Page 91 of Paging Dr. Summers

“You probably won’t believe this, but yes,” he didn’t hesitate to say. “It was impossible not to love her. I wish you would’ve had the chance to see her onstage while she worked a crowd.”

I would have loved that so much.

“Everyone loved her, and truthfully, that was hard for me,” he admitted. “My ego at the time couldn’t take it. And my parents didn’t understand her or what they believed to be my passing fascination with an incredibly beautiful and talented woman. I made regrettable choices because of it. At the very least, I should have made sure I was involved in your life. I know I don’t deserve it, but I’d like to be involved now. Camila would too.”

I found myself believing him. What he said about my mom rang true. I’d seen it with my own eyes, the way people gravitated toward her. And she wouldn’t let you not love her. But still ... it didn’t excuse Maxwell. Nor was I ready to sing “Kumbaya” with him. However ...

“Camila is a definite yes.” I grinned.

He offered me a muted smile.

“Well.” I clapped my hands together, feeling exhausted but also lighter. I’d faced my father. Sure, I had decisions to make about him,but that was going to take some major soul-searching. “I don’t know about you boys, but I’m hungry. And now I want dessert.”

“You got it.” Logan kissed my head before he stood. “Should I just order the entire dessert menu?”

Seriously, he was going to do me in. He was the best. “I’m so going to kiss your face off later.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.” He winked and walked off, leaving me with Maxwell.

“I like that kid,” Maxwell commented. “I’m happy to see you two are working things out.”

That made two of us. “Me too. I hear you had a little something to do with that. Thank you,” I said reluctantly.

“No thanks are necessary. I just wanted to make sure he didn’t hurt mydaughter. I figured you’d had enough of that.”

Crap. I couldn’t keep my stinging eyes at bay, and a sheen of moisture appeared. “I’m not ready to like you, Maxwell.”

“I’d be disappointed if you were. You wouldn’t be Roxanne’s daughter.Ourdaughter,” he breathed out.

I wiped a few errant tears off my cheeks. “Maybe someday you can tell me more about your time together. No promises, but, you know, it’s a possibility I might want you to.”

“I would love that ... when you’re ready, of course.”

I wasn’t sure when that would be, but I did know life was full of surprises. And I had a sneaking feeling Maxwell might just be one of them—that perhaps he was the man my mom thought he was. Time would tell.

LUCY WADDLED MY WAY AS soon as I walked out of patient room one. She looked more uncomfortable than ever, yet she wore a smile even though it was the middle of the night. The overnight shift was always brutal, even if the patient load was light like it currently was.

“You have a visitor in the break room,” she sang.

Her tone told me exactly who it was. It was awfully late for Brooke to be there. I hoped everything was okay. She hadn’t mentioned stopping by.

“Thanks, Lucy.” I hustled over to the break room, grateful Evie wasn’t there. I didn’t need any more lectures about how inappropriate it was for me to make out with my girlfriend in the break room. If she’d only seen what had happened in the supply closet. I smiled to myself. That was a genius bucket list item, if I do say so myself.

I walked into the break room to see Brooke sitting at a table wearing a cone birthday hat in front of a layered chocolate ganache cake. I paused at the door, realizing why she was there in the middle of the night.

As soon as Brooke noticed me, she put a party horn in her mouth and blew. “Happy birthday, Erica!” she exclaimed.

I’d never met anyone as thoughtful as Brooke. How did I get so lucky? I crossed the room in a few strides.

She jumped up and threw her arms around my middle, her head landing on my chest, the birthday hat assaulting my face.

“Ouch.” I laughed.

“Oops.” Brooke remedied the situation and tossed the hat onto the table. “Sorry. Let’s try that again.” She snuggled back into me.

I embraced her, holding on tight, knowing more and more that she belonged in my life.

“I know you and your family were planning on celebrating Erica later, but I wanted to do something for her. For you. I asked Eden what her favorite cake was. Don’t worry—I didn’t make it.” She giggled that infectious laugh of hers. “Eden and Sophie did, so it’s totally edible.”

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