, not

pped open.

a hand reaching, then gone. A

pounding. Just

seen him, six years since I'd ruined hi

ing to clear the lin

re yesterday still made me groggy. He was reco

cy General star

d, the floor co

surgery. Another ch

Not stupid dreams ab

Dr. Peterson, C

my offi

was tigh

unease replacin

ished wood and diplomas. He d

e the

k of the latch

he said, finally meeting my eyes. "Top of his

wisted. I kn

ough a cold certainty w

ed back. "Dr.

hit me. E

ght. The drea

eurotrauma unit. You'll be

ouldn't be

tared, w

was that night. Ma

ross the bal

older, harder. Still

an. Tall, blonde,

t rooted to

me. "Evie, come. Le

wards them.

Recognition flickered,

, "this is Dr. Evelyn Hayes, o

of The Gilded Spoon. Her smile

has told me so much about his time at Harva

ank. College ex

othing. Just

. Peterson looke

o cheerfully. "Welc

ed to

small, worn cardboar

an's familiar s

nights highlighting, notes scribbled in the margins. A pressed flow

t I'd given him, the one h

ng it all. A f

ain, sharp and fresh

othing left

hospital's internal system. Ju

e cannot be delivered.

oc

and feet

ack there, six ye

pale with fury

," I'd whispered, heart hammering. "I... I didn

lding Ethan back. That my love was a cage fo

His voice was ice. "My car

ut. And never

nd now, he w

rauma case together. A car pile

e. Bright lights,

re, scrubbing in. He

l, clamps, sutures. His hands

s. That's al

was a heavy thing, thic

. Frust

r the patient felt like

r new blood units, Sophia Vance

et from The Gilded Spoon.

ile radiant. She went straight to Ethan, kissed h

The word

lmost imperceptible softening o

p up my neck. Humil

ghost at t

tending to study t

oup of nurses were gossiping.

shed. "And his fiancée is gorgeou

at Harvard Med toge

my eye, a w

walked past

"Dr. Cole, is it true you and Dr. Hay

gaze flicked to

" he said, his voice cool,

ke it was smashe

ea Liv had bought me

I found him in his o

th

is computer, his ex

out the fellowship.

talk about, Evelyn."

I... after I withdrew it. Ramsey co

ed to the window. "I

me for six years for something I did because

r lack thereof, are irrelevant

my things, you block me, you deny we ever mean

me. His eyes were

velyn.

aving me standing