Page 197 of The Doctors Will See You Now

And, hell, I was with her. I didn’t understand the threat at all. If Harlow were here, and circumstances were reversed, I’d have had her in the bathroom already.

Christ. Harlow.

This was the fifth time I’d thought of her since I’d arrived, wondering if I should have made a couple calls, tried to get her added to the guest list as my date last minute. I’d RSVPed before I even knew she existed.

I also didn’t know if she’d have even considered coming with me anyway. After the run in with Brent earlier today, she’d made it pretty clear that we weren’t anything more than people who fucked, and I’d gone along with it. Partly to keep the peace, I guessed, but also partly because it was what I always did.

Casual was my thing. I’d never wondered if I wanted more, if it was even a possibility for me. Women chased me, and I tried to let them down easy. This thing with Harlow felt like the exact fucking opposite, and I wasn’t sure I liked it.

If I was honest, the more I thought about it, the surer I was that I didn’t like it. Not one fucking bit.

Unwelcome, red rage surged in my chest at the memory of Brent’s lips on hers and the so very obvious intimacy they’d once shared. They’d had a relationship—one I’d known about even before she admitted it during our argument on the sidewalk. I could tell by the way he looked at her like he knew everything about her, and even that was an unwelcome surprise. Harlow had implied she was a wandering soul like me.

At least if that were true, it made sense that we wouldn’t have a traditional relationship where she would call me hers and I had the privilege of calling her mine.

“Scott? Earth to Scott. Hellllloooo.”

I shook my head to clear it and rubbed my eyes. Holy hell, I was turning into someone I didn’t even know.

Winnie Winslow, my old coworker and good friend, was waiting with a smile on her face when I finished. Her husband, Wes Lancaster, stood at her side with a casual arm around her waist.

That. That’s what I want, I thought automatically.

The rest of the people I knew were gone. How long had I zoned out?

“You okay?”

“Yeah. Just…the last twenty-four hours have been pretty long. I worked night shift last night,” I half lied. I mean, the facts were true, but I’d been awake for more than twenty-four hours more times in my life than I could even keep track of. That shit had nothing to do with my current wandering mind.

“No date tonight?” Winnie asked with a smirk.

“You know I never bring a date to this shit. Unless it’s you.”

Wes shook his head with a laugh, but he pulled Winnie even tighter into his side with his arm at her hip.

I put both hands up in defense and laughed. “Don’t worry, Wes. Not at all interested.”

Wes smiled, but Winnie leaned forward and hit me. “And what’s wrong with me exactly?”

I laughed again. “I don’t think I can win right now, so I’m just going to shut up.”

Wes leaned back out of Winnie’s sight line and mouthed one word to me. “Smart.”

Will tapped on the microphone at the front of the ballroom, and Winnie dropped her voice to a whisper. “Shit. I think that means we’re supposed to sit down. What table are you at?”

I pulled the little place card from my breast pocket and flipped it open to see.

“Eight.”

“Same as us!” she cheered softly. “Come on.”

Wes just shook his head as Winnie grabbed my hand and pulled me. I smiled. I actually missed my friend. It was good to see her.

“Hey, everybody!” Winnie called as we made it to the table and Wes held out her chair for her. “Does anyone not know Scott Shepard from St. Luke’s?”

I scanned the faces of those I knew: Kline, Georgia, Wes, Winnie, Nick Raines—another doctor at St. Luke’s and Winnie’s ex, who looked more miserable than even me, by the way—and then stopped when I got to a couple I’d heard about but never actually met.

“We don’t,” the huge guy said, offering me his hand. “Thatcher Kelly. And this is my wife, Cassie.”