch in his jaw as he tried to control his response.

“While they were duking it out, I remembered something from school. Vanders contested, but Dr. Miles had the final say and approved the brain MRI I suggested. He called me this afternoon to tell me I was right, and that the patient can now be treated correctly. Then—without warning—Dr. Miles started telling me how much he values my input, and that he regularlyrecommends me for hospital accolades. I—I was astonished when he said that. Like, I couldn’t formulate real words, Grant.”

Grant walked over, sat on the stool beside her, and rubbed her shoulder affectionately. “Friends in high places! I’m not the least bit surprised, Grier.”

She couldn’t smile with him, however. The acid in her stomach churned uncomfortably as she approached the real reason for their conversation—and he could see it on her face.

“Why do you look like someone took the wind out of your sails?” He looked genuinely concerned. She felt invasive, like she was prying—but, she knew that they needed to discuss this.

She sighed and sat up straighter before continuing, “After the meeting, Dr. Rhodes pulled me aside.” She felt him stiffen beside her and noticed the almost imperceptible silence that indicated he was holding his breath. “She thanked me for supporting her position against Vanders…” She paused—this was it. There was no turning back. She struggled to meet Grant’s eyes, while he seemed equally intent on avoiding hers. “And then she said something that caught me off guard.”

Grant waited, still holding his breath. She pressed on—if only to keep him from passing out. “She said she’d heard I was seeing a sexy helicopter pilot.” She gave a small shrug. “The fact that she knew doesn’t bother me—I’m not hiding it. But it’showshe knew.” Her gaze landed on her brother, who was suddenly fidgeting in front of her, a flush creeping up his cheeks. “Alix and Maren are the only people that I’ve told, and they haven’t been talking. Which means…”

He beat her to the punch. “Which means she heard it from the only other person who knows—me.” He met her gaze, uncertainty and hope written plainly across his face.

What she had anticipated would be a moment of extreme grief instead morphed into relief and shared affection as she watched his emotions flicker across his features. He had beenterrified to share this with her—likely for all the reasons she had been terrified to hear it.

She stood and enveloped him in a hug. The relief she felt as he melted into her embrace was monumental. She squeezed him briefly, then released him and returned to her stool.

“Does this mean you approve?” he asked, sheepishly.

She gave his arm a light punch. “You don’t need it. But if it helps—then yes. Haleigh is wonderful.”

He exhaled sharply. “It’s new, but I’m trying to let her in. She’s been incredibly patient with me—she even said how exhausting it’s been to dance around you at the hospital. I’m sure she’ll be grateful she doesn’t have to do that anymore.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Grier said, a small smile tugging at her mouth. Maybe it might even be a little fun.

“No more sneaking around, okay? Go on a real date—let me stay home with Delta. Haleigh is the kind of woman who deserves to be wined and dined. Do it already!”

He guffawed. “You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to take her out!” Grier hugged him again as his laughter filled the kitchen.

“See! Rain gear!” Grier exclaimed, spinning like a runway model in front of Tobin, after arriving for their date. She wore her favorite hiking pants—naturally moisture-wicking and visibly loved, marked by patches and scuffs from past misadventures through the forest and cliffs. She’d debated adding a base layer, since it was often cooler beneath the canopy, but ultimately skipped it in favor of her bright red and royal blue rain jacket. The splash of color was a welcome departure from her otherwiseneutral wardrobe palette, and she loved how it brightened her mood. It made her feel vibrant and free.