Chapter 497

If Lena left too, I’d seriously have no one to talk to. I get that life’s just a big cycle of people coming and going—friends, family, relationships. But I wasn’t ready for Lena to be one of the ones who drifted away.

“It’s not like that,” she said, catching my worried look. “I just want some more time off. They suspend me whenever they feel like it, bring me back whenever they want. Do they think I’m that easy?” She rolled her eyes, making me laugh.

“Oh, Dr. Lane, are you finally planning to put them in their place?”

“Absolutely. If I don’t push back now, they’ll drop me the second anything else happens.” Lena was always so solid—at work, in love, everywhere.

“Not worried they won’t take you back?” I teased.

She poured me a glass of water, smirking. “Please. If one place doesn’t want me, there’s a line that will.” She leaned in close, her face inches from mine. “Think I’m low on options?”

Now that was confidence. With Lena’s skills, hospitals would be lining up for her if this one didn’t work out. She’d already turned down a bunch of offers, just because she wasn’t the type to jump ship. But if they actually pushed her out, she’d be aiming higher, no question.

“Enough about me,” Lena said, switching back to me. “What’s your plan?”

She meant Hayden, obviously. I took a sip of water, copying her words: “If he’s not the one, I’ll just move on. It’s not like I’m low on options.”

Lena grinned and gave me a thumbs-up. “There she is. Men, jobs—they’re just the extras. We’re the ones who shine, with or without them.”

Her words loosened something tight in my chest. She helped me sign the discharge papers, and we headed home together.

That night, Lena and I stayed up way too late, sipping drinks and talking about everything and nothing. Just as I was drifting off, Lena murmured, “Prairies are all the rage right now. Wanna go see where the sky meets the earth?”

“Sure, I’ll put in a leave request,” I mumbled, half-asleep. Then I remembered how Ron had been extra chill with me because of Hayden, and added, “Hopefully he’ll approve it. I’ve been kinda AWOL lately.”

Lena grunted, and I laughed, “If he doesn’t, I’ll quit. It’s not like I need that job to survive.”

She snickered, and I fell into a deep, peaceful sleep, only to be yanked awake the next morning by the doorbell ringing over and over.

Reluctantly, I stumbled to the door, and there was Tanya, staring at me like she’d just smelled something nasty. We’d been neighbors for a while now, but she’d never actually come to my door.

I don’t usually wake up cranky, but being woken up by her? Not the best start. “If you’ve got something to say, say it. Otherwise, leave.”

She gave me a sugary smile. “Nothing in particular. Just thought I’d stop by for a little chat.”

Right. She was still fishing for that team-up she’d hinted at before.

“If it wasn’t clear last time, let me spell it out: we have zero to discuss. And don’t get any other ideas, Tanya—we’re not the same, never were, never will be. So let’s just pretend each other doesn’t exist, yeah?”

I knew I sounded sharp, but she didn’t seem fazed. “Aren’t you even a little curious to hear me out?”

“Not interested,” I said, shutting the door right in her face.

“Keira!” she yelled, her voice slicing through the quiet hallway, but I couldn’t have cared less.

Yawning, I went back inside to find Lena on the phone, saying, “She’s way too nice. If it were me, I wouldn’t even look at you if you were on your deathbed. You nearly wrecked her life—you should be begging for forgiveness…”

I frowned, trying to guess who she was laying into. Then she looked up, saw me, and said, “She’s here. I’ll let her talk to you.”

She handed me my phone, not even pretending to be discreet. “It’s Jace,” she said, way too casually.