Chapter 3
Brooke didn’t get off work until a little past six.
Technically, Aubrey said the meet up for pizza and drinks started at six, but there was no way she was headed there straight from work.
If she had to face Justin with a new woman on his arm, then she needed her most protective armor.
Meaning, a dress that wasn’t business attire, a face that didn’t have smudged makeup, and hair that wasn’t ratty.
With a quick stop at home to change her clothes, fix her makeup, and double-check her hair, Brooke walked into Robert’s Pizza and Dough a mere forty minutes late.
She spotted the long table with about fifteen doctors and nurses from the hospital.
The table already held a variety of pizzas, food, and drinks.
They appeared to be halfway finished eating.
One chair was open next to Justin and his new leggy blonde.
Nope. Aubrey and Ian sat across from them.
In the middle were doctors and nurses she knew.
Then on the other end sat Logan with a free chair next to him.
Her pulse raced. He had on slacks and a long button-down checked shirt tucked into them.
Dang, he looked good. It almost made her forget about how she wanted to punch Justin in the face.
For a second, Brooke stared at everyone eating and chatting.
Justin had dumped her and nobody, including her best friend, seemed to care how the entire thing had rocked her to her core.
Yeah, she couldn’t do it. She stayed frozen in place, willing herself to be strong and appear undeterred.
This was a bad idea. She wasn’t ready to see Justin in a social setting with someone new on his arm. It stung too bad.
Her legs remembered how to move. She pivoted to leave, but Aubrey spotted her and called out to her at an unearthly volume.
Everyone at the table peered over at her.
Fresh heat splashed her cheeks. Justin straightened his back and wrapped an arm around his new woman’s shoulders while lowering his gaze to avoid eye contact with her.
She wondered if the new lady even knew about their relationship or if he had painted himself as an image of chivalry.
Logan’s cup paused midair when their eyes met. The cup hovered inches from his lips. Then his gaze flickered down her frame. He shook his head the smallest amount, took a drink and twisted back to face the doctors across the table from him. Aubrey ran over to her.
“I’m glad you came.” Aubrey hugged her while she stood stiffly. “I was worried you’d be a no show.” She broke their embrace.
“I can’t do this.” Luckily, those at the table went back to talking and eating, except for Justin whose gaze remained glued on her. “Why did you suggest this? You know I’m not ready to be around him.” Her words sounded like a hiss.
Aubrey put a hand on her hip. “You were around him today at work.”
“That was different. I had no choice.” She forced herself to take a deep breath and settle the quiver in her voice. “This—this feels like I’ve been karate punched. I mean look at her.” Brooke tilted her head in the general direction.
“Yeah, I know.” Aubrey leaned in closer to her, and added, “But for the record, she is completely wrong for him.”
Her shoulders drooped. “But she’s gorgeous.” Then her bottom lip trembled. She blinked rapidly to fight the tears threatening to spill over.
Aubrey squeezed her forearm and found her gaze. “You’re gorgeous.” She squeezed again.
“You have to say that because you’re my friend.” Brooke shot her a crooked smile. “It doesn’t count.”
Aubrey let go. “I’d say it even if you weren’t my best friend.
” She flashed a glance over her shoulder back toward the table.
“I wish Justin wasn’t such a total nimrod—but he’s Ian’s best friend.
What am I supposed to do?” The worry lines on her forehead tightened.
“We both chose our best friends. I wish I wasn’t in this situation, but you have to see how I’m in a tight spot. ”
Anger seeped into her veins, and she hated Justin even more for putting them in this situation.
If he had been so unhappy with her, why hadn’t he broken up with her months ago.
Instead, he strung her along like a fool and only kicked her to the curb when he had another lady secure and ready.
Her blood simmered near boiling point. Now, he got to sit down at the end by their friends while she was left to feel like the odd one out.
“Well—” Brooke stared at the table of people.
Logan caught her gaze again and waved. The knot in her gut loosened and brought her mounting blood pressure down.
Her brain managed to clear enough for her to think straight.
“I’ll stay, but I’m not sitting over by you guys.
I’m headed to the opposite end of the table. ”
A look of relief washed over Aubrey’s countenance. “I understand.” Then she leaned in closer. “And Logan is easy on the eyes.” Then she winked.
“Really?” Brooke straightened her back and pulled back her shoulders. “I hadn’t noticed.”
Aubrey cackled. “Yeah, okay—”
They made their way over to the table. Aubrey slipped back into her seat next to Ian, and she headed to the opposite end. The crowded space meant she had to shimmy sideways to reach the chair next to Logan.
When she arrived, she gripped the back of the empty chair and pointed at it with her other hand. “Is this seat taken?”
“Nope.” Logan peered up at her and smiled brightly, allowing his dazzling whites to practically blind her. “It’s all yours.”
Brooke dragged the chair out and flopped herself into it. She greeted Dr. Salsburg and Dr. Hernandez, who both worked in radiology. They exchanged a few pleasantries before they returned to a conversation with one another.
“I’m glad you made it.” Logan tapped his shoulder against hers. “It’s nice to see a familiar face. Everyone has been nice, but you’re the main reason I came tonight.”
“Then I guess you’re lucky I stayed. I almost hightailed it out of here.
” Brooke snatched the menu left behind in front of her seat.
Her stomach rumbled. She flipped it open.
“I’m in a bit of an awkward situation. My ex is sitting down at the other end with his new girlfriend, and we broke up yesterday.
” She pretended to peruse the menu and didn’t dare look over at him.
“Dr. Moreno is Justin and is your ex, right?” Logan inquired with a low voice. “He introduced me to his girlfriend when he arrived. I didn’t—I mean, yikes. He already brought his new girlfriend. Wow, what a jerk move.”
Dr. Salsburg and Dr. Hernandez on the other side of the table talked about the hiring of a new head of Radiology. Brooke nodded as she half listened then flipped to the next page of the menu. Food, she needed food to face tonight, and quick.
“I know. It’s terrible.” Brooke peered over at his plate. “What did you order?”
Logan looked down at his plate like he forgot what he ate. “Some kind of pizza that a few of the doctors ordered together. I’m sure there is still enough to share.”
“No, that’s okay. I’m hungry.” Brooke flipped back to the page with the pasta pages. “But I don’t know what for.”
Logan picked up his piece of pizza and took a bite. After he wiped his face with a napkin, he inquired, “I’m assuming you and Justin parting ways wasn’t up to you?”
“Nope.” Brooke whipped the menu shut. “Which is why I’m over here alone, and he’s over there with the new woman he started dating before he even broke up with me.”
Brooke twisted in her seat to catch a server’s attention then waved them over. The server approached. Brooke ordered a plate of chicken pesto pasta and a side salad. She hoped everyone didn’t leave before her food arrived. Then the server left to put in her order.
“Well, I’m glad you’re here.” His lips twitched in the corners. “Thanks for suffering so I didn’t have to be alone.” Their eyes locked, and heat flooded her core.
She broke their gaze first. An untouched glass of water sat in front of her. “Do you know if anyone has drunk out of this?” She pointed at the cup.
“I spit in it earlier.” Logan winked. “But, besides that, it’s free game.” He smirked, making the flirtatious energy weaving between them go up a notch.
Brooke fought off the smile. “Do you always spit into random glasses of water?” She faked caution as she took a small sip of water.
“I knew you were coming, and it was my only defense to keep anyone else—” he tilted his head to her chair, “from sitting there. I figured if I mentioned the spit water, they’d sit elsewhere.” He cracked his knuckles then leaned back against his chair. “And it worked like a charm.”
“Ahh.” Brooke sipped again then set the glass down. “Thank you? How very chivalrous of you,” she teased.
“I know, right?” Logan tapped his shoulder against hers. “My mother would be proud.”
An eruption of laughter from the other end of the table interrupted them.
They peered past the doctors in the middle.
Justin, his new girlfriend, Aubrey and Ian laughed hysterically at some video on Justin’s phone.
Her back stiffened and jaw clenched tight.
Then she forced herself to shift back and for good measure twisted her back to them so she had zero chance of seeing them.
“Sorry.” Logan lowered his voice and picked up another slice of pizza from the platter in front of him. “But if it makes you feel any better, you’re prettier than her.” He shoved the end of the pizza into his mouth.
Heat splashed her cheeks.
“You shouldn’t say things like that.” Her throat grew tight. Brooke sipped on her water again. “Comments like that can get you into trouble.”
He finished his bite and shrugged. “But it’s true. And I’m not trying to date her. I find you attractive and not her. She isn’t my type.” He ate another bite of pizza, then added, “Plus, you’re way more interesting than her.”