Page 35 of Fighting Fate
Any minute now, she’s going to get defensive. I can feel it in my bones and the way my chest is tightening around my insides.
“We good to go, yeah?” I ask, pressing a kiss to the top of Willow’s head.
The apprehension squeezing my chest loosens when she nuzzles deeper into me. Maybe I’m wrong. Perhaps I shouldn’t underestimate our connection.
“Yup, I’m more than ready to get out of here.”
“Don’t forget girls’ brunch,” Beth reminds her while walking us out. “And two weeks since you don’t want the prescription.”
“I got the jab. I’m covered.”
I’m in the twilight zone again, listening to them talk in their girl code that goes right over my head.
“Take it easy, like, okay?”
“Yes, mothe—fuck!”
We come to a complete standstill in the middle of the corridor leading to the exit as the elevator doors a few feet away ping open and a doctor in scrubs steps out.
“Why?” Willow cries softly at the same time as Beth blows out on a long breath, “Oh shit.”
That fucking word is becoming the soundtrack to our night. As the guy comes nearer, the resemblance becomes more apparent. Light eyes, the same nose…
Shit.
It’s like fate is listening in on my thoughts and bringing my nightmares to life.
“Chooch…” He pauses in front of us, his stare instantly zeroing in on me. Slowly, he traces my arm around her shoulders and then meets my eyes dead on. The twist of his lips says that he’s sizing me up. I recognise it from all the times Orla has introduced me to the new guy she’s seeing. “What’re you doing here? You okay?”
“Yep, fine…” she answers too quickly.
I don’t know what possesses me to do it, but before he can pry, I say, “Training strain.”
“Yes, sorry…Rory, this is my brother, Jamie. He’s the surgeon I told you about.” Willow wraps her arm around me, squeezing tighter. I’m not sure if it’s in gratitude or nerves, but right now, all that matters is that she’s not panicking anymore. “Jamie, this is Ror—”
“Rory Knight,” he cuts her off, turning his focus back on me again. “I know who you are.”
Willow groans, “Of course you do…”
“Our dad’s a fan,” he tells me, giving me the once-over again. “Nothing serious, I hope?”
When I take a beat too long to reply, he adds, “With the training strain.”
“No…no…”
“Oh, Hulk Man here is going to be just fine if he takes it easier,” Beth says, patting my shoulder. “Maybe more dating and less action for a while.”
“Fuck me,” Willow curses into my chest, low enough that I can just about make out her words as she fists my shirt.
“You’re dating?” he asks Willow. “Since when?”
“It’s new.”
“Hmm,” he chuckles. “Does Mum know yet?”
“It’s new, James. Do you understand the meaning of new?”
“Not that new,” Beth remarks with a shrug.