Play Along(118)

She’s happy now, I try to remind myself.

Sure, she didn’t get the job she dreamed of. Didn’t get the fresh start she wanted. Didn’t get to try her hand at dating.

But she has me, and she seems happy.

Right?

“One day,” Dean continues, “she got the courage to beg her mother to let her out of that arrangement, and she’s such a perfectionist, you know. That includes all those years she spent trying to be the perfect daughter, so you could imagine how difficult that was for her to do.

“I’ve never seen someone get verbally berated the way she was. She was called selfish, ungrateful. The list goes on. And of course, I felt guilty because the only reason she was in this predicament in the first place was because of me. I didn’t want to take over the family business, so she had to marry someone who would.”

My stomach churns at the visual of that little unhappy auburn-haired girl.

She’s happy now, I repeat to myself.

“I can’t explain how relieved I was when he ended things,” Dean says. “She finally got a bit of freedom to go do whatever she wanted, whatever would make her happy. She finally had the space to figure out what happiness looked like for her, and for the first time in her life, she was allowed to make her own decisions. So, you could imagine how furious I was when I found out you guys got fucking married and all of a sudden, Kennedy was trapped in another relationship she didn’t want.”

His words hit me square in the chest.

I did that. I trapped her in a relationship she didn’t want. I wouldn’t give her the annulment she wanted. I came up with the scheme to save her job. And for what? She didn’t get her dream job and now she’s stuck working for that piece-of-shit doctor again.

The past few days I’ve been selfish as fuck, basking in the idea that I get to have it all. Her, this city, my family.

And what does she get?

“From what she told me, she wanted to start over in a new city, get the job she deserves, and someday, hopefully meet someone. So, yeah, I was pissed when I found out that once again, it was all taken away from her. But I was wrong. Clearly, she doesn’t feel trapped. Clearly, she wants to be with you.”

“I don’t know about that.” My tone holds no inflection, my eyes fixated on the floor. I’m standing here like a zombie as too many realities I didn’t want to see are sinking in. “Maybe she just doesn’t have another option.”

“What are you talking about? She turned down that job offer in San Francisco to be with you. She had another option, and she didn’t want to take it.”

My attention comes back to life. “What are you talking about?”

“The job she didn’t take. They called last week and offered her the position. Wanted her to start shadowing the current team doctor right away. She turned it down.”

That can’t be true.

“What day was that? Tuesday?”

He thinks back for a second. “Yeah, I think so. She said she was in the training room with you when they called.”

What the actual fuck?

In what fucking world does she get to turn down an opportunity like that for me. From the moment I met Kennedy, it’s all she’s ever worked for, to become a lead doctor. Fuck, even to become a second doctor. Anything to get out of the current position she’s overqualified for. Anything to get out from working under Dr. Fredrick.

She can’t make that hasty of a decision out of nowhere. I’m the impulsive one. She’s the planner. She’s been planning this move all year.

And what? She’s staying because of me?

Holy shit. I told her I loved her right before she answered that phone call.

I’m always worried people won’t stick around once they see the real me. How many times did I tell her that?

She’s trying to stay for me.

“Shit,” Dean curses. “You didn’t know.”

Without looking at him, I slowly shake my head no. “I do now.”





Chapter 34


Kennedy


“Good evening, Ms. Kay. Welcome home,” the woman working at reception in my overly expensive apartment building greets me. “Are you staying in again tonight? Would you like me to set up a dinner delivery for you?”

With my keys dangling in my hand, I don’t stop to talk as I cross the hall to the elevator. “Not tonight, but thank you! Just grabbing a few things and I’ll be on my way.”

She gives me her best customer service smile. “Of course. Please let us know if you need any assistance with your things.”

“Thank you!” I blurt out just as the doors to the elevator close.

The lobby staff are all kind and over accommodating, which makes sense, seeing as this is one of the most expensive buildings in the city. But I can’t help wondering what they think of me coming in every other day to grab clothes before leaving for Isaiah’s minutes later.

Other than the past few nights Dean has stayed over, I can’t remember the last time I slept here. This place doesn’t feel like home anymore. It never has, I suppose, but especially not now that both Isaiah and his apartment feel like the closest thing I’ve ever felt to home.

Most of my stuff is there, but we haven’t had a conversation about making that a permanent situation. Up until last week, I wasn’t even going to be living in Chicago, let alone with him.