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Omar looked up from the TV. “I’ll send you a link to a patient information website that she can use.” He paused. “Which friend is it?”

Shit. “Well, it’s more a friend of a friend. Not anyone you’d know.”

Omar raised his eyebrows, looking at her for a second, then lifted his phone. “I’ll text you the link.”

Chapter

Twenty-Two

Raking through his wardrobe, Sam pulled out a fourth shirt, stripping off number three and replacing it with the latest attempt. As he buttoned it, he studied his reflection in the mirror, and sighed. None of his clothes seemed suitable. He just didn’t possess anything that said, “I’m good enough for your awesome daughter.”

Unbuttoning number four and going back to number one, he checked the time on his phone and noticed a text from Liv.

Have you checked social media this afternoon?

Frowning, he messaged back.

Which one?

All of them.

Whatever this was, it didn’t sound good. Opening the first icon that his thumb found, he went into Instagram, scrolling through the most recent posts on his feed. He was considering calling Liv to ask what she was talking about when he spotted it. Underneath a picture that Maya had posted of her and Rowan smiling on the slopes, Cat had commented: Nice to see that stealing other people’s boyfriends suits you.

A cold, heavy weight settled into his gut as he scrolled Maya’s profile. Cat had trolled pretty much everything on there, and when he checked Facebook, it was the same.

Feeling sick and not wanting to see any more, he threw the phone onto the bed. Shit. This was all his fault. Nothing had happened between Maya and him while he’d been with Cat, but Cat would want to deflect the heat off herself in case her lies came to light in the community. She wanted to discredit them in advance. Why on earth had he been involved with her for so long? Now his inertia in shedding the burden of Catriona had consequences for Maya.

Deciding that shirt number one would have to do, and that Maya had made a mistake in getting involved with him, he grabbed his phone and made to head for hers.

Maya opened the door, and from the dull hue of her eyes, he could tell that she’d seen the social media trolling.

Stepping inside, he brought her into a hug. “I’m so sorry.”

She buried her head in his neck, and his protective instinct overcame him.

“It’s not your fault.” She lifted her face to kiss his cheek. “I’ve blocked her now.”

Sam held her face. “Still. I’m sorry that you were affected by it.”

She smiled brightly. “Come on. Dad’s made curry and it smells delish.”

As Sam followed Maya, and the scent of dinner, along the hallway, his heart accelerated. He hoped he could make a good impression on Dr. Bashir.

Yvonne was dishing up, and Omar sat at the table with Hana next to him. Hana appeared pinched and pale. Maya had told him that her sister was pregnant but going through a difficult time emotionally, and Sam had promised not to tell anybody. But him being trusted with the responsibility of a secret the rest of Maya’s family didn’t know was another factor in his escalating nerves.

Hana shot him a weak smile and made to get up to greet him, but he crossed around the side of the table to save her getting to her feet, giving her a hug where she sat. “Nice to see you.”

“You too,” she replied, clearly trying to stretch the smile across her face.

Omar reached over to shake Sam’s hand. “Don’t worry, she’s not contagious anymore.”

Sam let out a short laugh that sounded a little high pitched.

Hana was aware that Sam knew. Maya had been keen for that to be in the open in order to be aboveboard in keeping her sister’s confidence. His heart swelled at the knowledge that Maya would protect the trust of those who didn’t always do the same for her. He gave Hana a reassuring smile.

Taking off his jacket, he turned to where Yvonne and Maya were bringing the food over to the table. “What can I do to help?”

Yvonne shook her head. “It’s all in hand. Take a seat next to your girlfriend.” She shot Maya a grin, and Maya rolled her eyes.