Rita came back to the table with a new pitcher of beer and filled everyone’s mug except Maggie’s. Andi glanced up at Rita, who was eyeing her, and immediately took the pitcher and filled Maggie’s mug.

  “Looks like you’ve got something of your own going on there.”

  “Only on her terms.” Andi shook her head. “She’s jealous.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Well, you are kinda hot.”

  “Oh my God. Stop.” Heat was rushing up her neck.

  “Lookie there. You don’t even know it.” Andi winked. “You want to get out of here? I suddenly feel like we’re in a fishbowl.”

  Maggie rolled the suggestion around in her head for a minute as she glanced around the table and caught the masses of suddenly averted eyes. “Sure,” she said, and stood. She and Andi were good on the friendship thing, but did she expect more?

  “Hey,” Rita said. “Where you going? It’s early, and you haven’t finished your beer.”

  “I’ve had enough for the night,” Andi said as she put her hand on the small of Maggie’s back and guided her in front of her. She put up her other hand, waved, and said, “See you guys next game.”

  Various people at the table said their good-byes, including Pam. Lynn said nothing. She only stared. All eyes were on them as they left. The fishbowl was getting smaller. Maggie hoped she wasn’t making a huge mistake.

  “That was awkward,” Maggie said as they crossed the parking lot to her car.

  “They’re just used to having things the way they’ve always been.” Andi opened the door for her and held it while she got in.

  “And you’ve always been with Rita?” Strange. Maggie hadn’t seen any romantic interaction between them to indicate they were in a relationship, except the subtle passive-aggressive move of not filling her mug with beer tonight.

  “On and off. She doesn’t want to commit, and that’s hard for me.” She flattened her lips. “Follow me,” Andi said before rounding the car and going to her truck.

  She put the car in reverse and backed out. Andi obviously wanted more with Rita, but the situation sounded just as frustrating as her own.

  Within a couple of minutes, they’d pulled into a parking lot of a nearby park.

  As Maggie opened the car door, Andi rushed over and grabbed it. Chivalry wasn’t as dead as everyone claimed, at least not in Andi Denison’s world.

  “There’s a nice spot out here by the pond where we can relax and watch the ducks.”

  Once they found a bench to sit on, they lingered in silence as the ducks swam slowly around the pond, back and forth. They mesmerized Maggie.

  “How long have you and Rita been on and off?”

  “A couple of years.”

  “Want to tell me about it?”

  Andi pulled her lip up to one side. “That’s my line.”

  “How about we tell each other?” Maggie went on to explain how she’d fallen in love with Lynn when she was still married to Beth and the complication of being best friends with Carrie. Andi seemed to understand much better and to get the connection Maggie felt with Lynn.

  The lights came on in the park, and Maggie glanced at her watch. She hadn’t realized they’d been talking for close to two hours. They both looked ahead, focusing on the lights illuminating the pathway back to the parking lot. Maggie slid into her car and fired the engine as she watched Andi cross behind her to her truck.

  The night hadn’t started out well, but her conversation with Andi had made it better. She wasn’t the only one in the world pining for something she couldn’t have, and for some reason, that eased her mind a bit. She just needed to relax and wait it out, but in the meantime the two of them could help each other. The idea of a pairing between Andi and Maggie seemed to bother both Lynn and Rita. She liked spending time with Andi, and if that became a catalyst to her happiness in any way, then all the better.

  * * *

  When Maggie had arrived at the hospital this morning, no one was more surprised than her when she received a page to report to Beth’s office. Their unexpected encounter the week before had been chilly at best.

  The assistant looked up from the note she was writing and raised her finger, signaling her to wait. She stood patiently outside the chief of surgery’s office while the assistant finished the phone call she was handling. Once she was done, she got up from her chair, rounded the desk, and opened the door. “Dr. Randall is here.”

  She heard Beth say, “Send her in.” And the assistant moved aside and motioned her in.

  “Dr. Randall. Come in and have a seat,” Beth said as she finished signing a document and sliding it into a manila file folder. “I’m sure you’re wondering why I’ve asked to see you.”

  Maggie nodded. “Actually, yes.”

  “I’ve lost a first-year in surgery and need to move you over for your first rotation.” Beth spoke matter-of-factly, as if Maggie didn’t have a choice, which she didn’t. Even though she knew why Beth was switching her, refusing to cooperate would be political suicide. Beth could end her time at Johns Hopkins immediately.

  “Dr. Monroe, may I ask why me? I mean, as you can probably see from my file, I’m not looking at surgery for my field of medicine.”

  Beth studied her for a moment. “I’ve been watching you and have, indeed, checked your records from Boston. You’re the top of your year, and I need that in surgery right now.” She relaxed into her chair. “Lynn speaks highly of you as well.”

  Had Lynn really been talking to Beth about her? Although she knew she could do it, she wasn’t expecting a surgery rotation right out of the gate, especially not when she’d already started another. Maggie slid her hands down her thighs, smoothing the cotton scrubs covering them. When her fingers reached her knees, she held them there. “When do I start?”

  After Maggie exited the elevator, she went straight to rounds. She’d barely made it to the floor before Lynn tracked her down.

  “You’re switching to surgery?”

  “Jesus, word travels fast here. I literally just left Beth’s office.”

  “Why would you switch? You told me you didn’t have an interest in surgery.”

  “It’s not like I had a choice. When the chief of surgery asks you to do something, you do it.”

  “Beth changed your rotation?”

  She nodded. “She said you speak highly of me.”

  Lynn opened her mouth and then closed it again. “I’ll take care of this.”

  She grabbed Lynn’s arm and pulled her into an on-call room. “No. You will not take care of this. You won’t do anything. I’m going to have to complete the surgery rotation at some time, so it might as well be now.”

  “She’s doing it because—”

  “Because she’s jealous, right? Wants to keep me busy and away from you?”

  Lynn nodded. “She saw us together and made an assumption.”

  “We can always make that assumption true.” She moved closer.

  “Maggie.” Lynn shook her head. “This is not the time for that.”

  She raised her eyebrows and smiled. “So there may be a time for that?”

  “No.”

  Maggie’s heart sank, and from the look on Lynn’s face she could see her reaction.

  “I mean, maybe. I don’t know.”

  Her stomach did a somersault, and her heart raced. It wasn’t a no. She suddenly had hope. “I’ll take that for now.” She ran her hand down Lynn’s arm before she spun around and bounced out of the on-call room. If she was switching services in the morning, she had some patients to hand off this afternoon.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Maggie slid the simple black scoop-neck, spaghetti-strap dress over her head and smoothed it with her palms. She turned and looked at the back, which had a reinforced cross-back with a cutout that would keep her boobs seated firmly in the front. It would be perfect for tonight—not too hot, not too cool, just long enough to cover her knees, and just a little bit sexy. She wasn’t trying to attract anyone, but she still liked to look good when she went out. She sat on the edge of the bed and slipped on her black open-toed, strappy heels. They’d probably come off halfway through the night, but they set off the dress perfectly. She draped her bolero sweater over her arm and picked up her clutch as she left her apartment.

  During their long talk at the park, Maggie and Andi decided to help each other. Rita had declined to go to Andi’s cousin’s wedding with her, so Maggie had agreed to be her date for the event. She knew what it was like to go to weddings alone, to be the person people flocked to only because they thought you were unhappy and lonely. She was happy to help Andi. She’d have a nice dinner, a few drinks, and some great conversation with Andi. Life could be worse.

  The wedding wasn’t until seven thirty, but since Maggie’s apartment was in the opposite direction, she was supposed to meet Andi at the ballpark at six. Time was tight, so Maggie would then take Andi to her place to shower and get dressed. Andi had messaged Maggie and told her she’d just come off her shift at the firehouse and caught a ride to the game with Rita.

  She pulled into a spot at the end of the row closest to the field and got out of her car. Andi must have been watching for her because she sprinted from left field to the fence as she walked closer.

  “We’re almost done. The inning’s almost over, they have one at-bat left, and I think The Heater’s going to put her to bed quickly,” Andi said with a grin.

  She grinned and raised an eyebrow. “That almost sounds fun, and a little dangerous.”

  Andi laughed as her gaze floated down Maggie’s body. “You look spectacular, by the way.” She ran back to the field, and at that moment she heard the commotion at home plate. She turned to see that Lynn had thrown off her catcher’s mask and was scrambling for the ball and then launched it to first base.

  “Maybe you should wait in the car,” Andi shouted. “Apparently, you’re distracting the catcher.”

  Maggie almost couldn’t contain her excitement as she caught Lynn looking her way. She waved before she spun and walked back to the car. She missed the catch because of me. That was definitely a good sign. Her night had officially been made. No matter what else happened tonight, it would be insignificant compared to that information.

  She watched from the driver’s seat as Andi gathered her softball gear and came out of the dugout. Suddenly Rita was right behind Andi, grabbing her by the arm. The conversation didn’t look friendly, and when Andi broke away, Rita watched her walk the full way to Maggie’s car. She popped the trunk so Andi could stow her bag before she slid into the passenger side of the Civic.

  “You okay?”

  “Yep,” Andi said with certainty.

  “She’s pissed you’re taking me to the wedding.”

  “She has no say in who I take. I asked her first.” Andi took in a deep breath and glanced over at her. “But hey. You and that dress got some attention.”

  Maggie chuckled as she backed out of the parking spot. “Looks like it.”

  “Good move.”

  “If you haven’t noticed, I know how to play this game, and I’m pretty competitive.” She pulled to the exit. “You’re my navigator, so which way?”

  Andi’s apartment was only about a fifteen-minute drive from the field. She’d given Maggie the game play-by-play as they drove and explained that The Heater threw fast and hard, and Lynn was the only catcher who could handle her pitches. She’d also said that Lynn had asked where she was, and it had surprised Maggie that Lynn had let anyone know she was curious about her. Maggie had thought she’d wanted to keep their interactions to a minimum. She’d see how long that lasted. Her resolve seemed to be weakening.

  * * *

  The wedding venue was located on Baltimore Harbor, right on the water. The short ceremony had been held on the harbor’s outside patio on a glorious day. The sun was shining and the humidity at a minimum, thankfully. After they stepped inside for the reception, they stopped in the doorway, waiting in line to enter. From where they stood, Maggie could see windows spanning one side of the room. The venue had been beautifully decorated with elegant cream linen tablecloths on each of the twenty tables that surrounded the wooden dance floor centering the room. Eight padded, gold, wicker-back dining chairs, which seemed to be just the right amount for the size, encompassed each round table. A lit pillar candle surrounded by cream-colored roses and leafy greenery centered each tablecloth. Maggie took a deep breath. She wanted something similar someday—with not nearly as many guests, but a venue just as beautiful.

  When they finally reached the head of the line, a woman standing by a table located by the door asked for their names and told them their table number. Andi rushed directly to theirs to assess the name tags lying in front of every place setting. She immediately picked up theirs, went to a table by the window, and traded two of the name tags with theirs.

  “I like these seats better,” Andi said as she pulled out the chair for Maggie and then rushed back to the other table and dropped the tags in front of the place settings.

  Maggie couldn’t help the grin that came across her face as she watched Andi walk to the bar to get their drinks. Dressed in a snug-fitting black suit with a double-breasted jacket, white shirt, and leather-and-turquoise bolo tie around the collar, she was heart-stoppingly handsome. She oozed confidence and definitely knew what she wanted, at least around her family. A glass of white wine magically appeared from over Maggie’s head and landed in front of her before Andi slid into the chair next to her.

  Andi pointed to the wineglass in front of Maggie. “I hope that’s okay. I thought I remembered you told me you liked pinot grigio.”

  “Thank you. I do.” She took a sip and then set her glass on the table. “You’re sneaky.”

  “If I have to be here, I’m going to at least enjoy the view.” Andi grinned and leaned closer. “I mean the view outside as well as the view sitting beside me.”

  “Wow. You really are a charmer.” She sincerely hoped Andi was just flirting harmlessly, because she wasn’t up to giving her the friends spiel again.

  “That’s no lie. You’re absolutely beautiful tonight.” Andi smiled and then veered her attention to the center of the room. “My cousin put us at the table with all her single friends.” She took a sip of the amber liquid in her highball glass. “She’s always trying to set me up.”

  “I take it you don’t like that?”

  Andi shook her head. “Not at family events. These are sacred times when you shouldn’t have to be on display.”

  “Gotcha.” She was glad Andi didn’t think she had to put on a show for her. Maggie liked that Andi seemed to be a genuine, caring person, and Maggie found her interesting to talk to about anything and everything. “So, who did you stick at the singles table?”

  “Aunt Sylvia and Uncle George. She’s the matchmaker of the family. I can’t speak for George or the singles, but Sylvia will have a great time there.”

  Maggie laughed. “I’m impressed. You’ve thought this out carefully.”

  “Always.” Andi lifted her glass in cheers, and Maggie clinked her wineglass against it.

  After dinner, Maggie stared out onto the harbor as the sunset glistened off the water. Andi had gone to get them dessert, but Maggie was full. The broiled lobster had been delicious, so much so that she’d eaten the whole tail plus the creamed potatoes and asparagus that had accompanied it. Even though her full stomach was making her regret eating it all, she would forgive herself the indulgence this time, since she rarely got to experience that kind of meal.

  “We have three choices of cake. Can you believe that?” Andi asked as she took multiple plates with slices of Bavarian-cream-filled yellow, chocolate mocha, and red velvet cakes from the tray she held and set them on the table in front of everyone. “I got several of each.” She’d brought enough for everyone at the table, another sign that she was a great catch, if only Maggie were fishing right now.

  She’d been watching the other couples at the table, made up of Andi’s older cousins and aunts and uncles, interact all night. They all seemed to be very attentive to each other and genuinely happy to be together, something Maggie had dreamed of having with Lynn but would probably never happen. Her life would go on, but she couldn’t conceive of having that kind of bond with anyone other than Lynn right now.

  “What’s up with you?” Andi’s voice broke through her thoughts. “You look like you’re thinking about something serious.” She raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me it’s about work.”

  “No. Not at all. Just love.” She sighed. “And how ridiculously complicated it is.” She took a gulp of water and set it next to her almost-full glass of wine. She didn’t dare drink any more wine for fear that Andi would fill her glass again. She was an excellent date, but Maggie had abandoned the wine after her second glass since Andi was on her fourth glass of whiskey and seemed to be having a great time.

  “I hear that.” She drank the remaining whiskey in her glass. “I’ve never asked anything of Rita other than to be exclusive, and she won’t. It’s not like I’m trying to change her life.” She rubbed her face. “I just love her so much. I wish she could see that.”

  “I’m sure she does, and that’s probably what scares her.”

  “I know. It’s hard for me to detach and just be one of her girls. I want to be the only girl in her life.”

  “Seems to me like you’ve done a good job of backing off.” Maggie smiled slightly. “I wouldn’t be here with you tonight if you hadn’t.”

  “It’s not like you have any romantic interest in me,” Andi said, moving her head closer.

  Maggie met her halfway and leaned forehead to forehead with her. “If circumstances were different, I definitely would. You’re such a great person. Just tonight, I’ve seen so much more of how special you are. I’m sorry Rita isn’t here to see it too.”