Page 14 of Just One Kiss

She glanced at Carly one last time before exiting the room.

“Mom.” Jaden’s tone sounded like a reprimand.

“What?”

“You can’t start snapping at everyone. You hate when people do that to you.”

He was right. She did. She always felt terrible when the doctors had to deliver bad news. And she felt even worse when she knew before the people getting that news. And even worse still when the people got angry and took it out on her.

And now she was doing the same thing.

“Sorry,” she said. “I’m just stressed.”

“I’m fine,” Jaden said. “I probably just didn’t eat enough this morning. All this heart testing is a little over the top.”

But Carly knew that wasn’t true. She could tell by the sparse words and concerned looks from the doctors and nurses that they suspected something bigger was wrong with Jaden.

Josh sat down on the end of Jaden’s bed and the two of them started talking about some video game they played together over the internet. As much as she hated video games, she was moderately thankful Jaden and his dad had found this common ground.

Never mind that it sometimes made Carly feel left out. Did Jaden remember which one of his parents had been there for him since the day he was born?

But then, Josh had always been an elusive kind of person—the kind who didn’t put much of himself out there, which, she supposed, only made people want more.

That had certainly been the case for her.

The door opened and Dr. David Willette walked in. Tall, geekily handsome and intelligent-looking (if there was such a thing), he wore a white coat over a pinstriped shirt and tie.

Carly had never spoken to him, but she’d heard her fellow nurses talk about him, the same way they talked about every doctor they worked with. According to the rumor mill, Dr. David Willette was single, loved racquetball and was very good at his job.

“He’s perfect husband material,” Justine had said just last week.

“If you like boring men,” Sasha had replied.

“Why is he boring? Because he’s stable? Because he has a good job?” Justine had just gotten out of a bad relationship. Sasha was barely out of college. The two of them had different priorities.

In that moment, Carly thought his best quality was “good at his job.”

“Hello, I’m Doctor—”

“Willette,” Carly cut in. “I know.”

He smiled. “You work in Peds.”

It was a statement, not a question. Did he know who she was?

“Carly Collins,” she said. “We’ve never been officially introduced.” She stuck out her hand, which he shook firmly with a smile.

“Nice to meet you.” He glanced at Josh. “And your husband?”

Carly laughed. “No, uh, no—Jaden’s father. Not my husband.” She felt Josh’s eyes on her. “I’m not married,” she added quietly, though she had no idea why. It made her sound like a fool.

Josh stood and Carly could feel her cheeks reddening.

“Josh Dixon,” he said, shaking the doctor’s hand.

“Nice to meet you.”

Josh looked at Carly, and for a split second she could see the injury she’d inflicted behind his gaze. As if it were crucial everyone knew she was absolutelynotin a relationship with this man.

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