Page 41 of Love Sick

Told me he loved me and wanted to marry me, all while screwing a dozen other women?

Gave me chlamydia?

“—wasn’t very nice.”

Alesha shoots me a skeptical stare. “Then why’d you date him?”

Because I didn’t know any better.

Love’s a lie. I don’t know why anyone falls for it.

“It doesn’t matter. Look, I don’t even flirt with men and the rumors that I’m a slutty little skeeze still get spread all over the hospital. Can you imagine what people would say if I actually dated someone?”

Alesha’s shoulders fall, and she drops her gaze to her glass. “Maybe the rumors would go away if you dated someone. People would lose their ammunition.”

I snort.

Raven cups my shoulder. “It’s not fair.”

Tears prickle in my eyes, but I smile and sip my wine. “It’s fine. It isn’t a big deal.”

I disregard the voice rustling in my subconscious, insisting itisa big deal.It’s breaking you…

Raven changes the subject. “Isaac and I are thinking of trying for another one.”

“What?” Alesha bounces on the couch. “Baby Washington?”

Raven nods, her smile glowing. “Monte is almost three. I think I’m ready to start over.”

I snuggle next to her. “You’ll make the cutest preggo.”

She laughs. “Let’s finish this movie.”

* * *

Dr. Chen’s annual holiday party the Sunday before Christmas is apparently a booze fest disguised as a potluck, and I have never been more ready for a party. Six months of intern year are almost finished, which means I’m on the downhill slide into second year.

This is cause for massive celebration.

I slip into a Christmas dress—forest green with a red belt about my waist—and spritz my hair with gold glitter. Satisfied I’ve covered the dark circles beneath my eyes enough that I don’t look like an OB resident, I slip on my new red heels and coat and step into the cold night.

On the sidewalk below, the thunk of steps above brings my gaze upward. Julian rounds the landing, clad in a black sweater covered by a black peacoat. A green scarf hangs around his neck and his dark hair is parted roguishly off to one side. A single rebellious lock falls across his forehead. When he sees me, he pauses on the steps and slips his hands in his coat pockets.

I meet his eyes. “Julian.”

“Sapphire.” A quiet smile refines his entire face. His lips hardly move, but his eyes come to life. This smile-without-smiling thing he does is disarming. I could never pull it off.

I resist it so hard, but my mouth disobeys and a grin breaks free. I look at the ground so he won’t see it.

“You going to Chen’s party?” he asks.

I glance at him through my eyelashes. “What gave it away?”

He descends the steps with meticulous care, his attention fastened on me. “The lipstick.”

A small embarrassed laugh bubbles in my chest as my body goes hot and cold all at once. “Christmas red. You like?”

He reaches the ground and stops an arm span away, shaking his head. “Devil-red. Like your nails.”

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