“Yes.” My voice scratches, rough and emotional. “Yes, I’ll be there.”
CHAPTER 30
FRANKIE
In the morning, I get paged by Dr. Hashemi, the resident on my ortho rotation, just before Logan leaves to go back to the hotel.
“Even though it’s a day off, there are still interesting cases that come through, and today is one of those days,” I explain as I hastily get dressed. “I probably won’t make it out to Anaheim for your game this afternoon.”
“Hey, it’s okay.” He kisses me firmly on the mouth, lingering because these are our last kisses for months.
Months.
“I wanted…”
Another kiss. “Me too. But we’ll talk on the phone.”
I nod.
“And text.”
I push up on my toes. “Maybe we’ll actually talk more when we can’t kiss?”
He growls and takes my lips roughly. Both of us chasing away feelings that are too big, too complicated, for how briefly we’ve known each other.
Outside, I unlock my bike.
He takes my helmet from me and buckles it under my chin.
And suddenly we’re out of time.
“I’m going to miss you,” I admit, and it rushes out of me, more honest that I mean to be. Not because being honest with Logan is bad, but because we’ve only known each other for a week, and now we need to manage getting to know each other in secret and planning for the next stage, where we tell everyone that we’re together.
And it feels painfully vulnerable to admit just how much I care for him now, on the precipice of all that is going to come. It makes me feel weak, when I want to be strong.
He rubs his knuckle along my jaw and gives me a faint smile. “Not too much.”
Right. Must be brave. But also, I like to be contrary, so I stick my tongue out. “So much.”
“I’ll have to be very annoying with video calls then, for balance.”
“Please do.”
“I’m going to get the story of your name out of you soon.” His car pulls up to the curb, a sleek black ride. So different from my own.
I sling a leg over my bike and push through the gate he holds open for me. “Something to look forward to.”
And then I have to start pedalling, have to get to the hospital, and for the first time in four years, I’m feeling some complicated way about that.
I don’t look back. I hear his ride pull away, and I force myself to keep looking forward.
When I get to the hospital and lock up my bike, I’m rewarded for that stoicism. There’s a text message waiting for me.
Logan
I’m really fucking proud of you, Dr. Francesca. I hope whoever is having surgery today knows that they’re helping all of your future patients, too.
CHAPTER 31
