A Surprised Baby For Doctor Hottie

at that point. So I

but it didn't come close to match

ven cons

dra called out to me. "J

into the living room from the guest bedroom, which I'd converted into an office. Ke

don't

...and.

t her big grin as she slipped her phone int

u did not do what

eakdown? Because I'm fairly cer

ff-base that little ass

ss to Dr. McSexy." And I told hi

ling my feet in place. "I can't be

he fridge, and grabbed the bottle of white I'd open

ted to offer you some wine." But after what

Sauvign

k at the bottle, ignoring my words

abinet. I placed the glasses on the bar that separated the kitchen

e sun setting between the white-capped mountains in the distance stealing my breath every time. It made more sense to rent an entire space just for me and Kendra when we were both perfectly capable of w

xed on the shambles as I approached Kendra with

she took the wine. "Do

should

whatever problem in your life requires attention." And if

not co

er wine and gav

e it's a

f you s

ut you?" You're the one attempting to divert my attentio

lcony door. "Come on – I'm thinking th

hout saying anything, a

hich we are already planning for, and we are all caught up for the next few days – at

e as I realized she was correct – there was n

ight,"

the space heater, and the warm air encircled us, making me feel nice and toasty. We sat

he setting sun. "It has a way of making ev

was halfway below the Rockies, and the sky was a deep

hed in here and there, and the fir

ss of wine, and good compa

in why you gave Joey

eded to know wher

, my eyes flat, and my mou

, curling up into the blanket. "I be

's a little bit of

ecause I know you need some time of

n around and see nothing there, and you'll think to yourse

of making me laugh. "All right, maybe. But this isn't the way to go abo

nd you have a h

a long

ry from a long time ago. That is a subtle but significant disti

iage in the same sentenc

y the hatchet and move on." I mean,

wine down after a long sip. "Let's just say if you wer

re's the million-dollar qu

came out. I had absolutely no idea where to be

Had I made it too clear that something significant had occurred? I despised displaying my emoti

and squeezed it. "What transpi

Joey and me all those years ago. It would be excruciatingly painful, but perhaps getting it all out there

w good of a friend Kendra was. "It's ins

she said, giving me a look as if she wante

my stomach, hoping she'd

can't have a good time in Bora this weekend." Drop the dude and go play some blac

" It's Bora, not

l I've never

ust realized something. "Or, hey, I

idn't seem so bad to me. I shook

y goo

layful shove. "You were ser

't want to go, but you obviously

haking her head. "If you didn't wa

Do you remember the lady who kept bi

. "Gia, please tell me th

lf some time. "It's too complicated to go into. Just...

e. "Are you sure you're se

d." But if I change my mind, I sh

s if I was working some angle she needed to fig

ve been stuck here for far too long

d tell she was still trying to figure out who I wa

lanning to cancel this once-in-a

u I'd thin

gathering her belongings. "I'm not sure what happened between you

; I'm just...thin

t'll be a lot of fun, I promise. "See you later," she said

ut onto the balcony because I didn't know what else to do. As soo

is so stupid." It's only because

n I typed T-L-C into the browser's address bar and hit search. TLC

I pressed the play button. I was transported back

room in Metro Manila, my legs pulled up in

uation, and Joey Garcia has

rom my part-time job at Gap. My tiny attic bedroom is covered in posters of bands I like –

y tomato-red cheeks, and I

all thank

et it rip from my lungs. But I'm so hear

erved rage, I grab the remote for my stereo and crank up the v

brain. Joey Garcia is a freaking waterfall if the other guys at Laguna

it gets, whereas mine was as clumsy and awkward as I was in high school. Since sophomore year, I've been staring at him from

d out yet. So when Joey Garcia himself starts laying game on me at the firs

on't-know grin on his face. When Joey asked how I liked the Perez Tem

the between-tunes silence fell. Everyone turned to look at me, the girl who had insulte

he said confidently, unconcerned about the h

ll smirking. "What's

e got favorite songs, but how can someone be expect

'?" he cut me off, and p

id with a sm

ong to the band, and after a moment or two

for

as

Joey Garcia isn't just a handsome face; he's s

I keep looking over his shoulder, expectin

go. And stupid, stupid me, I thought

ng up with me, but he was getting married, and he was marrying Crystal freaking Montecillo herself, the g

crying uncontrollably, my body trembl

marriage wasn't

on of salt rubbed into the wound,

y house, laying it all out for me as if he wasn't abo

things had been a little tense between us, but as f

green '72 Jaguar convertible he loved and that I loved him driving me around in

my back. He was abandoning me for her. She wa

revelation

wn him out. What else coul

vowing never to let him – or any

feeling as if I'd gone back in time. Kendr

ter get g

not since that fateful night. And now he was ba

s. What had become of him and Crystal? Did they get divorced? There didn't appear to be any lov

re importantly, I was determined not to let this strange situation get the best of me. I'd confront Jo

he wasn't so damn attractive. Joey was e

arrior. I cou

simple