“I—I—” Aubrey stammered. “I think it’s better this way.”
Her world crashed down. Not only had she lost Justin, but she was losing Aubrey and Ian too. This was only the beginning. Her mind quickly cataloged every worst-case social scenario, all the ones she would no doubt be left out of. Their friendship had worked because they were both part of a couple, and their boyfriends were best friends.
Loneliness engulfed her even though Aubrey remained a few feet away. Years of friendship which centered around a dynamic that no longer existed, meant maybe they weren’t as close as she once thought. Maybe she needed a new friend. If Logan ever contacted her about doing something, she would say yes.
A buzzer sounded. Aubrey tapped it off. “I need to go check on this patient. Let’s try and meet for lunch soon.” She stood and pushed in her chair. “Text me your schedule, and I’ll figure out mine too.”
A weird undercurrent hovered right below the surface. Tangible and real.
“I’d love to meet for lunch,” Brooke replied in her most genuine and upbeat voice she could muster. Aubrey rounded the station, and Brooke squeezed her arm to stop her in place. She found her gaze. “Hey,” she paused, letting her voice soften, “I’m sorry. I know this is tricky, but I would like to find a way for us to stay friends.”
“We will,” Aubrey smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes, “stay friends. Don’t you worry.”
Brooke wanted to believe it was possible but a nagging feeling lingered.
“Okay, then it’s decided,” Brooke said like her words set everything in stone.
Aubrey left and headed down the hall to check on her patient.
Brooke finished her patients’ charts then tossed them into the pile to be updated into the computer. Then she shoved her pen back into the pocket of her lab coat.
“Hey,” a familiar voice called out to her. Brooke pivoted toward it. Logan jogged down the hallway opposite the direction Aubrey disappeared. He arrived in front of her out of breath. “I’m glad I caught you,” Logan leaned forward and gripped his knees as his breathing evened out.
“You okay?” A half laugh escaped her. “Or did you finish running a marathon I didn’t know about?” She scrutinized him.
“Haha.” Logan rolled his eyes then straightened himself. “I can’t help it if my only workouts involve walking to and from work. Then I spotted you, and I didn’t want you to disappear before I could talk to you.”
“You could’ve texted me.” She leaned her hip against the nurses’ station and fully faced him. “I mean you gave me that I want to be friends hard sell but then promptly ghosted me so?—”
“It didn’t save,” he blurted out then Logan rubbed the back of his neck. “I have no idea what happened, but the contact did not save.” His labored breathing evened out. “I don’t want you thinking I ghosted you, because I do want to be your friend. I heard from another doctor that you were on shift today. I booked it here after my surgery.”
“Uh, huh.” Skeptically, she raised an eyebrow. “Okay.”
“It’s true.” His beautiful blue eyes glinted with mischievousness. He snatched his phone from the pocket of his lab coat. “I did want to see you again, but your number really didn’t save. Here—” holding it out to her, “can you reenter your number?”
An unfamiliar zing traveled down her spine. “I guess.” Their fingers brushed as she took the phone from him. Slowly, she entered her phone number and double checked to make sure it was saved as a new contact. It didn’t look to be a duplicate. “There you go.” She held it out for him, and he snagged it back.
“Thanks.” Logan pulled up his contacts then tapped on her name. He turned the screen to face her. “I have it now.” Then he put it back in his pocket.
“You do.” Then they stared at one another. The air quaked with a palpable tension, and she wondered if he felt it too. When he didn’t speak, Brooke filled the void. “I guess text me when you want to hang out, friend.” She took one step in the direction of her patient’s room, but she slowed her step in case he cared to prolong their conversation.
“Another thing before you take off?—”
Brooke twisted back to face him and folded her arms.
Logan rocked back and forth on his heels, “I have a favor I needed to ask of you.”
“Are we already to the favor part of our friendship?” She laughed. “I don’t know, this might be going a bit fast for me.”
His face fell. “Oh, okay.” Logan waved a hand. “Forget about it. I’ll see you around.” Then he shifted to leave.
Brooke pinched the sleeve of his lab coat. “Wait.” She let out a long breath. He traced the length of her hand up to her face. She dropped her hand and straightened herself. “I was only giving you a hard time. What was the favor?” Then she shoved her hands into the pockets of her lab coat.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I need you to come to my parents for dinner and pretend to be my new girlfriend. I need them to think I’m not available, because my ex is in town and my sister is determined to play matchmaker.” The words came in rapid succession.
Taken back by his proposal, Brooke let the proposition simmer in her brain. “You need a pretend girlfriend?”
“Yes.” His shoulders drooped a little bit more. “I most definitely need exactly that.”
