Page 46 of Love Sick

“Chen’s annual BrOB-GYN poker game.”

“You don’t play, Asher?” Alesha elbows him.

“Sometimes. I was too busy trying to get out of the friend zone this year.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me playfully.

I snort. “Whatever.”

Chen and Julian take each other’s measure. The round plays out with an exchange of cards and some tossing of chips. Hands revealed, groans and whoops fill the room.

Asher catcalls Julian.

“Did he win?” I ask.

Asher glances at me, eyebrows drawn together.

“Yeah, I know,” I say. “I’m clueless.”

He laughs. “Yeah, girl. He won.”

With a smile, Chen stands and shakes Julian’s hand, murmuring something near his ear. Julian showcases his crooked grin.

“This year’s victor!” Chen raises Julian’s hand.

Everyone claps and toasts. Alesha shrieks and jumps into Julian’s arms. He gives her his real smile, crinkles and all.

“You think something is going on between them?” Asher nods toward my friends. “They seem really close.”

I start to answer in the negative but pause. What if…

No, Alesha would tell me. She tells me everything. “I don’t think so.”

Right?

Surely not.

We wander back to the party and snack on brie and Grinch brownies. Asher and Aislin take turns trying to one-up the other on funniest patient encounters. Nearly in tears from laughter, I stiffen when electricity opens a current over my skin, raising all the hairs on my body.

He’s behind me. He isn’t touching me, but his presence is tangible. My heart trips in my chest.

Beside me, Asher grins, greeting Julian with a lift of his chin. “Hey, Santini. Nice game.”

“Yeah, thanks.” His voice is beside my ear, but he leans closer anyway and the tips of his fingers touch my elbow. His scent engulfs me. “You ready?”

Asher looks between us, the smile slipping off his face.

I turn my head to meet his dark eyes. “Already?”

“Some of us have to work in the morning, Sapphire.”

“I could take you home later if you want to stay,” Asher says.

I wave my hand and back away from the group. “It’s fine. He lives in my building, so it isn’t out of his way.”

“I’m sure it’s not,” Asher says. The words are sharper than normal, but he’s smiling.

Hmm. What’s this now? I think the alcohol is messing with me. I move in for an embrace, which Asher returns at once. “Thanks for a good month,” I say. “Merry Christmas.”

“Safe flight tomorrow. Have fun with mommy and daddy.”

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