He glanced around the room and out the back sliding doors where we could see our mothers drinking coffee and laughing. “It’s a lot.”
I nodded. “I sort of feel like I did before my first night of being on call. Restless, not knowing what to expect.”
“Here’s what to expect.” He counted on his fingers. “Eating, pooping, sleeping. Eating, pooping, sleeping. Rinse and repeat. Easy peasy. You’ve got it.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“You’re going to be a great mom.” He paused, looking a little conflicted. “I have to tell you something—about Arnold.”
Oh. Arnold. Not theI just couldn’t stay awaythat I was hoping for.
But then the doorbell rang again.
I opened the door to a tall, roguishly handsome man with longish light brown hair and a beard, wearing a Hawaiian shirt, Birkenstocks, and sunglasses on his head, who sauntered in carrying two giant picnic baskets. Dylan himself.
“Hey, lady, there you are.” He walked right over to me and kissed me on the cheek. “I made you some power dinner. Where’s the little lady?” He spotted the bassinet and asked permission with a lift of his brows.
“Sure, go on over,” I said. Sticking out of his shirt pocket was a small leather-bound notebook that he still kept tucked there for when he was inspired to write spontaneous poetry verses. They were bad, but nevertheless, it was reassuring that he was still an original guy who’d remained true to himself.
Over the past decade, he’d tended to blow in and out of my life unpredictably, like a sudden storm that made a lot of wind and noise, stirred everything up, and left just as suddenly.
“Hi, Baby,” he said in a higher-pitched voice, waving his fingers above the bassinet. “She’s really precious,” he said, straightening up. “Congratulations, Ani.”
“Thanks,” I said, noticing that Adam was watching all of this with lifted brows. Before I could make introductions, Dylan lifted up each basket that he’d brought. “I just took some homemade bread out of the oven. The rest is a burrata salad, grapes, and some chicken salad with nuts and a Greek yogurt dressing. Strength for the journey.”
I gave him a side hug, reminded of how I almost didn’t divorce him because he was such a great cook. “That was sweet. Nice to see you.” He put his arm around me, and keeping itthere, reached out a hand to Adam, who was still standing nearby. “Hey, I’m Dylan. Ani and I go way back.”
“Way back?” Adam asked, his tone a tad suspicious as he shook hands with him.
“Dylan’s an old friend,” I said, taking a step away so that Dylan had to move his arm. “And my ex. And also a pediatrician.” Might as well get it all out there, right? “Dylan, meet my friend, Adam Lowenstein. He’s the director of the ER.”
“Oh, hey, great to meet you,” Dylan said. “Turns out I’m going to be in town for a while. I’d love to talk to you about a job.”
“We’re always interested in getting more primary care docs on staff. But all of them are also employed in the community.”
“Well, I’d love to take over for Ani here for a few weeks, so what do you say? I’m in town, I’m available, and I’m here for my best girls.”
Adam’s brows shot up in surprise as the intimacy of that statement hit him. “If you take over for her, you’ll do her assigned ER shifts.”
This was just like Dylan. To present his case publicly. But to refer to the baby and me asmy best girls? Way too much.
That was how he was—over the top. That was probably why I fell in love with him at such a young age—he believed anything was possible. He’d encouraged me to apply to medical school when I was working as a nurse, so at least I owed him for cheerleading me onward to follow my dreams.
“My practice is vetting candidates,” I said in a neutral tone. “We should have a decision soon.”
“I know I’m the only candidate,” he said honestly. “I’d take good care of your patients. You know I would.” He did a careless shrug. “I mean, I’m already vetted, right? You know me inside and out.”
Oh no.I wished I didn’t. I couldn’t look at how Adam was taking this. “Well, my partners and I all need to agree. We’ll have a decision by the end of the week.”
Ihadto have a decision by then. Because I wasn’t going to survive much longer going like I was. I had to do something quick.
“Inside and out, huh?” Adam bristled as Dylan moved on to meet my neighbors. If he’d had a sword, he’d have drawn it right then. And if I read his body language right, he didn’t like this. Not one bit.
And that gave me a ridiculous surge of hope.
Chapter Fourteen
Adam
