Page 102 of Dr. Attending

My chest tightens with happiness because I know how worried Morgan was about telling Cassidy about her pregnancy.

Was this the right forum to do it? Probably not. But it truly wouldn’t be a Winters’ family dinner without a little drama.

Parker’s eyes snap to Weston. “We should go talk outside.”

I feel Weston move like he’s preparing to get up, but I stop him. There’s no chance I’m letting history repeat itself. My brother did this once to Claire and Beau, and it isn’t going to happen again.

“No, P,” I seethe as my pulse spikes and my vision turns red. “You are going to grow the fuck up and say whatever you have to say in front of me like a goddamn adult.”

There’s clapping from somewhere—my sister, probably—but I have tunnel vision now. My heart pounds as Parker stares at me, daring me to continue. So I do.

“My relationship with Weston doesn’t change anything between you two. And if it does, you need to be seriously assessed because there isn’t anyone better for me.”

“Wes can’t—”

“He can’t what? Make me happy?” I interrupt, letting out a shaky laugh. “News flash, psycho, I’m happier than I’ve ever been. I’m less alone than I’ve ever felt.”

Adrenaline courses through me as my words tumble out, words I’ve held back for too long. “And you know what? The only reason I’m still in medical school is because of him. Because he believed in me without making me feel like I had to be perfect all of the time.”

Parker looks at me like I’ve just stabbed him in the chest. His face softens, but there’s something raw in his eyes. “I don’t . . .”

“You do,” I say softly, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. “And that’s okay, because I love you anyway. But you do.”

Weston’s hand shifts slightly, giving my thigh a reassuring squeeze because he knows how much this conversation needs to happen. How it’s challenging to have a close relationship with someone when the only thing they want to talk to you about is your success.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Cassidy watching Parker, her expression soft and guiding like she’s willing him to hear what I’m saying.

Parker nods slowly. “You really think you’re ready?”

It’s a simple question, but the way his eyes dart toward Walker tells me he’s not asking about Weston—this is about Carter.

“I didn’t . . . until recently,” I admit. “But now I’ve never been more sure.”

The more time I spent with Weston and Carter, the more I felt like something was missing when I wasn’t with them. I knew without a doubt that Weston was the person I needed to be with, but it actually didn’t hit me that I could be what he neededuntil I talked to my friends. Cassidy gave me the reassurance and confidence that I was lacking. And Morgan helped me understand that you’re never ready, but when you find the right person, you become ready.

Parker swallows harshly. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

Alarm bells start ringing in my head, but I silence them because I want to believe him. I want to believe this can be simple, that he’ll let me have this without making it harder than it needs to be.

But then he adds, “If you want to throw your career away, I won’t stop you.”

The breath flies from my lungs because he was close—so damn close. But then Weston’s steady voice cuts through the air, handing me a lifeline and reminding me that I’m not alone anymore.

“You know what’s funny?” he asks, not waiting for a reply as he continues. “People said the same thing about me when I left Chicago. That I was throwing my career away. That I was making a mistake. But I’d do it all over again if I had to. Because it brought me two things that I love more than medicine—my son.”

He pauses as his warm hazel eyes flick to mine. “And Caroline.”

He squeezes my leg before his attention returns to Parker, and my heart instantly falls to my stomach.

“Throwing my career away was the best thing I ever did. But that’s not what Caroline is doing.”

My brother arches his brow skeptically. “Really? It’s not? You don’t think she’ll choose an easier specialty because of you? Because of what having a family in residency means?”

I want to be mad at his misogynistic concerns, but I also understand where he’s coming from—residency was one of my biggest fears with Weston, too. The stress, the lack of control,the selfishness that it requires. It didn’t seem fair to put them through that.

But Weston didn’t flinch when we talked it through. And he’s not flinching now.

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