Page 41 of Rival Hearts

Normally, such things didn’t bother her. Rumors and gossip never really affected Jett before, but that’s because most of the rumors that had affected Jett in her life had been false. Having heard hers and Dr. Parker’s names come out of the nurses’ mouths, Jett knew that at least some things they were saying were true.

Jett’s first thought was Riley. How would she react when she found out that everyone was gossiping about the two of them? Jett didn’t want Riley to be upset or embarrassed.

But then Jett remembered where she was and what just happened. She had bigger things to worry about, like the fact that she had just lost a patient. Jett went to one of the chairs in the hallway of the Emergency Room and sat down before she put her head in her hands.

Jett didn’t know how long she sat there, but it wasn’t very long before she felt a hand rubbing her shoulder. Jett looked up, and it was Riley, looking concerned. Lucinda was next to her, frowning.

“What’s wrong?” Riley asked Jett.

Jett opened her mouth to tell her, but found that she couldn’t say what she meant to. Jett closed her mouth and opened it once again before answering.

“Nothing, I just need to be alone,” Jett said, and then she ran outside of the Emergency Room to the ambulance bay, where she threw up.

* * *

Jett was barely responding to Riley, who had only trying to be kind to her. She still felt the loss of her patient acutely and she still felt nothing but confusion when she thought about Riley and their relationship.

All she was doing was pushing Riley away and she knew that, but at the same time, she just didn’t know how to stop it.

It was Saturday morning, and Jett hadn’t yet asked Riley back to her family’s Sunday gathering, and she wasn’t sure that she wanted to. This time the lunch and supper was going to be held at Jett’s mom’s house, the house that Jett grew up in. Jett was worried that Riley seeing where Jett grew up would be opening up too much.

But, Saturday she got a series of texts from Riley.

Riley:Hey, I’m sorry

Riley:I didn’t know if you wanted me to come to your Sunday gathering

Jett was a little worried at that. She knew that Riley was expected to be there after how much her family had liked her the previous week, and Jett didn’t want to disappoint her family or Riley, but whatever weird stuff was going on in her head was really affecting her, her relationship with Riley, and her desire to be around Riley, even Riley was all she could think about.

Riley:But I can’t make it.

Riley:I’m booked on to run the ER that day.

Riley was giving her a ‘get out.’ Even now, Riley was being kind to her, clearly knowing that Jett was going through something and not wanting to make it awkward for her.

Jett felt sick at her own behaviour.

Riley:It was either me or Dr. Everett to do it, so I volunteered so she didn’t have to.

Jett thought it was cute how Riley always properly addressed everyone, and while at first she was a little relieved that Riley couldn’t make it, she immediately felt guilty. Riley wasn’t able to make it so that Lucinda could come. Riley truly was kind, even if she was brash and reactive sometimes, but the more Jett had gotten to know her, the more she had mellowed out.

Now, Jett was being the reactive one, worried about things that hadn’t even happened yet. The Jett she was in relationships was definitely different sometimes than the Jett she was at work. Jett tried to be level-headed, but Riley made that difficult.

Riley:But maybe we can hang out next week?

Riley:I’m free Tuesday, if you want to?

Jett:Yeah

Is that seriously all you have to say, Jett?

Jett couldn’t believe it even as she text it. Her fingers touching the screen on her phone. Her mind making the decisions, even while she hated herself for them.

* * *

On Sunday, Jett wasn’t too worried about showing up without Riley; she just told everyone who asked that Riley was at work. They were a family of emergency workers. None knew better than them that emergency work most certainly continues on nights and weekends. Her mother was understandably upset—she was always the kind to welcome anyone into the family no questions asked—but Jett was kind of surprised when Hannah equally missed Riley.

Jett hadn’t quite realized how much of an impression Riley had left on her family. Even Natalie had to ask Jett if Riley had put her picture on the fridge like she promised.

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