“Ok, then.” Brooke unnecessarily adjusted the collar of her lab coat. “I have to finish my rounds.”
“And I’m headed home.” He stepped away. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“Tonight.”
“Oh, Brooke?—”
“Yeah?” she furrowed her inquisitive brow.
“Do you need me to bring you another package of Oreos? I don’t think they have those on the menu at the pizza place?”
Brooke rolled her eyes, but her lips curled. “I’ll manage.” She scrunched her nose. “I only ate half the pack last night. I might have to polish off the rest of it after this evening. So, another stop at the grocery store might be on the agenda afterwards.”
Logan rubbed his thumb down his jaw. “Hey, you have a plan.” He tried to think of something smooth to say but he came up blank. “See you soon.” Then he left.
His entire walk home he thought about Brooke eating Oreos on her couch, and he thought he wouldn’t mind sitting next to her, eating them too.
CHAPTER 3
Brooke didn’t get off work until a little past six. Technically, Aubrey said the meet up for pizza and drinks started at six, but there was no way she was headed there straight from work. If she had to face Justin with a new woman on his arm, then she needed her most protective armor. Meaning, a dress that wasn’t business attire, a face that didn’t have smudged makeup, and hair that wasn’t ratty.
With a quick stop at home to change her clothes, fix her makeup, and double-check her hair, Brooke walked into Robert’s Pizza and Dough a mere forty minutes late. She spotted the long table with about fifteen doctors and nurses from the hospital. The table already held a variety of pizzas, food, and drinks. They appeared to be halfway finished eating.
One chair was open next to Justin and his new leggy blonde. Nope. Aubrey and Ian sat across from them. In the middle were doctors and nurses she knew. Then on the other end sat Logan with a free chair next to him. Her pulse raced. He had on slacks and a long button-down checked shirt tucked into them. Dang, he looked good. It almost made her forget about how she wanted to punch Justin in the face.
For a second, Brooke stared at everyone eating and chatting. Justin had dumped her and nobody, including her best friend, seemed to care how the entire thing had rocked her to her core. Yeah, she couldn’t do it. She stayed frozen in place, willing herself to be strong and appear undeterred. This was a bad idea. She wasn’t ready to see Justin in a social setting with someone new on his arm. It stung too bad.
Her legs remembered how to move. She pivoted to leave, but Aubrey spotted her and called out to her at an unearthly volume. Everyone at the table peered over at her. Fresh heat splashed her cheeks. Justin straightened his back and wrapped an arm around his new woman’s shoulders while lowering his gaze to avoid eye contact with her. She wondered if the new lady even knew about their relationship or if he had painted himself as an image of chivalry.
Logan’s cup paused midair when their eyes met. The cup hovered inches from his lips. Then his gaze flickered down her frame. He shook his head the smallest amount, took a drink and twisted back to face the doctors across the table from him. Aubrey ran over to her.
“I’m glad you came.” Aubrey hugged her while she stood stiffly. “I was worried you’d be a no show.” She broke their embrace.
“I can’t do this.” Luckily, those at the table went back to talking and eating, except for Justin whose gaze remained glued on her. “Why did you suggest this? You know I’m not ready to be around him.” Her words sounded like a hiss.
Aubrey put a hand on her hip. “You were around him today at work.”
“That was different. I had no choice.” She forced herself to take a deep breath and settle the quiver in her voice. “This—this feels like I’ve been karate punched. I mean look at her.” Brooke tilted her head in the general direction.
“Yeah, I know.” Aubrey leaned in closer to her, and added, “But for the record, she is completely wrong for him.”
Her shoulders drooped. “But she’s gorgeous.” Then her bottom lip trembled. She blinked rapidly to fight the tears threatening to spill over.
Aubrey squeezed her forearm and found her gaze. “You’re gorgeous.” She squeezed again.
“You have to say that because you’re my friend.” Brooke shot her a crooked smile. “It doesn’t count.”
Aubrey let go. “I’d say it even if you weren’t my best friend.” She flashed a glance over her shoulder back toward the table. “I wish Justin wasn’t such a total nimrod—but he’s Ian’s best friend. What am I supposed to do?” The worry lines on her forehead tightened. “We both chose our best friends. I wish I wasn’t in this situation, but you have to see how I’m in a tight spot.”
Anger seeped into her veins, and she hated Justin even more for putting them in this situation. If he had been so unhappy with her, why hadn’t he broken up with her months ago. Instead, he strung her along like a fool and only kicked her to the curb when he had another lady secure and ready. Her blood simmered near boiling point. Now, he got to sit down at the end by their friends while she was left to feel like the odd one out.
“Well—” Brooke stared at the table of people. Logan caught her gaze again and waved. The knot in her gut loosened and brought her mounting blood pressure down. Her brain managed to clear enough for her to think straight. “I’ll stay, but I’m not sitting over by you guys. I’m headed to the opposite end of the table.”
A look of relief washed over Aubrey’s countenance. “I understand.” Then she leaned in closer. “And Logan is easy on the eyes.” Then she winked.
“Really?” Brooke straightened her back and pulled back her shoulders. “I hadn’t noticed.”
Aubrey cackled. “Yeah, okay?—”
