“Sleep,” I said quickly. “I slept.”
Tyler nodded like that explained everything. “That’ll do it.”
Macey didn’t look convinced, but she let it go.
I grabbed my water bottle and escaped before she could analyze me further.
The rest of the morning was normal. No patient drama. Routine procedures. Nothing unusual.
And Jay was normal.
He spoke to me the same way he always had, incredibly professional and calm, which should have been a good thing.
Instead, it was driving me absolutely insane.
Every time he passed behind me, the air felt charged. When his arm brushed mine as he reached for a chart, a sharp electric jolt shot straight through me. Even when he wasn’t touching me, if he was existing in the same room, I was hyperaware of him.
Like my body hadn’t gotten the memo that we were pretending nothing had changed.
By midday, I was officially strung out. I felt like I’d drunk a hundred milligrams of caffeine.
So when I saw his office door open, I didn’t give myself time to chicken out. I knocked once and stepped inside.
Jay looked up from his desk, where he was reviewing a patient chart. “Hey. What’s up?”
I shut the door behind me, keeping my voice steady. “Okay. I don’t know if I can do this.”
He frowned slightly. “Do what?”
I made a vague gesture at everything and nothing. “This. Today. This whole pretending nothing has changed thing.”
He set his papers down and came around the desk, leaning back against it and crossing his ankles. “You were the one who asked for normal.”
“I know,” I said quickly. “And I stand by that. But also—” I exhaled sharply. “I amsoaware of you right now, it’s borderline unbearable.” My cheeks burned when I realized I’d really said that out loud.
His mouth twitched.
“I notice every time you walk into a room,” I continued, unable to stop myself. “Every time you’re near me. Every time you brush past me—which, by the way, you do a lot for someone supposedly being professional.”
“I’m just moving through my clinic,” he said mildly.
“It’s too much, Jay.”
He shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips. “I’m not doing it on purpose. I promise.”
“I know,” I groaned, running a hand through my ponytail. “That’s almost worse.”
He pushed off the desk and stepped closer. “Hope,” he said gently, “I think you’re overthinking.”
“I feel like I’m losing my mind.”
“It’s going to take time. It hasn’t even been six hours.”
My eyes widened, the panic taking over. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”
His gaze softened. “Amor.” He closed the distance and cupped my cheek, and I immediately melted, letting out a sigh. “Relájate.”
“I’m sorry,” I groaned. I really was overthinking everything. “I’m just worried. What if this never gets easier?”
