“What’s his name?”
“The stalker or the bodyguard?”
I laugh even though this isn’t a funny situation. I’m worried about her. “The guard.”
“Tristan Belvedere.” She smiles as she grabs her glass and sips her drink. “Even his name sounds hot, right?”
“What’s he look like?”
“Tall and muscular—obviously. He has a short brown buzz cut and a full face of dark facial hair. I think he’s former military. I haven’t really gotten him to talk much about himself, but I will. I plan to go to lots of holiday parties, so he’ll have to come with me.” She waggles her brows and smirks.
“You cannot get involved with your bodyguard,” I demand, knowing exactly what she was implying. “That’s trouble waiting to happen with a capital T.”
“Okay, Mom…” She rolls her eyes. “There’s no harm in flirting with him. Plus, he barely says two words to me. I text him when I’m leaving, and he shows up with the car.”
“I feel better knowing he’s with you now that I’m aware you’re being stalked.” I sigh. “I can’t believe this. Maybe you should consider taking a break from YouTube.”
“And disappoint my followers just because of one bad apple?” She gasps. “No way! I will be more careful, though, about showing where I am and posting my location.”
“You should’ve been doing that in the first place,” I mutter.
“Yes, I know. I already got lectured from both Mom and Dad.”
I finish my second martini. “Good. You’re young, beautiful, and social—the perfect target for sick, perverted men. You have to be careful.”
“I will be, promise. Mom, Dad, and Tristan can track me on my phone now. I’m certain Dad was ready to put a GPS device around my ankle too.”
“Well, can you blame him? You’re his baby,” I tease.
She snorts into her drink, nearly spilling it on the table, and we both laugh. Piper and I were close growing up and best friends during our teenage years. She loves the spotlight and has an addictive personality that draws people in. I always preferred a small circle of friends and stayed away from the paparazzi. After hearing about her stalker, I have no regrets.
“So now that you’ve lectured me, let’s get back to how you’re going to repair this broken heart. I could ask Tristan if he has a brother,” she says with the corner of her lips tilted. “Or sister, if you’re writing off men?”
“I’m not looking to date or ho myself out with anyone right now. I’m focusing on me and my new business venture.”
“Alright, I can support that. But just in case you change your mind, I’ll get Tristan’s brother’s number.”Chapter Twenty-FourRyanI haven’t seen or talked to Kendall since my sister’s wedding two weeks ago. I’ve been working every single day, but I have called and texted her every free chance I have. She hasn’t answered or responded to me, and I’m starting to think she changed her number or blocked me. But I’m not giving up that easily. I just need five minutes of her time to apologize and explain what happened at the wedding. If she’s going to hate me, it needs to be over the truth, not a misunderstanding.
This time of year has been insane in the ER. We see a lot of third-degree burns and cuts from people preparing holiday dinners and not paying attention. Not to mention those who stress themselves out so much with planning the perfect Christmas that they end up with bleeding ulcers and sometimes need blood transfusions. Add that to patients who need emergency surgeries, and well, let’s just say it’s been one insane day after another.
“How ya holding up, Dr. St. James?” Nick asks. “I’ve never seen you this focused before.”
“I’m always focused,” I retort. “Trying to be anyway.”
“You are, but I’m worried you’ll burn out. You need a day off?”
“Nah.” I open a chart and start reading.
“I got New Year's Eve covered. Why don’t you take off and spend it with your family or girlfriend?”
“I didn’t work Thanksgiving, though. Are you sure?”
“You can work Christmas Eve and Day.” He chuckles. “But please, take New Year's Eve and Day off.”
“Sure, thanks, sir.” I don’t bother to mention I don’t have a girlfriend.
“You wanna grab a drink after your shift?”
I look up and meet his eyes. He’s never asked me to hang out after work. “A drink?”
“Yeah. You look like you could use one, unless you’d rather go home and drink alone,” he mocks. “You kinda look like someone ran over your puppy.”
I smile even though it’s forced. “I don’t have a puppy.”
“Don’t be a smart-ass. Your shift ends in an hour. Meet me in my office and we’ll go to The Heights.”
“Alright.”
It’s not that I don’t consider Nick a friend even though he’s my boss, but the last thing I wanna do is drink and talk about Kendall. Inevitably, she’ll come up, but who knows, maybe he’ll give me another perspective that’ll help me get her back. Or at least have her responding to my texts.