Page 165 of The Love Operation

I pick up my phone as I head for the door. It’s been on silent all evening, buzzing off and on. But one message stands out:

Camden Tenpenny: If you’re still at the hospital, can you meet me? I think there’s something you should know.

My emotions shift inside me, like a pile of rocks when one’s pulled out. I was headed straight to Isaac’s, but something about this text stops me.

I text Isaac and tell him I’ll be a little late. Then I head back to the hospital. Because while I’d consider Dr. Tenpenny a friend, this is atypical.

And I have a feeling—whatever he’s going to say—it’s about the chief position.

Chapter 43

Say What?

The hospital is nearly empty. That strange after-hours hush has settled in—the kind that makes every heel click sound like a verdict.

I find Dr. Tenpenny in his office at the clinic. He gives me a strained smile.

“Thanks for coming,” he says. “I wasn’t sure if I should even bring this to you. But then I thought . . . if it were me, I’d want to know.”

“Okay.” I brace myself. “What’s going on?”

He rubs a hand over his face, clearly uncomfortable. “It’s about the chief committee meeting. And Isaac.”

My stomach knots.

“I didn’t know you two were . . . involved. That day I walked in on you in his office, I had a momentary suspicion, but I let it go because of how he talked about you in the meetings. When you weren’t there.”

My blood goes cold.

“Talked about me how?” I can barely get the words out.

Tenpenny hesitates, then meets my eyes. “Cord . . . Isaac was planning to vote against you for chief.”

The words land like a slap, but then I’m instantly in denial. That can’t be true.

“That’s why the others reacted the way they did today,” Tenpenny continues. “Normally, when there’s a conflict of interest like this, people worry about favoritism. But this didn’t feel like that. It felt like the opposite. Some members of the committee were confused, but ultimately, we figured Isaac was overcompensating—trying to prove how unbiased he could be.”

I blink. “What makes you sure he was voting against me?” I try to keep my voice steady.

“He basically said it. He called you brilliant, said you had promise but then told everyone that you’re too inexperienced. That you’re emotionally reactive. Not a good fit for leadership.”

I stare at him. My arms break out in goose bumps, and my brain stalls, like it’s unable to fully process the English language.

He watches me, uncertain what to do with my silence. “I just thought you deserved to know,” he says gently. “In case you didn’t.”

“I didn’t.” I sound like I’ve been screaming on the inside for hours. “Thank you,” I manage. “I appreciate your honesty.”

He nods, but he still looks like he wishes he didn’t have to be the one to say it.

I say something else—I think I say goodbye—and head toward my own office. Once inside, I plop down into my desk chair. The hum of the overhead lights is too loud. Or maybe it’s just my nerves, stretched so tight they’re buzzing.

He was going to vote against me.

I had no intention of using my memory powers again. But I’m no longer part of Delenn’s study—officially or unofficially—so if I can still revisit my memories, that ability’s mine to do with as I please.

I cue up the relevant conversations with Isaac, moments I brushed off.

I replay them, not to understand him, but to corroborate what I’ve been told because I can hardly believe it. This time when I dive in, I know I’m not seeing the exact memory. I know I might be bending it to fit what I now believe. But still—I see it.