Page 1 of Boyfriend Material
CHAPTER ONE
Livie
“Thank you for taking me to the airport.” Livie sighed as she stared out the window at the traffic. The day before Thanksgiving was the worst day to travel. Yet here she was.
“No problem. What are friends and roommates for? Besides, getting an Uber today would’ve been a nightmare,” Patience said.
“Yup, and you made it a non-issue. Now, if only you could come to Ellijay and save me from my parents. How did I let her talk me into coming home for Thanksgiving? I swore after the last time I wouldn’t go back. So, what do I do? I agree, and at the end of the semester. I should have stayed here and studied.” Instead, she’d listen to four days of complaining about her decision to leave home andabandonthe family winery.
Patience shook her head and sighed. “How can they say you made poor life choices? You’re studying to be a doctor. Who in their right mind says that? I wish I was coming with you. I’d set them straight. Besides, your sister and brother and their spouses all work at the winery. Why do they need you too?”
Livie groaned. If she could come up with a good enough excuse, she could cancel the trip. Maybe? There wouldn’t be a good enough reason to satisfy her mother, not that she’d be happy Livie was home either. “I don’t know. Tradition. Or something. According to my parent’s life view, I should be married, helping at the winery, and have popped out a kid or two by now. You know, to carry on the family legacy.” She rolled her eyes. “Blah, blah, blah. It’s the same argument every time I go home.”
Patience giggled. “You sound like the teacher in the Charlie Brown cartoons.”
Livie banged her head against the side window. “At least I nailed that.”
“Cut it out. You’ll give yourself a concussion.”
“Exactly. Then I won’t be able to fly.”
“Damn, Liv, that’s extreme, don’t you think?” Patience asked.
“No. Maybe? You’re right, but they make me crazy.”
“And you said yes. Why? I mean, if you’re going to be that miserable, why go?” Patience asked.
“I don’t know. Mom called when I was finishing my lab notes. I just wanted her to hang up. I agreed before I realized. It’s not all bad, I guess. I love my nieces and nephews. They’re adorable. But the adults? They’ll spend the weekend making me feel like a piece of bull-pucky.”
Patience giggled. “Seriously?”
“Yes, totally. They never even asked me why I wanted to be a doctor. All they care about is getting me to give in to what they want. You know, it’s like a bad movie, where the parents force the kids to follow in their footsteps. Except it’s my real life.”
“Maybe, but you haven’t given in to them. You’re one semester away from reaching your dream. I can’t believe we’ve been roommates for two years and this is the first I’m hearing about it.”
“When I’m here, I do my best to forget them. Out of sight, out of mind. I guess since it’s so close to the end of the semester, I’m extra stressed. The last thing I need is four days of them reminding me what a disappointment I am.”
Patience nodded as she navigated the traffic into the airport. “It’s crazy. I wish you could stay here and have dinner with my family.”
“Me too.” Livie’s head pounded. It was too much stress, and she still had to get there. She hadn’t been able to get her anti-anxiety pills refilled, and she was terrified of flying. Oh yeah, this was the beginnings of a wonderful long weekend.
Patience shook her head. “I’m really sorry you’re going to have to deal with that alone.”
“Oh well, what’s that saying? If it doesn’t kill you, it makes you stronger. I just wish they’d try to understand even a little. Sometimes I wonder if the hospital switched babies when I was born. Geo and Betsy never had a problem following in our parent’s footsteps.”
“It’s wrong on so many levels. They should be proud of you, and how hard you’re working to follow your dream. I feel guilty now that I’ve had it so easy. Though my parents would have supported me no matter what I wanted to do with my life. I can’t imagine them hassling me about getting married, either.” Patience sighed.
“I can’t either. Your parents are amazing. I’m sure they remember what it was like in med school. Who has time for dating?”
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“Right? Oh my God. Though, if I had the time, I’d be all over Quinn Gallagher. He makes my insides melt when I see him. One of these days, my panties are going spontaneously combust when he talks to me.”
Livie grinned. “Yeah, like everyone can’t tell you have the hots for him. There are no secrets in the Ready Room. It’s gossip central.”
Patience’s cheeks turned a soft pink. “I know. Don’t act so innocent. You’re just as bad about Theo.”
“Am not.”
