Page 454 of The Doctors Will See You Now

“What?” I questioned and started rolling the paint across the wall in big, long stripes. “What’s so funny?”

“Char, you stalked two of the most prestigious physics and calculus professors at NYU to get them to help you design wall stencils for your stepdaughter. Not to mention, you somehow managed to get an obscure little mom-and-pop printing place in Harlem to print out giant stencils with equations that, let’s face it, neither of us understands.” Her smile grew bigger. “You have nothing to be worried about. Lexi is going to go crazy over this room.”

Okay, so I’d gone a little cuckoo getting Lex’s room set up. I wanted her to have the perfect space, one that made her feel happy, relaxed, and even challenged that incredible mind of hers.

Once I’d explained my stalking to Professor Reemlin and Professor Denier, instead of filing a restraining order, they willingly helped me out and provided me with a few of the most difficult physics and calculus equations that most college-level students never mastered. They’d also told me that if Lexi was able to figure them out, I should feel free to stalk them some more—but bring my stepdaughter along the next time.

Obviously, if Lex could solve the equations, I wouldn’t have a fucking clue, but I had a feeling that wouldn’t be the last time we’d see Professor Reemlin and Professor Denier.

I sighed. “You really think so?”

She nodded and wrapped her arm around my shoulder. “I know so.”

“You know what?”

“What?”

“I’m happy we’re friends again,” I answered with a smile and nudged Winnie’s shoulder with my own.

Ever since Nick and I had gotten back together, Winnie and I had slowly started building the friendship we’d lost so many years ago. We’d started off slow, baby steps, so to speak, occasionally meeting for lunch or having fifteen-minute phone chats, but eventually, we’d found ourselves right where we’d left off over thirteen years ago. The very best of friends.

It was weird the way life worked sometimes. I’d never expected to come face-to-face with Remy again, and yet, not only had we finally reached that monumental moment of closure in the middle of a produce aisle, but we still frequently saw each other because his favorite niece was now my stepdaughter.

And when it came to Winnie, she had been someone I’d thought I had to lose once I’d ended things with her brother. But lucky for me, it didn’t have to be that way, and now, she was one of my nearest and dearest friends.

She nudged my shoulder back. “Me too, Char.”

“Okay, good. Because I’m hoping, later, after we finish putting the three coats of paint on this room, that you’ll also be willing to help me stencil those equations. Like, I’m beyond excited that I was able to get them made, but I’m a little intimated by them.”

Winnie laughed. “I see how it is. Buttering me up first with the whole sweet friendship thing before going in for the kill, huh?”

I snorted. “I swear to God, I meant everything I said. Including the fact that I desperately, desperately need your help with those stencils.”

“Don’t even start with the whole puppy dog eyes bullshit. It might work on Nick, but it doesn’t work on me. Anyway, I already said I would help, you little manipulator.” With her free hand to her hip, she rolled her brush into the paint, before lifting it carefully to the wall and starting a rhythm of long and smooth paint strokes.

“It doesn’t work on him every time,” I said, and she lifted a questioning brow in my direction. “Okay, fine. It works like a charm every single time.”

“I pull the same look on Wes.” She winked. “He falls for it, too.”

By the time Nick had peeked his head into the door, we were both cracking up over the various little tricks we used on our husbands to get what we wanted.

“What’s so funny in here?” he questioned with an amused but extremely curious grin.

I shrugged, and I couldn’t stop myself from teasing him. “Oh, not too much. Winnie and I were just sharing our various Nick-related bedroom experiences.”

“What?” he blurted on a near shout.

Winnie feigned confusion, playing along like the best damn actress I’d ever seen. “It’s no big deal, Nick. Just normal girl chat,” she lied, before hopping to her feet and walking past Nick out into the hallway, most likely to grab a fresh roll of painter’s tape for the woodwork around the windows.

But my husband stayed frozen in his spot, his eyes widening so far that I momentarily wondered if they’d get stuck in that position. He opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water as he tried to regain the power of speech.

God, men were so damn gullible sometimes.

Eventually, I couldn’t hold back my smile, and once that smile cracked my lips, my obnoxious laughter followed suit.

“Jesus Christ,” he muttered and ran a hand through his hair. “You’re evil,” he added and pointed an accusing index finger toward me.

“What?” I feigned ignorance. “Me? No way. I’m your loving and caring wife.”