“Nope. I’d miss out on all the good shit if I taught you boys everything.”

“You’re right. I’d give my left nut not to have to deal with your ass sometimes. Thanks though for this.” I wrapped her in my arms, kissing the top of her head.

“Just let me know if you need reinforcements. I know Ma told you you’re not allowed to hit girls, but that rule doesn’t apply to me.” Her smile grew so large it almost touched her eyes. “That’s the bonus of not having a dick and being part of the pussy party.” She laughed, slapping me on the chest.

“You’re my go to chick for an ass beating, Izzy.” I smiled at her. She really could be adorable.

“Go get your shit straightened out. You have a fight to win and I may or may not have something very important bet on the outcome.”

My smiled faded. “You didn’t bet on my fight, did you? Please tell me you at least picked me to win.”

She nodded. “Fuck, yeah. Who else would I pick? You’re going to break that dude’s neck.”

“Only if I can get my mind in the game before that day. My life needs to even out so I can concentrate on one thing at a time.”

“Well, what the hell are you still standing here for? Get.” She shooed me.

“Yes, ma’am.” I saluted her as I walked away.

I reminded myself I had a mission as I sat in the hot car waiting for the air conditioning to kick in. I had a mission. I gave myself a pep talk, psyching myself up. “You can do this. You have to do this. ” I held my breath and hit the call button. My stomach flipped with each ring.

“Michael?” she asked in almost a whisper.

I heard her voice and I had to choke down the bile rising in my throat. “Hey, Tammy.” I almost convinced myself that the hello was sincere.

“Oh my god. I’m so happy to hear your voice, baby. I’ve been waiting for your call.”

I closed my eyes and gripped the steering wheel. “I’m sorry I’ve been a dick. Think you could forgive me?” I asked through gritted teeth.

“You know I love you, Michael. I could never stay mad at you.”

Her voice made my skin crawl. “How’s the baby?” I asked, rolling my eyes.

“Safe and sound. Growing bigger every day,” she replied in a cheery voice. Clearly she was had an entire jar of screws lose in her head.

“I was thinking,” I stopped and gave myself a moment to carefully form my next words. “I was wondering if we could go to the doctor so I can see the baby on the monitor, like an ultrasound. I told my mother and she said it’s the most amazing experience to see the baby in the womb.”

She gasped. “You told your mother?”

“I did. She’s so excited to finally have a grandbaby. I want to show her a picture of our baby. What do you think?” I held my breath. Please be crazy enough not to question my lie.

She sucked in a breath. “Okay, I know a doctor at the hospital that I can call, I guess. Maybe she can get us in,” she said with a shaky voice.

“Tell her it needs to be as soon as possible. I can’t wait any longer and it would make my mom really happy.”

“I’ll try and track her down at the hospital tonight. She may be there when I go into work.”

“Perfect.” I said feeling relieved. “Listen, I gotta run. I’m supposed to be at my brother’s. Text me when you have the details.”

“I will, Michael. I love you.” She drew out the words.

Cue the creepy music from the movie ‘Psycho’.

“Back at ya.” I tapped end, unable to spend another second on the phone listening to her and lying through my teeth.

She deserved the deception.

Chapter 21

MIA

I ignored Michael, his call and text messages, the anger inside me hadn’t waned since I found out about Tammy.

He was the first guy in a long time that I’d let into my life. We weren’t on the fast track down the aisle, but I spent more time with him in the last couple of weeks than I had with any other man in the last few years.

I didn’t drown my sorrows in ice cream and cry myself to sleep. I may have shed a tear or two after the shock wore off, but that’s all Michael Gallo had been worth. I had too much on my plate to walk around all day upset about the shitty end to our relationship.

I did my shifts at the hospital and volunteered more than usual at the clinic. I filled my free time with work and kept my mind off him.

I hadn’t been to the gym to work out since it all exploded in my face. I couldn’t see him; not yet, I didn’t have anything to say to him.

I stood on throbbing feet filling out my last chart, about a child that had arrived via life-flight, before I could head home. She drowned in the family pool and was found by her mother. The little girl had been revived to the point that she was breathing upon arriving in the ER. Brain damage was almost a certainty with the lack of oxygen for an extended period. Talking to the parents was bittersweet. They were happy that their baby had survived, but mortified about the possibility of complications and possibility they’d never have their little girl back.

Every day the hospital chipped out another piece of my heart. Between losing patients, talking with families, and a general feeling of helplessness – I felt broken.

The shell of the person I used to be before I started med school with big dreams and foolish hopes.

“Guess what?” a woman asked in a giddy tone, distracting me from the chart.

I ignored the voice, signing my name and flipped it closed. The outline of a person standing a little too close caught my attention, but I still I ignored her.

“Hey, I’m talking to you,” she said again, not moving.

Hell. I sighed before turning. “What?” I took in the sight of her – Tammy.

My blood turned ice cold as I stared at her smile. An overwhelming urge to claw her eyes out hit me, the fantasy in my mind bringing me a moment of joy.

“Michael and I are back together.” She smirked.

Well, isn’t he quick? She’s as big of an asshole as he is. He’s been texting me since the day I left him in the hall with her and they’re already back together.

“That’s great news. I’m very happy for you,” I gave her my best fake smile. “I’m kind of in a rush. My shift ended and I need to go.”

The smile on her face faded. “I wanted you to know since you were so supportive, but I know there was something going on between you two. When I found you in the hallway it was obvious.” She crossed her arms, taking a defensive stance.

“Nah, we’re just friends. You two are back together and you have a bundle of joy on the way. I’m truly happy for you both.” My cheeks hurt from the smile, still needing to make the bullshit happiness I pretended to feel be a little more believable.

She squinted at me, her mouth set in a firm line. “You slept with him didn’t you?”

I looked her in the eyes as I spoke very slowly. I wasn’t about to jump on the crazy train. “Michael and I are and were nothing. He’s yours.”

“Oh my god, you did. You’re a fucking whore. You’re the reason he broke up with me in the first place, aren’t you?” She bit her lip, gnawing on it, glaring at me.

I could almost see the wheels in her head spinning. Fucking great.

“I’m out. You can talk to Michael about me but I don’t have time for your bullshit, sweetie.” I know I sounded patronizing, but I couldn’t get in a fight with a pregnant woman.

“I’ll have a long conversation with him when we go to the doctor tomorrow for our first visit. He can’t wait to see his baby and show it to his mother.” Her phone rang, distracting her before she could continue.

I took the opportunity to get the hell away from her. “Good luck and congrats,” I said, walking away before she could catch up to me.

“Wait, wait!” she screamed only a few footsteps behind me with her heels clicking on the tile floor.

I stopped in my tracks, closing my eyes. “What?” I asked in a clipped tone.