Trivialized Pursuit by Mia Heintzelman

Author:Mia Heintzelman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance
ISBN: 9781959988311
Publisher: Tule Publishing Group, LLC
Published: 2023-05-04T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

MURPH

Q: What did Dwayne Johnson, who originally gave the smackdown as Flex Kavana, change his wrestling name to?

A: The Rock

I’m half listening as the recipient of the Women of Science Award beams with gratitude. She’s thanked her entire department, her staff, and a fellow ENT who nominated her based on her in-depth analysis and research. But then she turns toward the right of the hotel ballroom stage where there’s a man looking up at her endearingly with his hand covering his heart.

She’s petite with big dark brown curls and thin-rimmed glasses, barely visible above the podium, but her tears glint off the bright overhead lights.

“Last, I want to thank my kids and my amazing husband, who’s a hero in his own right. Thank you so much for supporting me while managing your own practice. Thank you for understanding when we’re at dinner and I’m stuck in my head, or we’ve had leftovers three nights in a row. When the laundry doesn’t get done right away. And by right away I mean until it turns into a mountain—”

Laughter rolls in waves over the audience, but all I can focus on is the way she’s staring at him. Like there isn’t another person in the room. He is her rock. She’s able to balance a home and a family without disappointing them because they support each other.

After an early flight and hotel check-in, I spent the better part of my day lost in my thoughts. I should have been eagerly listening during groundbreaking discussions of advances in the medical field, but I can’t stop thinking about last night. About Rox. How she wanted to be there for me—how she consoled me without judgment. Almost like she was my rock.

And then there was the kiss.

It was soft and tender, but I chased it with a hunger I didn’t expect. It left me blindsided by the way my throbbing body came to life as it never has. Sensory overload for my aching flesh as she weaved her fingers through my hair, sending heat curling down my spine. I was almost dizzy at the weight of her body pressed against mine, her legs straddling me, my pulse and heart racing.

It felt too good. Almost addicting to finally be able to touch her, have her look at me like I was worthy of every second of her attention. Like she couldn’t tear her eyes away. Like I’d stepped out of her romance novels…

My heart swelled at the idea, but I couldn’t risk this amazing feeling by going too fast, so I had to slow us down. Begrudgingly go against the static in my bloodstream and pull back.

Immediately, guilt tormented me as heat crept into her cheeks.

But now, watching and listening to this woman looking at her husband, it reminds me how Rox had looked at me last night before I broke the kiss and I want that look back. I want to deserve the many versions of love Mom talked about. It won’t be the way her parents or mine expressed their feelings, but it’ll be ours.

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