We took the apartment.

Yes, we. As in Gabe and I.

And yes, that apartment. The one that we saw together right before I confessed my feelings. The one that I really, really like.

I don’t remember much about what happened after we made a scene on the sidewalk. I floated on cloud nine for the rest of the day. Gabe took me back to his hotel room and we fell asleep in each other’s arms all through the night.

Tonight will be the last night we sleep at the hotel. After two weeks, the lack of space is starting to get to me. The room feels claustrophobic, and I hate having to call the front desk every time I need an extra packet of sugar.

But today, we’re getting the keys to the new apartment. Gabe’s lease starts today, and we’ll be moving in tomorrow. By nightfall, we should be trying to christen every room in the house.

Only Gabe’s name is on the lease, and only Gabe will be paying the rent. I insisted on paying half of it, but he said my money should go toward paying off my student loan.

Still, for all intents and purposes, it’s going to be our apartment. Our love nest.

I haven’t gone home to see Mom or Ray in days. The last time I dropped by, it was only to get some clothes and toiletries. I didn’t even get a chance to see anyone before I hopped back into a cab.

I feel bad about spending so little time with them, but it’s not like we used to be the kind of family that gathers around the dining table and has a lively conversation.

Mostly, we stuck to our own rooms. And I’ve always had a busy schedule, both as a medical student and as an intern, so I never got to see them much anyway.

Whatever. I’m twenty-four. I make good money. It’s only natural for me to move out. Why should I have to feel guilty about it?

I thumb through the yellow folder of documents organized by the patient’s surname. Dr. Crenshaw wants me to enter this data into the computer system.

It’s mundane, mind-numbing work. But someone’s got to do it. And that someone is apparently a medical school graduate who has racked up more than $100,000 in debt to get her education.

Sometimes it bugs me that for all the work I do in medical school, almost half of my workday consists of recording information. But I tell myself I didn’t get into medicine for the prestige, and even this admin work is part of helping people.

But lately, I’ve been so happy I haven’t really minded the work. Being in love is like wearing a pair of glasses that makes everything seem better. Sort of like those Instagram filter, but it works in real life and not just in digital pictures.

“How’s my favorite little sister doing?”

I jump from the shock, almost dropping the yellow folder in my hand onto the linoleum floor.

Ray grins as he leans against the counter, showing no remorse. He scans the area, his gaze resting on two young nurses who are grappling with some paperwork.

Oh, hell no. Ray’s not going to hit on those nurses and infiltrate my “work” box. He’ll stay where he is, in the “family” box.

Someday I’ll tell Gabe the truth, but it won’t be today. It won’t happen this way, with Ray making a big scene in my workplace, risking both my relationship and my career.

“What are you doing here?” I ask brusquely.

“What, I can’t see my own little sister?” Ray seems distracted. Even though he’s talking to me, his gaze has been flicking between me and something—or someone—behind me.

“You’ve never come here just to see me.”

“Well, you’ve also never disappeared for weeks until Mom gets so worried she nags me to come and find you. What is it, you finally found a boyfriend or something?”

I frown. “Mom did that?”

“You know how she is,” Ray shrugs.

“Where is she now?” I look over Ray’s shoulders down the hallway, expecting to see a brunette who’s secretly sixty, even though she looks forty-five.

“I didn’t take her here.” Ray’s tone seems to imply that I’m crazy for suggesting he’d take Mom to the hospital just to see me. “She’s at home. My friends are there too; we were watching a game. I went out for some beers at half-time and I happened to pass by the hospital on my way to the liquor store. ”

“Oh. Okay. As you can see, I’m fine.”

“Both Mom and I have been calling you. You should check your phone more often. You know how she gets when it comes to unanswered calls,” Ray says accusingly.

My heart grows heavy with guilt. Yes, I know. I know because I get that way too, ever since Sam ignored me and ended up doing what he did.

“I know,” I say. “My bad. I’m sorry. Please tell Mom I’m okay.”

“Okay.”

Ray’s no longer looking at me. His gaze is focused on one particular point behind me.

Has he found a girl he likes?

But his muscles are tense. It doesn’t look like he’s just casually checking out some chicks.

I turn around and feel the blood drain out of me.

It’s Gabe. He’s in the hallway, talking to a nurse. Luckily, he’s not walking this way right now.

But if he sees me, he’ll come here for sure. At the very least, he’ll nonchalantly brush his hand against my butt as he walks past.

I put my hand on Ray’s shoulder and turn him around to face the other way. “This hospital is like a maze. I’ll take you to the lobby so you don’t get lost.”

I start walking, expecting Ray to follow me, but he doesn’t budge. He remains in place, squinting at Gabe.

“Ray, come on,” I say. My mouth feels dry.

Gabe’s far enough for Ray to not recognize him right away. But if he just takes a few steps in the wrong direction, Ray will see who that tall doctor really is.

“Who’s that fuckface over there?” Sparks of anger light up Ray’s eyes.

Things are not looking good.

“That’s, uh, Dr. Dorian,” I say, saying a random name from Scrubs, my favorite medical TV show.

“That’s not…” Ray squints at Gabe once again and slowly twists to look at me. “I swear he looks like Sam’s friend, Gabe. You remember that guy?”

Of course. “That guy” had his cock buried inside me last night in the kitchen, and this morning in the bathroom.

But Ray can’t find out about him. He’s the last person who should know Gabe’s back in town.

I rest a hand on my hip, hoping to appear relaxed. Frowning, I say, “I vaguely remember someone like that, but it’s been a really long time, Ray. You probably don’t remember what he really looks like, because that’s Dr. John Dorian.”

“Are you sure?” Ray takes another look at Gabe.

Shit. This is exactly what I was afraid of.

Adrenaline pumps into my bloodstream, sending my heart rate up. I get restless.

I need to do something. Now.

“Yeah, of course I’m sure,” I say. “I see the guy every day. Come on, let’s go. You look like a creep, staring at some guy like that.”

“Jackie, I’m serious. That’s the guy. I’m sure.” Ray starts to take a step toward Gabe, his hands balled into fists.

“I know you’re sure, but that doesn’t mean you’re right.” I jump in front of Ray, blocking his path and his view. “Come on, Ray, please don’t make a scene here. I work here. Don’t embarrass me at my workplace.”

Ray studies me. “I’m not going to embarrass you. I’ll just walk up to him and ask him what his name is.”

I stop myself from rolling my eyes. Knowing Ray, he’d probably be rude and weird about it. Having dropped out of college and remained unemployed for years, Ray has no idea how to behave in a professional setting.

“No,” I say firmly. “I can’t have you risking my job just because you think an attending physician is someone else.”

“Are you seriously telling me that guy is not Gabe?” Ray asks incredulously.

“I told you. His name is John Dorian,” I say, thanking my lucky stars that Ray doesn’t watch Scrubs.

“I’ll talk to him.” Ray starts to walk away.

“Ray, please,” I say as I grab his wrist. “You know you have a talent for starting fights. The cops have arrested you so many times they groan when they get a call about a bar fight and see you there.”

“That’s true,” he says with more than just a hint of pride. “But I’m going to be real gentle.”

“Ray, look at me,” I say, hoping he’ll listen to me if he stops staring at Gabe.

My brother turns his attention to me. He seems impatient. Like a restless horse just before a race.

“The job market is horrible,” I say. “If I get fired from this job and get a bad reputation, I won’t be able to just find another one. You know that, right?”

Lines appear on Ray’s forehead. He’s listening, and he knows I’m making a good point.

“If I’m unemployed, how am I going to pay off my student loan? Are we going to sell the house?” I ask, leveling my gaze at him.

Despite our money problems, Mom and Ray always refuse to sell the house. They say they want to keep their memories of Sam alive.

Too bad they never paid much attention to him while he was around. If they had, maybe he’d still be here.

“You know Dad’s not going to help me pay my debts, right?” I ask. “It’s been a long time since any of us heard from him. He could fly to Thailand tomorrow and retire, and no lawyer would be able to make him pay Mom’s alimony. And then how are we going to pay our bills?”

“You’re right. I shouldn’t be rash,” Ray says.

Money talks. When all else fails, Ray and Mom will always listen to me if I bring it up. I try to reserve this tactic for when I’m cornered.

Neither one of them has a clue how we’re doing financially. Ever since Dad left, I’ve been the one to maintain our bank accounts and pay our bills.

Technically, I could tell them any money-related lie I want. But I don’t even have to do that, because we really have significantly less money than we used to.

Compared to a lot of people, we’re not hurting. But you wouldn’t know it if you listened to Mom and Ray’s complaints.

“I’ll show you the way out, okay?” I ask Ray in a soft voice. I don’t play the role of the concerned sister often because it reminds me of Sam, of how things should be between siblings, but I can still pull it off.

“Okay.” Ray finally turns around and lets me guide him through the hospital hallways.

We take the long way out. I actually have too much work to waste my time on this, but Ray needs to get as far away from Gabe as humanly possible, and I need to make sure that happens.

I breathe a soft sigh of relief when we reach the lobby.

Finally. Encounter thwarted. Disaster averted.

I did good.

Before Ray walks through the door, he says, “I wonder if he changed his name. I’ll have to look it up.”

My heart sinks.

I’ll have to tell Gabe the truth.

I’ll need to do that before Ray gets to him first.

Gabe deserves to hear it from me.