The Reluctant Romantics Box Set (The Fall, The Mind, The Heart)

“Well, then you invite him over, Dad. I want no part of it.” I rounded the corner grabbing my purse and hugging my mother good bye. “He’s just bored. He came home to take care of his mother and decided it would be fun to play remember when with me. Speaking of Dean, Dad, I need a favor.” He raised his brows skeptically, but not because of the favor. He didn’t believe one word of my speech, neither did my mother. I was determined to prove them both wrong. Like with all things Dean related, I had taken his words to mean more than they did. His actions had always seemed to prove otherwise. I wasn’t that naïve anymore, and would never be to that extent ever again. It had cost me too much.

“What’s the favor, angel?”

My day went by quickly. I spent the majority of my time in the children’s ward, talking with the doctors and watching their procedures. I had woken up this morning with a sense of purpose. I would have to broach the subject with Rose at a later date. I didn’t want to distract her from the happiness she’d found or her studies. I knew my sister well and was still in the process of deciding just how to approach the subject of my career change with her. I had been certain of only one thing in the last month and that was that I loved being a doctor, and even more so, I loved being one on the front line fighting a disease I hated. There wasn’t anything original about it. I was one of thousands of doctors to step up to the plate, but it was what I loved to do. I wanted to fight cancer hard and dirty, and to help promote the hope of kicking the runaway epidemic in the ass. I had my own part of the universe to deal with it. In my hospital, each patient, each case, it was enough…for now.

I filled out the necessary paperwork after talking to Dr. Peirce in detail. It would take time to call myself an oncologist. I would have to start from the bottom, shadowing the more experienced doctors in the field. To me, the extra training would be well worth it. Pierce was thrilled with my decision and wished me the best. I knew the hardest part would be to try to sway Rose, but as far as following my heart was concerned, I’d done right by it in this case.

I spent the majority of the first half of my day getting my desk in order for the next resident. It could take days for me to get a position in the oncology department, weeks possibly if there was not anything available, but I wanted to get a head start.

At lunch, I saw Dean in the cafeteria eating alone and playing with his tablet. He seemed to look up

as if he knew of my sudden appearance. I gave him a wink and a genuine smile as I grabbed a sandwich and drink before joining him. He seemed stunned at my easy approach and demeanor.

“Hi,” I said happily as I pointed to the chair next to him. He nodded, allowing me to join him.

“Dallas, I was going to call you last night, but you were so upset …” He looked at me, his head tilted to the side. “Doesn’t seem like the case today.”

“Sorry to disappoint you,” I said ruefully. “I’m good.” I cracked open my drink and sucked the small amount of spray that came with it. “Mom’s eggs benedict are the cure for everything.”

Dean looked at me warily, “Dallas, I just wanted to say, yesterday—”

“We have a past, we dated. That was then. That needs to be enough for you. You said let’s be friends. I want that. I think we can handle it.”

“Okay,” he conceded. His disappointment was evident, but I ignored it. I didn’t bother to look at him until I was half done with my sandwich.

“Dean, I want to be an oncologist. I’ve requested a permanent transfer to that department.”

“What the hell happened last night when I left you?” He leaned in, watching me carefully.

I shrugged. “Wine, my mother, and a good night’s sleep.”

“Wow, your mom told you to shoot me down,” he said, incredulous. “What did I ever do to her?”

“We didn’t talk about you,” I lied. “Besides, we dropped that subject,” I reminded him. “And now I’m asking you if you think I would be a good oncologist.”

“If that’s what you want, yes, Dallas, I think you will be amazing at whatever specialty interests you,” he assured me. “Lord knows, you’re a determined woman,” he finished. His double meaning wasn’t lost on me.

“Great, you take vaginas. I’ll cover the tumors.” He chuckled and I smiled broadly.

“It’s good to see you smile. You haven’t done a lot of that since I’ve been home.”

“I’ve had a lot to figure out. You want chocolate? I’m dying for some.”

He looked at me strangely. “Sure?”

“Do you have an hour?”

“Two actually, now that my last appointment canceled,” he muttered, following me to the trash.

“Great.” I grabbed his arm and whisked him into the elevator to the children’s ward where they were serving ice cream. Most of them were very sick from treatment but still managed a smile and had a joke or two. Dean seemed fascinated by their strength, as was I. I once spent an entire day studying their cases and was blown away by what some of the children had to endure at such a young age.

I would catch Dean looking at me from time to time as I hung out with my favorite kid, Ollie. We had snuck away from the crowd to join him in his private room. He was the child of a wealthy ranch owner and had spent the majority of his youth in and out of the hospital. He was older than the others and had a tell it like it is personality. It seemed most of the sicker kids—the long-term survivors—had decided they had no time for bullshit. Thirteen-year-old veteran, Ollie, with his copper hair and dark blue eyes took in Dean as he extended his hand.

“Is this your boyfriend?” Ollie asked me as he shook Dean’s hand.

“He was, a long time ago. He sucked at it,” I said as Dean’s mouth dropped open and Ollie burst out laughing.

“She’s a looker, doctor. You’re an idiot,” Ollie said, amused as he watched us both.