“I’m sorry ma’am, you won’t be able to see Mr. Young. It’s family only.” A nurse stood in front of me with a clipboard and a drowsy face. It looked like she’d been working all night.

“It’s fine, I’m his partner,” I argued.

She narrowed her eyes and spoke in an unempathetic tone. “Are you married?”

“Not exactly,” I said. “We’re undercover agent partners. Now please, let me through.”

“Really? You’re an undercover agent?” She scoffed, giving me an up-and-down. I could see where she was coming from. My red dress was smudged with sweat—and even some blood.

How could I explain what was going on to this woman in words that she would understand?

Someone said something to her on the walkie-talkie on her hip, and she turned her head. “You need me where? Okay.”

She put her hand on my arm. “Please excuse me, Miss. Your partner should be in surgery for another five hours. I suggest you get some rest and clean yourself up. Need to be clean in front of the patients, you know.”

With that, she turned and walked through the automatic double doors into the rest of the hospital. The doors closed abruptly in my face.

Frustrated, I walked over to the seats in the waiting room and fired off a text to Amanda. I shut my eyes.

* * *

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were a homeless person,” I heard Amanda’s voice and felt her hand on my shoulder. I opened my sleepy lids and looked down at my body, which was covered in sweat and dirt. I could see how she might get that impression.

“Long story,” I groaned.

“I’d love to hear it. Here, put this on. It’ll help you look a little less homeless at least.” She handed me a cardigan. It wasn’t really my style, but I decided now was not the time to worry about having a fashionable appearance. I took it and put it on.

“What time is it?” I asked groggily.

“It’s almost midnight.”

“Oh my gosh, Corbin is out of surgery!” I sat up with a sudden surge of adrenaline.

“Okay, stop,” she said, sitting down next to me. “You have some explaining to do. First, you go off the grid for two straight weeks. I know you said you were on vacation, but you didn’t return a single text or send me any ‘lol’s’ at the funny email links I sent you. What the hell? That’s not normal for you.”

I took a deep breath. Fuck it. The only good news I’d gotten if I was being honest was Marco’s death--which would probably be all over the news soon, anyway. “Can you keep a secret?”

“Are you really asking me if I can keep a secret? I’m a lawyer. And your best friend. I’m offended.”

I rubbed my face. “It’s just…it’s classified. But I’ll tell you. Remember how I was talking about Corbin and I going undercover together? Well we did. I was undercover as Corbin’s mistress.”

If Amanda’s jaw dropped any further, it would be on the floor.

“Corbin’s…mistress?”

“I love you Amanda, but I’m too tired to fill in all of the blanks. The long short of it is Corbin’s in surgery now and they don’t know if he’s going to make it.”

My heart dropped just thinking about Corbin not making it. The dam broke and I began to cry. Amanda hugged me.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” she said. “You…really care about Corbin now, don’t you. I thought he was just a one night stand?”

I forced a smile to combat my tears. I had no idea how to describe what there was between Corbin and I, even to my best friend.

“It’s okay,” she said, recognizing my discomfort. She wrapped me up in a tight, warm hug. “We don’t have to talk about it now.”

We were interrupted by the sound of the big automatic double doors in the waiting room opening. The same nurse from before walked out.

“Miss Napleton?” she said, looking at her clipboard.

“Yes?” I strode toward her eagerly.

“I have news about Corbin. Maybe you want to sit back down for this.”

“Okay...but is he going to make it?”

“We’re not sure.”

This was a low point. I had finally let myself go with a man—and he loved me back—but he was going to die.

It felt like the walls were caving in around me.