Fragile

Chapter 9 - Run In

Double Update because of my oopsie yesterday!

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The bar was buzzing with life, the kind of warmth and energy that settled into my skin after a long day. Laughter echoed around us, glasses clinked together, and music hummed softly in the background—not too loud, just enough to fill the spaces between conversations. I sat at a high-top table with a few of my coworkers, my shoulders finally relaxing as I sipped my drink, letting the exhaustion of the day slip away.

"Okay, okay," Michelle said, leaning forward dramatically. "Worst patient of the day. Go."

Groans erupted around the table as everyone jumped in, voices overlapping with stories of entitled families, ridiculous requests, and the general chaos of working in a hospital.

"Oh, easy," Eric, one of the pediatric nurses, said. "I had a grown man—a fully capable adult—who made his wife hold his juice box while he got a flu shot."

I snorted into my drink. "No way."

"Swear on my life," Eric said, shaking his head. "And when I told him it would only take a second, he goes, 'I have a low pain tolerance.'"

Michelle burst out laughing. "A flu shot? Jesus."

"I respect the honesty," I said, smirking. "But also... no, I don't."

The table erupted in laughter, the kind that settled deep in my chest, genuine and light. It felt good to be here, to be part of this moment, to feel like I was allowed to just enjoy myself.

"So, Evelyn," Michelle said, wiggling her eyebrows. "You've been in England for what, a few weeks now?"

I nodded, taking another sip of my drink. "Yeah, about a month."

"And?" she pressed, her smirk growing. "Any cute British men caught your eye?"

I rolled my eyes, leaning back in my chair. "I have a kid, Michelle."

She waved that off. "So? Moms can date. Moms can have fun."

Eric smirked. "She's right. Have you had fun?"

I hesitated for half a second too long.

Michelle's eyes narrowed immediately. "Wait. Wait." She sat up straighter, pointing a finger at me. "You have."

I groaned, covering my face. "I hate you."

"Who is he?" she demanded.

Eric smirked, sipping his drink. "Or she?"

I froze for a fraction of a second, and of course Michelle caught it.

"Oh my God," she gasped, smacking my arm. "It is a girl! You've been holding out on us!"

I shook my head, fighting the stupid smile tugging at my lips. "It's complicated."

"Ooooh," Eric said, grinning. "Complicated makes it juicy."

Michelle leaned in dramatically. "Tell me everything."

I sighed, setting my drink down.

And maybe, just maybe, I would.

I sighed, swirling the last bit of my drink in my glass as Michelle and Eric waited, their eyes practically gleaming with anticipation.

"It's not juicy," I said, shaking my head.

Michelle scoffed. "Lies. If it wasn't juicy, you wouldn't be acting all weird about it."

Eric smirked. "So? Spill."