My phone lights up with a call from Meesha. I answer immediately, heart lifting at the sound of her voice.
“Hey! Just finished another double shift,” she says, exhaustion evident in her tone. “How are you holding up?”
“Fine,” I lie, watching Frédérique slip quietly from the room. “Just finishing the wedding favors.”
“You’re amazing.” She sighs. “While I’ve been trapped at the hospital, you’ve been handling everything.”
Guilt twists in my stomach, but I push it aside. “That’s what partners do, ma belle. We carry each other.”
“I finally finished The Silent Patient last night,” Meesha says, a hint of excitement breaking through her exhaustion.
“About time!” I tease, settling back in my chair. “What did you think?”
“I can’t believe that twist! When it turned out the therapist was actually the—”
“Husband of the woman he was treating? I know! And she never spoke because she recognized him.”
“It completely blindsided me,” Meesha laughs. “I had to go back and reread certain parts to catch all the clues. You were right about the ending.”
“Je t’avais dit, eh? Told you it would blow your mind.” I smile, picturing her curled up with the book. “Speaking of mind-blowing, did you check out that meteor shower forecast I sent you? The Lyrids should be peaking next week.”
Her enthusiasm practically vibrates through the phone. “Yes! Already marked it on our calendar. Do you think we’ll be able to see them from the deck of the new house?”
“If not the deck, definitely from that clearing by the Bay.” I pull up the astronomy app we both use, the one that’s guided our stargazing adventures for years. “The forecast says minimal cloud cover, and being away from the town lights should give us perfect viewing conditions.”
“Perfect timing,” she says warmly. “Remember that Perseid shower we watched the summer we met? When you brought that ridiculous telescope that took an hour to set up?”
“How could I forget? We sat on that old blanket drinking thermos coffee until sunrise.” My voice warms with the memory. “You brought those homemade oatmeal cookies that crumbled all over us.”
“They were delicious though,” she defends, laughing. “And they gave you the perfect excuse to brush crumbs off my shoulder, which was clearly your first move.”
“It worked, didn’t it?” I chuckle, remembering how nervous I’d been to touch her, even casually. “Now we have our own viewing spot right by the lake. No more driving to the state park at midnight with your dad or Antonio as chaperones.”
“The perks of adulting,” she agrees. “You’ll never guess who is stuck together at her apartment during this storm?”
“Who?”
“Jessa and Jaxon. That’s six days now with just the two of them.”
I chuckle, remembering how those two are always sniping at each other. Jaxon is the CEO of JAK Innovations, which he founded with Kamal and Antonio—Meesha’s stepbrother.
Thank God for those three visionaries and their business acumen. Investing my money in JAK turned into a windfall beyond my wildest expectations.
It’s almost embarrassing how wealthy their success has made me, transforming what could have been a career-ending tragedy into financial freedom I never imagined possible.
“Jaxon might not survive.”
“Actually,” Meesha’s voice drops conspiratorially, “I think they’re probably fucking by now.”
“Jaxon’s a lucky man,” I mumble. “I wish I were in his position with you right now.”
“Me too, babe.”
“Just imagine, you and me, snowed in with nowhere to go. No hospital shifts, no clients. Just us, a fireplace, and days to ourselves.” I close my eyes, picturing it. “I’d keep you warm in more ways than one, ma belle.”
“Connor Beauregard,” she laughs, but I can hear the desire in her voice. “What exactly would we do with all that time?”
A smile tugs at my lips as I remember our weekend in Montreal last winter. “Remember that bed-and-breakfast in Old Montreal? The one with the claw-foot tub big enough for two?”
