Because,pathetically, I allowed it.
I glanced up to see Blake staring at me intently, seemingly caught off guard by my confession.
“That shit needs to stop,” he said, his tone serious. “You don’t need tofixanyone, Haley. Because they’ll fix them damn selvesallon their ownto be worthy of you. And anyone who sees or treats you as anythinglessthan what you are isn’t worth the fucking air you breathe.”
I smiled, letting out a breathy, awkward chuckle at his declaration.
“Don’t laugh,” Blake said, shaking his head. “I’m dead serious. I want you to promise me that shit ends now. That from here on out, you won’t put up with anyone’s bullshit. That you won’t acceptanythingless than what you deserve.”
My brow arched. “Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously.Say it.”
“Fine,” I said, letting out another laugh. “I promise.”
Blake flashed a satisfied grin. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
Chapter 19
Haleyand I had gone back to The Rusty Anchor a few times since that first night a couple of weeks ago. It was easy if one of us had a rough day to grab a drink to unwind.
I didn’t have bad days, per se. I’d been in a better place than where I was a few short weeks ago, but even now, when I was alone, moments still crept in—moments when my thoughts became a little too loud.
And Haley…well, she seemed to be the key to quieting them.
I didn’t know what it was about her presence, but she was the rare quiet in my storm. With her, the constant noise in my mind faded into silence. It was almost unnerving how easily she could mute thoughts I never seemed to be able to escape on my own.
Even at work while precepting her, I found it easier to focus. It was a phenomenon I couldn’t explain, even to myself. I started seeking her out—messaging her on our days off just for a simple conversation, even if it was only a few words on a screen. It wassomething.
It was Friday, and we were midway through the first day of our weekend shift, and the ER was slammed. We’d just run a code and had stabilized the patient when another came through the doors via ambulance. I’d noticed since lunch that Haley seemed a little on edge, but I hadn’t had a chance to ask her if everything was okay because we’d been so busy.
We were in the room, getting report from EMS on the one they just brought in—shortness of breath and chest pain. I stood back, listening while Haley gathered all of the information.
I stepped up beside her when EMS finished. “Get them on oxygen, get an EKG, get a rainbow, blood gas, and put in for an X-ray.”
I nodded. “Good.” I looked at Marie, who was in the middle of hooking the patient to the monitor, and nodded for her to continue with what Haley said. “We’ll go get these orders in.”
We walked out of the room, and when we entered the doctor’s charting area and sat down, I glanced at her. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” she said, focusing on the computer screen as she started to put in the patient’s orders before looking at me. “Why?”
“You just seem tense.”
She blew out a breath. “Anchor after work?”
“Yeah,” I said with a nod. “I’ll drive.”
After our shift ended, Haley and I walked to my car and drove up to The Rusty Anchor. We walked inside, and she took up what had now become our table in the back while I went to the bar and ordered our drinks.
I’d texted Gabe earlier, asking if he could go to my house after work due to my plans. My brother loved Maverick—who wouldn’t? He’d easily agreed to hang out with him the fewevenings I wasn’t home right after work these past couple of weeks. According to him, it was good for me to “socialize with my colleagues” to unwind, and he insisted he was always willing to help. I’d left out the finer details about exactlywhoI was socializing with, though. He could see through me most of the time, and the last thing I needed was him asking questions.
When I approached the table and saw Haley’s fingers drumming against it as she stared out the window, I sensed her tension. “So, what’s on your mind?” I asked as I slid her glass over and took the seat beside her.
I watched her take a sip of her drink. “Brett messaged me again today.”
“Oh?”
Haley nodded. “I didn’t answer his text from a couple of weeks ago, and he assumed the reason was that I knew he was engaged, so he wanted to let me know hecalled off his engagement. And then he asked if he could see me…”
