In a Heartbeat by R.J. Nolan

Author:R.J. Nolan [Nolan, R.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, Police, lesbian, Hospital, doctors
Publisher: Ylva Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Sam set the wineglasses on the counter. Hope I don’t look like too big a jerk in her eyes after that confession. The thought that she had disappointed Riley bothered her more than she cared to admit. She grabbed them each a bottle of water and returned to the living room.

Sam handed Riley the water and then sat down on the opposite end of the couch. She pulled her knee up onto the couch and turned to face Riley more fully. “Well, that was the sorry saga of me being a big jerk. Will you tell me about Keith? Please.”

“Okay.” Riley took her time opening her water and then took several sips.

Maybe talking about him reminds her too much of the shooting? Sam was just about to tell her never mind, when Riley broke the silence.

“Against my better judgment, I let myself get talked into going to a Halloween party last year. That’s where I met Keith.” She snorted. “That should have sent up a huge red warning flag right there. Halloween parties are always a bad idea.”

Sam wanted to ask what was wrong with Halloween parties but didn’t want to interrupt Riley’s story.

“He asked me out, and I turned him down. That would’ve been the end of it, but I called him a month later and asked him to accompany me to a Christmas charity event in LA.” Riley scrubbed her hands over her face. “If I’d known how it would all turn out…”

“So you didn’t know you were gay then? This is something new?”

“No. I knew. I’ve known since medical school. It’s…” Riley rubbed her neck, “…complicated.”

She’s still in the closet? After all this time? Up until now, Sam had been impressed with Riley’s strength and her feisty manner. The revelation that Riley was hiding such an important part of who she was bothered her.

“Let me explain,” Riley said.

Sam gazed at Riley’s forlorn expression. Don’t judge. She has her reasons. Memories of Leslie filled Sam’s mind. Haven’t you learned your lesson? She forced the painful remembrances away. “Go ahead.”

“So much has changed in the last several months. I need to explain a few things first.” Riley took a deep breath as if preparing to jump into the deep end. “The one thing I remember most about my parents was how important family was to them. My dad was estranged from his family for many years for following his own dream, but he never gave up trying to reconcile with them. That’s why I was named Riley—after my father’s brother. I was ten when my Aunt Margaret and Uncle Rielly took me in. They didn’t have any children, and my aunt didn’t want any.” She remained silent for several moments. Her expression dimmed as if unpleasant memories gripped her.

And she never let you forget it, did she?

“But even after all the years of conflict with my dad, they still opened their home to me. I’ve done my best over the years to live up to their expectations and make them proud of me.

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