Page 72 of No Way Home
We stared into each other’s eyes, neither of us saying a word.
Ask her. Ask her to come to the baby shower with you.
But Griff.
Magnolia.
Griff.
MAGNOLIA.
I was about to wrestle the invite from my tongue, when she pushed off the wall, forcing me to take a step back.
“Thanks for the help.” She gave me a small wave and hurried away, slipping through the reception area door.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
MAGNOLIA
It tookme a solid hour to come down after being that close to Bowen. When he had me pressed against the wall, I’d actually had the reckless thought that I wished he’d kiss me. Right there in the office, with Dr. Adam’s around the corner. I blamed it on his stupid eyes. I swear they were hypnotic.
Things were better after that. Topher walked around with his tail tucked between his legs, giving me dirty looks. But it was better than having him constantly stare at my chest or demand a password. The sabotage stopped too. No more flat tires or missing door signs.
But I almost wished Bowen hadn’t helped me.
It was hard to dislike someone who made an idiot of himself—shouting robot nonsense—just to get you through a door. Even harder when he looked at you like you’re the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
Over the next few days, my thoughts raced out of control.
Maybe he’s different now. Maybe he’s changed.
People don’t change. Not really.
That’s not true. You know it’s not. Maybe he regrets the Nova thing.
No! It’s not just the Nova thing. It’s a pattern of behavior. The man is a walking red flag.
But you had that feeling the first night you met him.
Obviously, I was mistaken. Caught up in the moment. Or more likely, it wasn’t a feeling at all. It was a bad case of heartburn.
My history with Bowen had taught me to keep my walls high and my expectations low. I’d become a master at pretending I didn’t care. Spoiler: I did. My brain could be deep in a patient chart, but one “Hey, Bowen!” from the crew and I’d perk up like a fool. His voice made my pulse jump. And when he left the building, I counted the minutes till he came back.
Two days later, when he let me know he’d be gone for the rest of the day working at another job site, it was actually a relief. I could finally focus. It was a good thing he left, or I might not have been on top of what happened later that afternoon.
I was assisting Dr. Adams with charting his previous appointment when Nurse Betsy came bustling up.
“Sage Dupree is in room one,” she said under her breath. “Eight months pregnant, complaining of shortness of breath, feeling faint.”
Dr. Adams didn’t even look up from the computer. “How many times do I have to say ‘no Duprees’ before people start listening? Why didn’t she head to her OB? Or the ER?”
Betsy gave me a look but spoke to Billy. “She didn’t want to be seen at all. She doesn’t think it’s a big deal. Says she feels faint a lot because of her Vasovagal Syncope. But James is concerned. She came just to make him happy.”
Dr. Adams’ forehead furrowed. “Markson sees anyone with the last name Dupree if they even show up here. You know that.”
Just then, a toddler screamed bloody murder in exam room four.
“Betsy!” Physician’s Assistant Markson called.
