The Blush Factor by Deborah Bladon

Chapter Five

Faith

Dear Diary,

I’m in the market for a new best friend.

Guess who showed up in the lobby of my building tonight with roses in one hand and a box of condoms in the other?

Gwynn gave Rich my address and told him to make a house call. She thinks he’s in medical school. He confessed to me that he dropped out because he couldn’t cut it.

I can’t judge him for that, but I can judge him for thinking that I’d be willing to jump into bed with him without so much as a conversation.

The only good part of the evening was when Dr. Hawthorne came home just as Rich was leaving with the box of unopened condoms still in his hand.

Not that it mattered.

Dr. H didn’t even notice us.

I noticed him. How could I not? He was dressed to perfection in a black T-shirt and dark jeans.

I swear I forgot my name for a second when I was staring at him.

-F.U.

I slamthe cover to my diary shut and toss it on the bed next to me.

I thought when I walked out of the coffee shop this morning that I’d never see Rich Rochester again.

Seething, I pick up my phone, intending to give Gwynn a piece of my mind. She once asked me if she’s my best friend by default because she was the first person I met during my very first class at NYU.

I’ve always told her that’s a silly assumption, but I’m starting to wonder if she’s right.

We’re very different people, and until now, I thought that was a good thing. Handing my address to her cousin crossed a line though, and, I have to make that clear to her.

It’s not that I don’t trust Gwynn’s judgment, but I’ve learned the hard way that people don’t always show their true selves to those around them.

Rich is lying to his family about being in medical school. Maybe Gwynn shouldn’t trust him as much as she does.

I stare at my phone’s screen, debating what I want to say to my best friend when a text message pops up.

Sadie: Hey, Faith! How are you? How’s school?

An instant smile spreads over my lips.

Dr. Sadie Reynolds was the attending physician when I went into the emergency room one night a few months ago with a high fever.

She was thorough as she worked with me to determine what was causing the spike in my temperature.

It turned out I had an ear infection.

She prescribed antibiotics, and after listening to me talk about how I was studying pre-med, she invited me to have lunch with her.

I went, and we formed a fast friendship.

She’s several years older than me and eager to offer advice when I need it. She’s intuitive that way. She always seems to know when I need a boost of positivity in my life.

I type back a response.

Faith: I’m good. School is school. You know all about that.

After I press send, her reply is almost instant.

Sadie: I’ll never forget my pre-med days. I thought we could meet up for an early dinner at Axel NY next Monday if you can spare the time. They’re previewing a few new menu items. Are you interested in sampling them?

Seeing as how her husband, Hunter, owns the restaurant and it’s one of the best in Manhattan, I don’t have to give it a second thought.

I can always make time for free food.

Faith: I’m in. What time should I meet you there?

Sadie: Let’s make it at 8. I want to cook dinner for the kids before I head out.

Sadie is a devoted mom. I met her kids once when she brought them to a diner where we all had lunch together. I haven’t hung out with many kids, but I enjoyed my time with them.

I quickly respond.

Faith: I’ll be there. I’m looking forward to it.

Sadie: Me too.

Smiling, I set my phone back down and snuggle under the covers of my bed. Today may have started on a sour note, but it’s ending the right way.

I get to see Sadie next week, and more importantly, I caught a glimpse of Dr. Hawthorne tonight.

Hopefully, that’s all the fuel I need to have a dream about him.

* * *

“Stingy Stein hates me.”Gwynn flashes her phone screen toward me, but before I can fathom what I’m seeing, it’s facing her again. “I swear she hates me, Faith.”

I glance down at my phone to see the grade I received on our latest assignment. It’s stellar and a testament to the time I put into it.

“She doesn’t hate you,” I insist. “Molecular biology is hard.”

For most people, I should add, but I don’t.

I love the class, so acing the assignment was easy for me.

“Says the girl who never fails at anything.” Gwynn stomps her foot like a petulant child. “I could use a drink. Interested in joining me?”

I shake my head. “I’m still mad at you, so the answer to that is no.”

She sticks her tongue out. “Maybe I was wrong to send my cousin to your apartment without a warning, but you need to have some fun, Faith. I was only looking out for your best interests.”

I had every intention of calling her out today for what happened with Rich last night, but I held my temper. I calmly told her that it made me uncomfortable when I walked into my building to find Rich waiting for me and that she didn’t have my permission to give my address or phone number to anyone in the future.

I could tell my words stung, but we hugged it out, and she treated me to another cheat meal after our last class of the day.

This time it was spaghetti at Calvetti’s, our favorite Italian restaurant.

“I know.” I pat her forearm. “I’m going home. I need to stop and buy some groceries, and then it’s study time.”

Her gaze drops to her phone screen again. “It’s barely eight, Faith. One drink won’t take long.”

“Another time, okay?”

“I’m going to hold you to that.” She glances to the left and the right at the approaching traffic. “We can share a taxi if you want. There’s a bar a few blocks from your place that serves incredible martinis, and hopefully, a single man looking for a new friend will serve himself up to me.”

Laughing, I wrap an arm around her shoulder. “Should I wish you luck?”

“Wish me a good fuck,” she quips. “I’m in desperate need of one.”