Dueling Drs: A Small Town Hospital Romance

“I don’t like her!”

Of course it was my own damn dumb luck that Zola chose that moment to visit. “Oh. I just came to see if you or the girls need anything?”

Suzie smiled brightly. “We’re good, thanks. Want some baby girl snuggles?” She nodded at Berna with a teasing smile.

“I’d love some, but not now. I have a few things I need to take care of today.” Her dark gaze darted between Suzie and me, and I knew then and there, she was lying.

“Don’t leave on my account,” I said in a tone that, in hindsight, sounded less than welcoming.

Zola said nothing. She let her stare settle on me for several long, uncomfortable moments before turning back to Suzie. “I’ll see you later. Text if you think of anything you girls might need.” And with that, she fled as if she was being chased.

“I guess that was my fault too.”

Suzie chuckled. “It’s not, not your fault.”

“What the hell am I supposed to do?”

“Go after her.” She nodded towards the door where Zola just exited.

“There’s nothing to say.”

“And there never will be if both of you never says anything.”

I pushed of the sofa with a laugh and pressed a kiss to Gigi’s sleeping head. “That was gibberish and you know it.”

“Maybe,” she giggled. “But it sounded a little profound, right?”

“No.”

“Liar,” she laughed and stuck out her tongue. “Good luck.”

I had a feeling I would need a hell of a lot more than luck. “Yeah, thanks.”

I didn’t even know what to say to Zola, not anymore, and I didn’t want to fight with her. There was no reason to fight with someone I didn’t have feelings for, right? But when I rounded the side of the house and saw her with her body slumped forward, head pressed against the steering wheel, my gut tightened with some unnamed emotion.

My feet sprang into action and before I could question the wisdom of my actions, I knocked on the driver’s side window. “Are you okay, Zola?”

Her whole body stiffened and a few seconds later, she sat up straight, wiped the tears from her eyes and turned to me with a bland smile. “I’m fine. Did Suzie think of something she needed?”

“No.”

“Oh. Okay.” She shoved the key into the ignition and shifted gears with a grunt. “I guess I’ll, uh, see you around then.”

“Zola, wait.”

The car jerked and she looked at me. “What is it?”

“Don’t you think we should talk?”

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply before letting it out and cutting a glare at me. “What do we have to talk about Drew?”

“You said you’re pregnant. How far along are you?”

“No. We’re not doing this. I said I was pregnant and you didn’t believe me or you think I did it on purpose, so no, we don’t’ have anything to talk about.” She put the car in gear again with one hand and swiped more tears with the other.

“I’m a jerk.”

She let out a bitter laugh. “I know that and still, we have nothing to talk about.” The car jerked again as she shifted into park. “Drew, I’m done. I don’t want or need anything from you so, please just leave me alone. Go and live your life and pretend as if we never met. Should be easy to do since I’m so flawed and manipulative. So imperfect.” With those parting words, she hit the gas and reversed down the long driveway, leaving me standing there to watch as she swung the car around and shifted gears once again, ready to drive away with tears in her eyes.

I turned back towards the house with low shoulders just as the sound of metal smashing against metal tore through the quiet street. Only one thought tore through my mind.

Zola.

Zola

I woke up in pain. Searing and excruciating pain, mostly centered in my left arm. My eyes were still closed but I heard the all too familiar sounds of a hospital room and I was lying down so it didn’t take a genius to figure out that I was the patient. What I didn’t know was how I came to be in the hospital and I sat up, too fast, and my eyes jerked open. “The baby!”

My eyes scan the room in search of answers, or a doctor, or a clue. But none of those things were present, just the things you’d expect in an examination room at any hospital in any city in the world. I turn and find the last person I expected to see. “Drew. What are you doing here?”

Worry was etched on his face and my hand instinctively went to my belly. Drew stood, broad shoulders slumped forward, hands shoved deep in his pockets. “You were in a car accident.”

“No. I wasn’t.” I shook my head, unable to believe his words. “I was about to go run some errands. I hadn’t even gotten in the car yet.”