Page 105 of Cluelessly Yours

“Well, Sammy,” Kendall announces with a barely there smile. “I think it’s safe to say I can sign off on your discharge paperwork today.”

“How are you?” I blurt involuntarily, my thoughts winning the tug-of-war with my ability to know better, and she jerks her head back in surprise. Instantly, I try to soften the blow. “Look, I know we don’t know each other all that well, but I want you to know that you have a friend in me. And I want you to know that I’m so sorry.”

“I…” She pauses and glances out toward the window. “I…” Her mouth turns down at the corners, and she swallows hard against it before bringing her gaze to mine again. “I appreciate that. Thank you.”

On the outside, Kendall looks like a beautiful supermodel-doctor-woman who has it all together. But behind her eyes, there’s a deep sadness. Behind her eyes, she’s a woman who is barely hanging on by a thread. A woman who is trying to keep it all together.

A woman who thought she had everything and lost it all in one fell swoop.

And goodness, can I relate to that so much. I’ve certainly been there.

“I can’t,” she says, and her voice is so quiet compared to the woman I firstmet all those weeks ago in Central Park. “I know it’s soon and I need to give things time, but I don’t think I can ever forgive him for this.”

I’m surprised by her candor, but I’m also grateful she is willing to open up to someone.

“Kendall, I think your feelings are valid, no matter what they are.” I reach out to gently squeeze her hand. “I also know with certainty that you didn’t deserve this.”

Her bottom lip trembles ever so slightly, but she pushes past the emotional discomfort with a nod of her head. “I didn’t, did I?”

“No, you didn’t.” I shake my head.

“And you know what?”

“What?”

“Ashley didn’t deserve this either,” she adds, and her normally full lips look so small as they form a tight line. “Apparently, she had been trying to get in touch with Dale for weeks and weeks. And he knew it. And he ignored her. Tried to act like she didn’t exist. Obviously, I don’t condone sleeping with another woman’s husband, but I definitely don’t condone a man not taking responsibility for his actions.”

I’m shocked by her words. Ashley didn’t reveal all that to Noah and me, but now it’s making even more sense as to why she ended up at Noah’s door.

“I don’t even know what to say, Kendall.”

“Tell me about it.” She snorts and swipes a hand over her cheeks, where one lone tear snuck out of her eyelids. “Anyway, I better head to my next patient. Tell Noah I’m keeping an eye out for his scans, and if everything still looks good, I’ll get you both discharged ASAP.”

“He’ll be glad to hear that.”

She walks over to the sink to wash her hands before drying them with a paper towel and tossing it in the trash. But before she leaves the room, she pauses at the threshold of the door. “Sammy?”

“Yeah?”

“He’s one of the good ones,” she says. “And he’s always been that way. Ever since I’ve known him.”

She means Noah, and I couldn’t agree more.

Heisone of the good ones. He’s the best man I’ve ever known.

And I hope I get to keep him forever.

Saturday, June 4th

Noah

Shooting pain in my abdomen forces my eyes open on a groan. And the groan urges an additional sting in my ribs to occur.Son of a bitch.

“You okay?”

I look to my left to find Sammy beside me. In my bed. And a hint of concern in her eyes.

“Yeah, I’m good, hun,” I mutter and scrub a hand down my face, but when I do that, I accidentally poke my fingers into the sutured wound on my head. When I groan again, Sammy’s mouth quirks up into a knowing smile.

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