Page 52 of Undeniably Corrupt

Oh, good. Phew.

“But he did mention you want to be an OB-GYN nurse.”

Both of us continue to push our girls, who are giggling and kicking their hands and legs out as they swing. “Uh, yes. I want to be an OB-GYN nurse and eventually a midwife.”

“That’s amazing. My cousin Keegan, who you also mightremember, is an OB. When you’re done with school, I bet she could help you get a job.”

I lick my lips. “That would be incredible.”

Katy beams at me. “Great. How old is Hazel?”

“Two and a half.”

“Oh fun! Willow will be two in June. We should meet up for coffee and a playdate. Other than now, since obviously we didn’t schedule this, and I simply accosted you in the park and nearly got your head knocked off.”

“I’d really love that.” Then I think better of it. “But I’m not sure that’s so wise since you’re so close with Vander.”

“Ah, in love already, I see.” She waves me away. “Anything that happens between us doesn’t concern him. He’s my friend, but I can be friends with you too and have that be separate, if that makes sense.”

It does, and wow. Are there people like this? Genuine and honest? I mean, I had Christine, and she was a fairy godmother who literally showed up out of nowhere and changed everything for me. But she’s back in California, and since I moved out to Boston and had Hazel, I rarely hear from her. I don’t have friends. Certainly not girlfriends and certainly not people I feel like I could trust.

“Then I’d love to do that. Sorry if what I said came off as rude. I’m not...” I swallow as I think about how I want to phrase this. “I’m not good at trusting people.”

“That’s fine. I get it, believe it or not. I’m part Fritz, and a natural distrust of people and their motives is ingrained in us.”

Fritz. “Dr. Fritz.”

She looks at me. “Yes, but my last name isn’t Fritz.”

I shake my head. “No. I mean, wait. You’re a doctor?”

She laughs. “Yes, I’m a trauma surgeon.”

“Wow. Okay, then. No, I meant I met two Dr. Fritzes in the ER the other day. I think it was an Oliver Fritz, and heintroduced me to his sister-in-law, Layla. And then Jack Kincaid told me he’s dating Wren Fritz, as if I should know her.”

Now she’s really laughing at me. “Yes, Oliver’s my grandfather, sort of, and Layla is my stepmother. Wren is one of my best friends and cousins.”

“That’s a lot and a bit confusing.” I laugh lightly.

“Story of my life right there. Anyway, half of my family, or should I say, half of the Fritz family works in the hospital.”

Jesus. How did I not remember that last name or put it together? They’re billionaires. I remember this now. Vaguely, but you tend to remember the word billionaire when it’s tossed around, and the Fritzes are billionaires. Famous ones at that. Sort of like how Vander’s parents are friends with famous people. I mean, I didn’t realize this before, but Vander’s mom is a Monroe, as in Monroe Securities—obviously—and Monroe Fashions.

Georgia is so lovely and normal and always made me feel like hers. Even when I saw her last week, it was still like that. She even invited me out for dinner, which of course I had to decline.

My head starts to spin with it all. How could I be friends with this woman when she’s a billionaire? It’s so far from me and my life. Then again, she’s in the park with her kid, pushing her on a swing wearing clothes I could see myself wearing. She doesn’t scream money. Not even her purse is designer. It’s one of those giant diaper bags, and it’s sitting on the dirty wood chips beside her.

“I didn’t realize how far-reaching Vander’s world went.” And how closely I’m now connected to it.

“Don’t stress it. For real. Vander is Vander, and he does his own thing his way. He’s a good man. You seem a little on edge about him, which I get, but he is.”

“That’s what Champagne said, too, but he and I have a slightly different relationship than what you all have with him.”

Katy winks at me. “I can only hope.”

“No, I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant that I don’t like him, and the feeling is mutual. More than that, it’s how I intend to keep it with us.” My heart couldn’t handle Vander twice. It just couldn’t, and I have too much going on, too much at stake to manage a man like him. It’s already there. That pull. That connection.

It’s intrinsic.