My phone rings as I walk back to my bedroom. For one wild second, I think it might be Kendall.
I sigh when I see the caller. I’ve already ignored one call from her.
“Mom?” I tap the button for the speaker.
“Hi, hon.” Her thick twang pours down the phone line. My parents are probably the wealthiest people in one of the poorest counties in the US—we always had shiny cars, a manicured lawn, and working appliances—but even they have the thick accent. “Thought you might still be mad at me.”
“I’m not angry anymore,” I say. “As long as you aren’t calling to tell me I should date Rachel. Or move back home.”
She produces an indignant huff. “Well, Rachel’s mama said she’s dating another lawyer now, anyway. And I don’t see what’s wrong with being back here.”
“Mom—”
“I know, I know. I’ll let it lie.”
“I did run into someone from high school, actually,” I say carefully. Mom knows that not everyone was an admirer of mine back home, though she doesn’t know the extent of what I was like. “You remember Kenzie Amburgey?”
I can almost hear my mom’s wheels spinning. “I think so,” she says, a hint of distaste coloring her words even though she tries to hide it. My stomach burns with irritation as she continues. “I know her brother was in that awful accident, poor thing. But I heard he does taxes now.” She pauses. “Didn’t their daddy run off?”
“I think so,” I say, gritting my teeth. “And yeah, her brother went back to school after the accident. She’s a nurse. She works in the ortho clinic where I’m doing my rotation.”
“Oh, I see. Well good for her, then.”
My stomach sours. I get the feeling Mom wouldn’t care if Kendall had climbed all the way to millionaire status. It wouldn’t change how she sees her family.
“I gotta go, Mom.”
“But I didn’t get to ask you about your mamaw’s eighty-fifthbirthday. It’s coming up in a couple months and we’re having a big party.”
“I’ll be there,” I say. “I have to go now, though.”
She starts to protest, but I make an excuse, wanting to quell my burning ire before I say something ugly.
I press my fists to my eyes. No wonder Kendall hates me so much.
Kendall stops me in the hall before our first surgical case. Her hair’s braided again, a style she seems to like, and God help me, I want it wrapped around my wrist. She also wears her glasses instead of her contacts again, and that along with the hairstyle is proving to be a powerful combo. I practically salivate.
I think of Adam’s words.Leave the woman alone.Even though she did ask to kiss me, and I would oblige if she asked me for anything, I need to remember what he said. It’s difficult, though, when she’s been on my mind for days. Weeks, really.
“You really went and bought me that dress,” she says, eyes wide. Her lashes curl up toward her brows, long and thick. Her beauty strikes me every time I see her.
“You sent me the link and your size,” I say, discreetly scanning her figure. I can imagine it on her, how it would look with her long legs showing.
“Yes, but I was mostly kidding.”
“Were you?”
She scoffs. “Okay, I was goading you a little. I didn’t think you would actually go and do it.”
“Do you like it?”
“It’s gorgeous. Fuck you.”
I laugh, and it echoes around the empty hall. “You’re welcome. It is literally the least I could do. I meant what I said about making things up to you.”
“You can’t just buy things for me and expect me to forgive you. I mean sure, that’s fun and all, but I have more pride than that.”
“I know.”
