While Wes, Morgan, and Callie greeted Haley on the couch, I helped Gabe and Lucas unload food containers in the kitchen.
“That’s Morgan’s burger,” Lucas said as he slid one of the containers to the side before checking the next. “And this one with the fried pickles is Callie’s.”
“Wings?” Gabe asked.
“Wes,” Lucas answered.
As I set some plates on the island, Lucas looked at me, a small smirk playing on his lips. “So,” he began quietly, “you and Haley, huh?”
Gabe chuckled, looking at me curiously at Lucas’s question.
I knew it was coming eventually. I hadn’t talked to them one-on-one, but in our group chat with Wes, when they were askingmefor daily updates on Haley during her hospital stay, I figured they’d been made aware.
A smile ghosted my lips under their scrutiny, and I rubbed the back of my neck. “Yeah,” I said with a nod. “Me and Haley.”
“How long hasthatbeen going on?” my brother asked.
I let out a breath mixed with a chuckle. “Uh…a while…” I answered honestly.
“And how long’s ‘a while’?” Lucas questioned.
My gaze flickered up to ensure Wes was still occupied with Haley—I was pretty sure he wouldn’t care to hear this part of what I was going to say. “Well,unofficially…I guess it kind of started a year ago…”
Their brows both arched with smiles. “Unofficially?” Gabe prompted.
“Honest to God, it was an accident.”
“Anaccident?” Lucas chuckled. “I’m gonna need you to elaborate.”
I scratched the back of my head. “I, uh…I saw her out at a bar one night…and I didn’t recognize her.”
They both barked out a laugh. “No fucking way,” Gabe said.
“Way,” I replied with a nod. “I swear, I had no idea it was her. And in her defense, she thought I was fucking with her, so she just played along. We went our separate ways and dubbed it a mistake. Then, I started working in the ER with her a couple of months later, and things just…happened.”
Gabe smiled. “Wes seems to be taking it well.”
I blew out a breath. “Yeah. Better than I gave him credit for, that’s for sure.”
And that was the truth. I hadn’t given Wes nearly enough credit when it came to how he would react. I’d been so convinced he would be furious or, worse, would hate me. And maybe at first, he did, but if so, it didn’t last all but twenty minutes. I think my feelings for her played a part in his handling it so well—he knew how much she meant to me. He also knew I wasnothinglike those pricks in her past that he alwayscomplained about. I wasn’t perfect—far from it—but he knew me and my character.
“Well, I don’t think Wes could ask for anyone better for his sister,” Lucas said with a grin.
The corner of my mouth twitched with a sheepish smile. “Thanks.”
“You two seem good for each other,” Gabe added.
“And don’t think Wes isn’t secretlyecstatic,” Lucas said with a chuckle. “Morgan told Callie that he kept saying how you could be his ‘real brother’ if things work out.”
I let out a snort. “Jesus Christ.”
“So, Wes is good with it. But what about work?” Gabe asked. “With you precepting her, I mean. Are they going to say anything?”
“I talked to our boss,” I explained. “She kind of figured it out on her own after seeing my state when Haley was first brought in after the accident. I didn’t want to lie to her. I told her I understood if she needed to put Haley with another physician, but she said as long as it didn’t affect my ability to precept and teach her, she would ‘mind her business.’ I gave her my word that it wouldn’t interfere. And that’s when she gave me the next two weeks off, so that I could be here with her.”
“Good,” Lucas said, nodding with a smile. “That’s good.”
Gabe squeezed my shoulder. “I’m glad things are panning out. And you seem…good. In a better headspace.”
