“Hi Jude, I can get you booked for your next time if you want.”
I bet she’d like to book him for more than just an appointment. I fight back an eye roll and turn to go prep for my next patient, but his hand on my arm stops me in my tracks.
“Thanks, Lily. I don’t know if I’ve said this, but you’re good at what you do. I’m grateful for all your help.”
I stare at him, examining his facial expressions, but I don’t see even a hint that he’s lying or just placating me.
“Thank you,” is my quiet reply. “But you’re doing the work. I’m just helping.”
“You do a hell of a lot more than that. Don’t sell yourself short.”
Stunned, all I can do is nod. Jude turns and walks out the door without even acknowledging Sukhi. I watch through the glass as he climbs into his brother’s car and drives off.
“He didn’t rebook.” The petulant whine to Sukhi’s voice makes me turn around. And even though I know I shouldn’t, I can’t help but dig at her.
“That’s fine, I have his number. I’ll text him later to rebook.”
I walk into the back of the clinic without letting her say anything about the smile creeping across my face.
Jude Donnelly thinks I’m a good physical therapist.
The next morning before work, I head to The Nutty Muffin to meet Kat like I promised. I know she wants to ask about the wedding, and I already know I’ll tell her absolutely nothing about what happened after the ceremony.
It’s not like I want to keep a secret from my best friend. It’s more that I don’t know how she’ll react.
But all bets are off when she walks through the door and beelines over to the table I’m already seated at. She drops her bag and jacket down, sits down, and leans forward. There’s a strange expression on her face, a mixture of excitement and disbelief.
“Care to explain why, when I was grabbing some things at a grocery store in Westport, I overheard some woman talking about Marnie Chapman’s cousin and the hot guy she was seen leaving with, hand in hand, before the reception was even over? She was scandalized that you dared leave the wedding early, but I’m more curious about the hand holding.”
My mouth falls open. Oh, shit. How did I not think about what kind of rumours might be passed around by all of Marnie’s cronies?
“I…I don’t know…”
Chapter fourteen
Jude
When Kat demanded I meet her at The Nutty Muffin today, I didn’t stop to think about why.
But walking up to her and Lily just in time to catch that last sentence, I’m rethinking my easy acceptance of the invitation.
“Hey Kat, Lily, what’s going on?”
My sister turns in her seat and folds her arms across her chest. “That’s what I want to know. Sit.”
I do so, sparing a quick glance to Lily, who looks like a deer caught in the headlights of a semitruck.
“I was just telling Lily that yesterday, when I was in Westport after class grabbing some things, I overheard a woman talking about the Chapman wedding. But it wasn’t Marnie’s dress or the flowers she was talking about. Nope, apparently, the story of the hour is about Marnie’s cousin —” Kat shoots her eyes at Lily “— leaving early with some man.” Her laser beam eyes turn their focus on me. “And I’d like to know exactlywhythat was newsworthy.”
“Listen, Kat, it’s not what you’re thinking.”
“So, you didn’t dance with her, then disappear somewhere holding hands?”
“Well, we did, but…” I hesitate, because that much is true and seems innocent enough. But Kat’s eyes light up, and my slow brain can’t quite catch up to why.
“Oh my God, this is amazing.” She pushes her chair back with a clamour and pulls Lily up into a hug. “This is seriously just the best.”
“Wait, what?” Lily fumbles, her eyes finding mine over Kat’s shoulders. I shrug at herwhat the fuckexpression because honestly, I’m just as lost.
