Page 13 of Cluelessly Yours

“Are you getting released today?” I ask Brooke instead. “Or are they keeping you overnight?”

“I’m pretty sure I’m going home today, but the doctor is supposed to come in shortly to give me the rundown,” she answers around a mouthful of mini-Oreos.

I glance at my watch, trying to decide how much more time I can hang around here before I need to relieve Noah of his Seth dutiesandstop at home to drop Seth off with Zoe and check on Grant before I head into work.

“Sammy, you don’t have to stay,” Brooke adds, silently sensing my dilemma. She’s a pain in the ass, but at the root of it all, my sister cares about me deeply. “I completely understand if you need to leave. I’m good. The baby’s good.” She grins down at the insane number of snacks on her bedside table. “And I have enough snacks to last my pregnant ass for at least another hour or two.”

“I know, but I want to stay. Let’s just see how long it takes for the doctor to come in.”

The door swings all the way open, and a pretty brunette in purple scrubswalks in with a clipboard in her hand. “As luck would have it, he’ll be here in about five seconds.”

I smile awkwardly, but she just grins. “Hi. I’m Melody, Brooke’s OB nurse. I’m guessing you’re her sister, right?”

I nod. “Guilty.”

“Knock, knock,” a tall, fit doctor with a vivid smile says as he steps through the door.

“Hi, Dr. Cummings,” Brooke greets cheerfully.

“Looks like you’re feeling better, huh?”

“Much better.” My sister sits up straighter in her bed and drops the empty mini-Oreos wrapper onto the bedside table. “It’s amazing what some fluids, food, and a nap can do.”

“Thrilled to hear it. Let’s go over all your tests and get you discharged.”

Nurse Melody clears her throat, and Dr. Cummings’s head swings to her. All he has to do is look at her, and, instantly, he’s smacking himself in the forehead.

“Oh. Yeah. Protocol is for one more fetal check before you go, too, and you have to finish the iron IV.”

Melody smiles, and Brooke promptly starts investigating. “Okay, I have to know. How long have you two worked together? You seem pretty in tandem.”

Nurse Melody laughs, but Dr. Cummings smiles proudly as he walks toward her and pulls her into his side. “Not only is Melody your fabulous nurse today, and the best help I’ve ever worked with, but she’s also my wife.”

“I freaking knew it!” Brooke exclaims through a giggle.

“Uh-oh…are we that transparent?” Melody asks with wide but playful eyes.

“Let’s just say that we know a little something about mixing fun in with the job,” Brooke answers and pulls Chase toward her with an affectionate tug of his arm.

“Oh yeah?” Melody questions with interest. “Do tell.”

“I’m a writer, and he’s my editor,” Brooke expands. “Technically speaking, I wrote an entire book about my crush on him—without his knowing—before we got together.”

Chase beams down at my sister. “And I had the pleasure of editing it.”

“And falling in love with me,” Brooke adds and Chase winks.

“That too.”

My sister and her fiancé smile at each other with lovey-dovey doe eyes as they recount their real-life romance story to the good doctor and his nurse wife. And before I know it, the two couples are laughing and smiling and joking about what it’s like to work with their significant others.

Of course, all I can do is stand there feeling completely out of place while my solo-dom makes my stomach roll to the side in discomfort.

Gah, this is so awkward.

I’m officially the fifth wheel, and it doesn’t take long before the urge to make my exit is too strong to deny. Without much grace or explanation, I excuse myself. “Shoot. You know what, guys? I better get out of here before I’m late for work.”

Brooke’s head jerks in my direction, and I don’t like the expression on her face. It’s way too knowing. But instead of facing it head on, as I make my way to the door, I deliberately pull my phone out of my purse and look down at it as I type a text.

---