Chapter 2

"Is there any reason why you're running away from me at 4 a.m.?"

I froze mid-step in the darkness.

"I thought we had a nice time," he rasped behind me, as I stood there clutching my purse and shoes like stolen evidence.

This isn't illegal, was it?

Running away from your one-night stand.

"My Uber is waiting," I whispered, avoiding eye contact.

I heard the sheets rustling as he sat up, and the room became warm as he flicked on the lamp.

When I turned to face him, my breath caught in my throat.

God help me.

I'm reminded all over again why I followed this stranger home. The tousled salt-and-pepper s*x hair. The reading glasses perched on his nose made him look… irresistible.

And it had taken just a drink to make me forget the medical conference and get into bed with him.

I couldn't deny that the night with him turned out to be wonderful.

"But you called it," he said, folding his arms.

"I did."

His brows dipped. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No"

"And the s*x? I thought it was great."

"Me too"

He smiled faintly. "Then why…" I glanced at his bedside clock, knowing I was running out of time.

I cut him off, "Look," I sighed, "We had all this… amazing s*x and I don't even know your name…"

He leaned against the headboard. "Call me Jack."

"Right, Jack," I gave him a weak smile, "Let's point out the obvious. You're older than me, much older. I can't… we're strangers"

"Why don't we break the ice? Tell me your name."

My phone lit up with a reminder. My Uber was still waiting.

"I…I'm sorry." I moved to the door and turned the knob. "Goodbye, Jack."

I was running away from a man who looked like John Constantine, in the odd hours of the morning, all because… I didn't know why.

As the Uber pulled away from the house, I glanced at his window one last time to see him there, watching me.

"Southside Boulevard, please," I told the cabman, and he drove off in silence.

The only way my mother would be proud of me was if I turned, went back to the house, seduced that s*xy stranger all over again, made him fall madly in love with me, got written into his will two weeks later, and maybe plotted his death.

But I looked away just as the rain began to fall.

I hated rainy days. They always reminded me of my mother and him.

The boy from ten years ago.

---

TWO MONTHS LATER

"Gianna Monroe Lyon," my mother drawled in that clipped, cold tone that could freeze blood.

My hand tightened around my phone, cold sweat breaking across my back.

Since birth, I'd known that my full name being used meant one thing… Trouble.

"Hi, Mum… I'm sorry I haven't called…"

"I'm getting married!" she squealed, cutting me off.

I froze. "What?"

"You remember the boyfriend I told you I was seeing?"

"No, I don't…"

"Well, he proposed last week. I've been dying to tell you, but you hardly call."

No, No, No.

"Wow… uh, that's wonderful. Congratulations, Mum," I said, chuckling awkwardly, already dreading where this was going.

This was not good.

"You have to come home, Gia sweetie. The engagement party is this weekend."

"Mum… I'm busy…"

"Nonsense! It's been ten years since I last saw you. No excuses. Tell me when you're arriving, and I'll have your room prepared."

I exhaled, defeated. "I'll be home before the party."

"Good. I have a bridal fitting today. My planner's the same one from all those celebrity weddings. You know I always want something big, something unforgettable."

"Uh… yes. I'm happy for you."

"You need to see what I've done with the house; a lot has changed since you left."

"Alright, Mum. I'm busy… gotta go. See you," I said and hung up before she could launch into more details.

I rubbed my temples, trying to ward off the oncoming headache. I felt dizzy, and a sharp wave of nausea rolled through me.

The thought of seeing her again—after everything I uncovered ten years ago—was enough to make me sick. It made me rush to the bathroom and throw up.

I was about to lose my mind—but not here, not in front of patients. I needed to lose it privately.

Grabbing my clipboard, I headed to the storage room. We needed more IV fluids anyway.

Gia!" I heard behind me and groaned.

Now was not the time, but my overly chatty and nosy colleague made it the time. She caught up to me, falling into step as I walked faster.

"Wait up, Gia!"

"I hate when you call me that," I snapped, not slowing down.

"You're just a snob," she teased. "Sounds like the name of a s*xy villain"

"More like the name of a sl*t," I muttered, bitterness lacing my tone at my ruined day.

"Well, you're my sl*t," she said with a wink.

Despite everything, I cracked a smile. "Ha-ha fckng ha. What do you want, Cookie?"

"Big news. Luke Harrison has been fired."

"Finally," I sighed with relief and pushed open the door to the storeroom.

"We're getting a new presiding surgeon, Jackson Romero," she said, following me inside. "You're his attending surgeon. The paperwork will be sent to you today, and when he arrives on Friday, you will show him around and give him the basics on how we run the place."

"Too bad," I said, tossing items into a basket.

"Why?"

"I'm leaving tomorrow. My mum's getting married, and there's this wedding thing, I have to be there. Find someone else to take my place."

"Gianna… I'll get written up if I go against orders…"

I sighed heavily and slammed the clipboard on the table. "Fine, you give him the tour. Cover for me, and I'll take some shifts for you when I get back. Deal?"

"Fine"

We started sorting supplies in silence when I asked, "So… have you met him? The new surgeon, what's he like?"

"Once," Cookie shrugged, " At a medical conference.

When I tell you, my mouth dropped when he walked on stage. He's fine. Like, silver-fox fine."

"Alright, Cookie, keep it in your pants," I muttered.

"I'm serious. He's—"

"Let's just hope he's not another Luke Harrison who can't keep his zipper up." I shut her up.

She went quiet for a beat. "I'd still do doctor Jackson, though."

I stared at her. "Jesus, Cookie. You're engaged to David, remember?" glancing quickly at her ring.

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. You're such a buzzkill."

I bent down to grab two saline fluids and some sanitizers when a sudden wave of dizziness hit.

"Are you okay?" Cookie asked as I grabbed the shelf for support.

"I don't know. I'm working 12-hour shifts, I can't remember the last time I ate, and I barely sleep. No, I'm not okay," I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose.

Cookie eyed me. "Have you taken a test?"

"For what?"

"I don't know… you're getting kind of… bigger."

My eyes snapped open. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Don't come for me! I'm just saying"

I turned away, letting silence fall again as my mind wandered.

My mother's wedding. The new surgeon. That stranger from two months ago. The stupidly perfect s*x. I was still dreaming about him.

His touch. His mouth. The way he made me lose control, I bit my lip, clenching my thighs instinctively as I had flashbacks.

But… no.

I had my whole life planned out ahead of me, and I can't ruin it over a stranger old enough to be my father.

What if he were married?

What if …

My body froze in utter terror as realization dawned on me.

Oh God no!

The morning after pill… I had been too busy to remember to take it.

This could not be happening.

"Jesus," I muttered under my breath, "Bring this upstairs, will you?"

I dropped everything and bolted out of the storeroom.

"Where are you going?" Cookie called out, but I was already out of the door, shoving people aside as I raced to the lab, heart thundering.

The nausea, the dizziness, the sore breast, the cravings.

How could I have been so ignorant?!

Oh God.

Minutes later, I stood there trembling as the test confirmed my fears.

"Gia?" Cookie whispered behind me. "Is everything alright?"

My knees buckled.

"I'm pregnant."