The Exception by Lauren H. Mae

Twelve

Sonya rounded the corner to the pharmacy on Monday morning and glanced over her shoulder to see Trav straggling behind her. He’d been a little slow and a lot less talkative all morning, and while that second part had been a blessing, the first part was unacceptable.

“What’s wrong with you today?” she asked when he finally reached her.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, squeezing his eyes shut. “I just have a headache,” he mumbled.

“I can get you some orange juice. I mean, I have aspirin, but the orange juice works just as well.”

He sighed but there was no smart-ass retort following it.

“If you can’t function at work after a night running the streets, it may be time to stop running the streets.”

“First of all, if you’re using phrases like ‘running the streets,’ you may need to stop picking up extra shifts in geriatrics.”

Her lips twitched with a smile but she fought it. She’d definitely spent a little too much time with her mom and aunties over the weekend and there was no way she was going to let him know that she was actually beginning to enjoy trading barbs with him. He’d worked his way up a few notches ever since his dad’s visit, but he still had a long way to go before he was in her good graces.

“Second,” he continued, “I was up all night studying. I have a test tonight and I needed to cram.”

She softened at that admission because she wasn’t too far removed from the days of interning all day and cramming for exams all night.

“Well, we actually do have aspirin if you need it. One of the perks of being in a hospital. And you need to stay hydrated.”

He smiled weakly and nodded his appreciation. “I’ll do that. Thanks.”

She watched him ask the pharmacist for aspirin from the overflow supply before walking over to the water fountain. She couldn’t stop her eyes from tracing across his broad shoulders, and down his back when he bent to drink. How often did he work out to stay in military shape? What workouts did he prefer? Being a bit of a gym rat herself, those questions intrigued her.

An image of him shirtless and sweaty, sparring with a punching bag drifted through her mind.

Damn Dani. This was clearly her fault.

Thank God someone called her name before she could get too lost in that inappropriate daydream.

She turned around and smiled when she saw Quinn Jackson walking toward her. The tall doctor with the pixie cut was one of the first people she’d met when she started working at the hospital. They’d both been brand new and they’d bonded over terrible coffee and twelve-hour shifts. Their paths hadn’t crossed very much ever since Quinn had transferred to pediatrics, but Sonya was always glad to see her.

“It’s been a while, Dr. Jackson. It’s good to see you,” she greeted just as Trav rejoined her.

“You too,” Quinn replied, her dark eyes darting over to Trav. “Who is this?”

“Dr. Jackson, this is our intern paramedic, Ben Travis.”

Quinn nodded. “Nice to meet you. I hope you’re soaking up as much as you can from this one. She’s a stickler, but the absolute best.”

Trav grinned and slapped Sonya on the back. “Fourteen years in the army and she’s definitely the best drill sergeant I’ve ever had.”

Sonya frowned as Quinn performed a visual inspection of Trav. He already had half the nurses on the ward angling for his attention. He didn’t need his ego stroked any more than it already was. She’d gotten more comfortable with admitting that he was hot, but the way these women were acting, you’d think he was the last man on earth.

Quinn smiled. “You’re cute. If it wasn’t for Alex, I’d offer to be your preceptor.”

At least Quinn remembered that she already had a man; a really good one who literally worshipped the ground she walked on.

Trav winked at Quinn and shook his head. “I’m flattered, but Nurse Pope wouldn’t dream of letting me go.”

Quinn giggled, and Sonya shot Trav a glare but it didn’t wipe that grin away. If anything, it made it go even wider, putting his dimples on full display. Sometimes she really wanted to punch him right in his handsome face, but that would probably be frowned upon with her being his preceptor and all.

“So, I have news…” Quinn said, grabbing Sonya’s hands and literally pulling her back into the conversation.

Sonya looked into her friend’s eyes and her heart dropped. The soft look, the perma-smile, the barely contained squeal… it could only mean one thing.

No. Not this. Not today.

“Alex proposed!” Quinn announced with an excited little bounce.

“Congrats,” Trav said, but Sonya wasn’t quite ready to celebrate the news. Of course she was happy for Quinn and Alex. They were adorable and good people too. But it was just too soon. Now she had to try to muster what was left of her enthusiasm for weddings to demonstrate an appropriate reaction to Dr. Jackson’s engagement.

“I’m so happy for you,” she said, and if her response was a little low-key, Quinn didn’t notice.

“Now I understand why he asked so many questions about what I liked about your ring at your engagement party,” she said.

Quinn held her hand up to show off her emerald cut diamond ring that seemed to reflect every bit of light in the hallway, making it shimmer like it had its own spotlight. The ring wasn’t a duplicate of the one she’d given back to Marcus in any way, but it reminded her of a time when she’d been like Quinn—in love and hopeful for a future that ended up not being real.

“It’s… beautiful. He did good,” she whispered.

“Yeah, he did,” Quinn said in a mushy voice. “So how was your trip? It must be tough having a pilot fiancé who whisks you away on romantic vacations all the time.”

She’d been dreading this moment. Telling one person at the hospital about the breakup was the same as telling everyone about it, and being on the subject of the hospital gossip wasn’t on her to-do list.

But maybe it was time to get it over with. The reception celebrating the opening of the new wing was in a few weeks. hen the chair next to hers remained empty, people were going to put two and two together and come up with four, so might as well get it over with before she was the talk of the party.

She straightened her shoulders and said, “Marcus and I aren’t together anymore.”

The smile vanished from Quinn’s face, and Sonya felt Trav’s wide-eyed stare burning her cheek. She’d have to deal with that later. Right now, it was taking all she had just to keep her facade from crumbling.

“Oh… I—I’m sorry,” Quinn stuttered.

Her eyes had taken on the look that Sonya hated. It was a look filled with questions she didn’t want to answer and pity she didn’t need. No matter what anyone else thought, she was fine. She’d avoided a marriage that probably wouldn’t have lasted. She was more than fine, she was thankful.

She’d never been good at lying, even to herself. Still, she forced her lips into a thin smile and summoned every bit of confidence she had to inject into her tone.

“It’s fine. It was a mutual decision,” she explained.

From her furrowed brow, that explanation only seemed to confuse Quinn more. But Sonya wanted to set the narrative before people started making up their own.

“Maybe we can get drinks after work one day so you can tell me all about it?” Quinn suggested.

Sonya nodded and Quinn was on her way a second later with promises to text her for details. She lingered for a few seconds rubbing the place where her ring had been, until she remembered that Trav was there.

Get it together, girl.

She forced herself to stand a little bit taller, ignoring the questions she saw in Trav’s eyes.

“Now that you’re hydrated and medicated, I need you to go pick up the supply order from the dispensary.”

“I thought we were—”

“Plans change,” she snapped without meaning to. She’d have to apologize for that later. “I’ll meet you in Frank’s room when you’re done, okay?”

She didn’t give him a chance to respond. She needed to regroup and prep for being the talk of the hospital.