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“She gave birth and then immediately handed the baby over to our new pediatrician.”

“To Ani,” Brax said.

Ani.Who’d never been far from my thoughts. I cleared my throat. “Yes. What do you know about her?” Brax was a pediatrician, and he subbed a day each week in the same practice Ani joined. I was eager to get some info—any info—about her.

“Mia’s really good friends with her. We were all residents together, and I count myself as her friend too. We were all there when her wedding fell apart last summer.”

Interesting. Also, if Ani had a connection with Brax’s girlfriend, it was definitelynota good idea to get confessional about Turks and Caicos.

I avoided looking at Brax as I grabbed a log and tossed it into his truck.

I was used to keeping things close. And I wasn’t the kiss-and-tell type. But I could’ve used a friend to talk to right then because life suddenly felt very complicated.

“Ani did a great job with the delivery,” I said.

“She’s a great doc,” Brax said, “and a good person. She deserves better than that guy she almost married.”

“What happened with that?” I winced. Bad question, totally inappropriate, none of my business. Yet I couldn’t resist the ask.

Brax dusted off his bright yellow gloves and heaved a sigh. “It’s complicated. Tyler is super smart and extremely organized but also kind of an asshole. I think she was attracted to his levelheadedness. But he like, has no emotions.” Brax studied me carefully. “Do you care?”

Busted.“I-I was just wondering.” I kept asking questions like a gossip. And stammering. Could I be more obvious?

I hefted a heavy piece of wood and pressed my lips together. Since Liv died, I’d struggled in many ways—I hadn’t felt like going out with my friends. I became isolated. When I moved here, I vowed to do better, determined to push myself to keep up with my relationships. “If I tell you something, you have to promise to keep it private.”

“Of course.” To his credit, Brax wiped the surprise off his face, halted all activity, and stood there expectantly.

I had one last chance to keep this private. Aw, hell. I needed…a friend. So I plunged ahead. “I met someone. Last summer. In Turks and Caicos.”

“Oh.” He was smart enough not to ask further. But I didn’t miss his raised brow, the little lilt in his voice. “Wow. Okay. You never said anything about that.”

I shrugged, unsure of what to say next.

“Is this someone you would ever see again?” Brax asked.

“I never thought I would.” I pinched my nose. That wasn’t entirely true. “I mean, I looked up her name. I knew where she lived. Maybe I was hoping someday—but I swear, I came back here for my mom. I’m not some stalker?—”

At that point, Brax pulled off his gloves and tossed them on the ground. “Wait a minute. Are you telling me?—”

Stupid, stupid me. I’d started this avalanche. So I had to finish it. “It was Ani. She showed up in my ER last night. And I handled it all wrong.”

“Wait, back up. Did you—did yousleepwith her?” He raised his hands up traffic-cop style. “No, don’t answer that. If you answer, I’ll be keeping a secret from Mia, and that would be bad.”

“Maybe. That might’ve happened.Yes.” I felt no relief.

He burst into laughter. I stabbed him with a glare. “Brax, I swear, if you say one word…”

He threw up his hands, still chuckling. “I won’t, I won’t. But…you like her. I mean, you obviously do, or we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

“Yes, I like her. But I don’t know what I want. And I hurt her feelings.”

He parked himself on the woodpile and took off his ball cap. “Go on. I can’t wait to hear this.”

“Well, first she accused me of leaving my sense of humor in Turks and Caicos.”

“You have a sense of humor?” He smiled a smirky smile that made me regret confessing my darkest secret. “Okay, okay, so let’s be honest, you haven’t exactly had a bounce in your step lately.”

“Nor will I ever in the ER. I have to treat her professionally.”