Page 19 of Off the Wall

“So … Daphne is getting a divorce,” Cullen says, breaking the stretch of silence.

Speaking of being better off.

“Heh.” I huff out a breath, searching my gut for a reaction, and find nothing but emptiness there. “Good for her husband. The guy must be smarter than I thought.”

“Yeah.” Cullen guffaws. “You really dodged a bullet with that one.”

“I sure did.” Bullet. Broken spine. Same difference.

“Anyway, I just wanted to warn you, in case she has second thoughts and comes knocking on your door again.” Cullen pauses for a beat. “In other words, gird your loins.” He shoves his sunglasses up until they’re propped above his brow.

“Pretty sure my loins are safe,” I say. “I’m not famous enough for Daphne. Not anymore.”

“But youaresingle,” he points out. “And Lauren and I—all of us—are thinking … if you were in a relationship?—”

“Let me stop you right there.” I survey our surroundings to be sure no one’s in earshot. The last thing I need is for Nori Sinclair to overhear this conversation. The woman is actively dating—and a little too attractive for a guy like me, who plans to stay unattached.

“I’m all good, Brother. Don’t you worry about me.”

“We just want you to be happy, man.”

“Iamhappy,” I grunt. “My brand of happy might look different than yours, but believe me, I’ve moved on.” And thanks to Daphne, I know what to avoid now. In other words, I won’t get my heart broken.

Again.

“Right.” Cullen frowns. “If you’re so over the past, why are you still clinging to the no-women act?”

“Hold on.” I throw a hand up. “I’ve gone on dates.”

“Half-hearted efforts at best. How long, exactly, has it been since you had an actual relationship?”

“None of your business.”

“So, four years, then.” He furrows his brow. “It’s time to get back on that horse.”

“First of all, women aren’t horses. And now’s theworstpossible time for me to get involved with anybody.”

“Why? Because of work? I know you’re committed, and I respect that. But Powell MedTech can’t be the sole focus of your life.”

My eyes flash. “When Alex jumped ship, I promised Jason I could handle our territory on my own. I don’t want a new partner. And if I have any hope of a transfer …”

“There’s more to life than work, Cash.”

“Tell that to the patients on the operating table.”

“You aren’t the surgeon,” Cullen quips. “No one dies if you aren’t in the OR.”

“Maybe not, but the doctors count on me to be there. I know them. I know my equipment. I can anticipate pivots in the middle of a surgery. When I’m not there and the doctor needs to change course, things don’t always go well. And we’re talking about people’s spines, Cull. Mobility versus paralysis. No one knows that better than me.” My jaw ticks. “What I do means a whole lot more than playing ball.”

“I know that.”

“Yeah? I wish Dad did.” I pull down my brow. “But I get that it’s not easy for him. What happened to me was hard on everyone.”

“It wasn’t hard on me, actually.” An edge to Cullen’s mouth lifts. “I’m prettier than ever.”

I reach out and punch his shoulder. “A legend in your own mind, huh?”

“Always, Brother. Always.” He looks up to the sky for a moment, squinting at the sun. “InDad’smind, your entire relationship is based on something that’s no longer a part of your life. He’s just struggling to find common ground.”

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