"Why did you become a doctor?"
"My father." Ethan doesn't look up from the eggs. "He had an undiagnosed heart condition. The doctors did everything they could, but it wasn't enough. I remember thinking, if I'd known more, maybe I could have helped. Maybe I could have saved him."
"You were twelve."
"I know. But that's how a twelve-year-old thinks." He pours the eggs into a pan. "I wanted to be the person who could save people. Who could fix things."
"Do you ever regret it?"
"Sometimes. The hours are brutal. The pressure is constant. And no matter how good you are, you can't save everyone." He glances at me. "But when we can save someone? When I see them walk out of the hospital and go back to their lives? That makes it worth it."
"You're a good man, Ethan Cross."
His smile is soft. "I try. I try to make my parents proud."
We eat at the kitchen island, and I can't remember the last time a meal felt this easy. This right. Even my lunches with my girlfriends don’t feel this natural.
"So," Ethan says, setting down his fork. "Tell me about this book club of yours."
I laugh. "What do you want to know?"
"Everything. How did it start?"
"Well, it started with our favorite author RJ. She made the club back during COVID when we needed more connection with each other. She’s more like one of us and less a famous author. She’s super approachable. Then, my good friend Madison started the spinoff chat that I’m in the most. She's a TikTok influencer, and she was reading this romance novel that had a Daddy Dom Little Girl dynamic. She posted about it, and a bunch of us reached out saying we loved the book, too. We started chatting, realized we all lived in the same state, and decided to do a real life meet up."
"And now?"
"Now we meet virtually every week and try to get together in person every couple of months. Sometimes, those of us who live closer get together while the others join us via video call. Weread books, drink wine, and talk about everything from fictional men to real-life problems."
"Sounds like a good group."
"They are. They're my people." I smile. "They're probably losing their minds right now because I didn't show up last night, although I did let them know."
"Because you were here."
"Yeah."
"Do they know about me?"
"They know I'm working for you."
"And?"
"And they think it's the plot of a romance novel."
Ethan grins. "Is it?"
"I don't know yet."
His gaze holds mine. "I guess we'll find out."
My phone buzzes.
Madison: Rescheduled meeting. Tonight. 7 pm. Chloe's shop. This is non-negotiable, Lily.
I chuckle and show Ethan the message. Madi has a flare for the dramatic.
"You should go," he says.
