I parked myself at the bar and ordered a margarita while I waited for the rest of the girls to join me. They started trickling in at a couple minutes after six. Kate and Leanne, some of the other girls from the recovery room and fifth floor. Kate was all smiles.

“What’s up with you?” I asked Kate. This was the happiest I had seen her in a while.

“Oh nothing.” She batted her eyelashes and looked away.

“Oh please,” I said, holding my hand up to wave the bartender over.

“Just tell her,” Leanne chimed in. “Lili isn’t that fragile.”

“CJ told me he loved me today,” she divulged. Her smile reached her ears. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. CJ sounded like a nightmare most of the time. I’d never wish for a relationship like theirs, but I wanted to smile that big again. I wanted my happiness back.

“That’s great, Kate.” I totally fake smiled. “So when are we ever going to meet the mystery man?”

“I know. I’m so embarrassed he doesn’t want our relationship exposed because we met at the hospital. Doesn’t make sense. Anyway, I told him my friends keep asking.” She shrugged and sipped her margarita. I didn’t know what to say. My BFF had impeccable timing.

“What’s going on, chicas?” Sierra strolled up to the bar in her three-inch platforms and an adorable tight black tube dress.

“Damn girl, you rock that bump,” Leanne exclaimed.

“Sierra, you look amazing.” Kate reached out to rub her belly.

“Figured since my fat ass can’t drink or dance for fear of peeing myself, might as well look cute. Nobody told me you needed Depends when laughing, coughing or bouncing of any kind, for that matter. Damn, this girl is cramping my style.”

We all chuckled. Sierra was seriously a piece of work sometimes; well, most of the time.

“Well, mission accomplished, Asspuck, you look awesome. Here.” I handed Sierra her wine glass filled with seltzer.

“So you guys drink up. I need to watch someone have fun. I’ll bring everyone home later.” We clinked our glasses and sipped.

“Well, well. What do we have here?”

“Jack, what are you doing here?” Leanne’s voice raised two octaves as Jack sauntered up to the bar all Rico Suave. He snaked his arms around her waist and ground his hips into her backside. “Jack,” Leanne teased. She definitely wasn’t complaining. Damn, I could tell this was going to be a long night of constant envy.

“Aren’t you two smoking hot.” Sierra didn’t waste a minute.

Leanne blushed and snuggled into Jack’s neck.

“Grab a margarita, Jack.” I motioned to the pitcher.

“Thanks, Lili. Guy and Sam should be right behind me. We weren’t missin’ girls’ night out.” He released Leanne and filled his glass. He motioned for another pitcher. I hadn’t seen Guy since our elevator exchange. I had sudden nervous stomach. He thought I was with Chase then, he obviously knew I wasn’t now.

“Dude, Jack, how’d you get so lucky to surround yourself with the hottest girls in Philly?” It wasn’t surprising how quickly Guy weaseled his way into the middle of our circle. He was such a flirt; he turned every female head in the general vicinity. “Hey doll, where’ve you been all week?”

“Oh just working, keeping busy.” I still sipped from my first margarita. Just wasn’t going down as quickly as I hoped. The familiar tight knot and constant burn in my chest wasn’t mixing well with alcohol. Shocker. Guy grabbed a glass, filled it to the brim and went bottoms up within minutes.

“Man, I needed that. Long fucking week.” He leaned against the bar crossing his legs at his ankles. “Shit, and it’s only Thursday. One more day dealing with Colton and his fucking running battle wounds.”

I nearly spit out my drink as my lungs ceased. I slid my hand between my crossed legs and squeezed my thigh so hard I definitely left a mark. I felt Sierra’s eyeballs boring a hole into the side of my face. There was no way I could make eye contact.

“I guess I really shouldn’t complain. He’s been a total dickhead, but I’ve gotten to do a shitload of operating.”

I was waiting for my lungs to start working while Guy pounded a second margarita.

“Hey, excuse us, Guy.” Sierra stepped right in, not letting that conversation go on for a second longer. “I need to steal the girls for a little pregnancy girl talk, we’ll catch up with you in a bit.” Sierra gave him her sweetest smile.

My eyes spoke novels—thank you.

“Jack just went to the end of the bar, some type of sporting event is on.” She motioned to the very large flat screen hanging at the other end of the bar.

“Gotta hang with my dudes … check out the game. See ya in awhile.”

I slumped in my chair and picked up my margarita.

“What’s wrong with you, Asspuck, still nursing your first margarita?”

“Shut it, Sier—I’m fine.” Now my eyes turned devilish, screaming leave-me-alone.

“Anyway, chicas, I had an emergency visit with the OB today.”

I perked up. “And why is this the first time I am hearing of this? Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, we’re good, nothing serious.” She waved me off. “I didn’t want to interrupt you at work with my woes of pregnancy—I believe those were your exact words.”

I glared at her. Bitch.

“Because the last time you called me it was the ass crack of dawn, and you were complaining about a freaking hemorrhoid that Dodd found,” I responded defensively even though I knew she was teasing me. The girls erupted into laughter. Sierra was the loudest.

“That was fucking hilarious. Come on, Lil, you know it was.”

Leanne was laughing so hard a tear trickled down her cheek. Kate was clutching her sides. “Just wait, you bitches. You’ll have a baboon ass too.”

“Stop, Sierra, you’re killing us.” Kate giggled.

“If it wasn’t serious, what the hell had you in a panic?” I asked.

“I woke up out of a dead sleep last night with this crazy itchy skin. I seriously thought I was going to scratch a fucking hole in my stomach. My belly was covered in these red bumps. I freaked out and woke Dodd up. I made him Google it at three in the morning. I was clawing the shit out of my skin. I must have looked like a fucking cat rubbing my body against anything firm enough to hold my weight.”

I couldn’t help snickering. “So what the hell was it?”

“Something called PUPPS. I guess a puppy analogy would have been more appropriate.” We all shook our heads in sync and laughed. Sierra knew how to make even the worst situations funny. “Anyway, it’s some crazy ass skin condition in pregnancy that only 1% of the pregnant population gets. Of course I have to be the fucking 1%. Just my damn luck. I’ve been slathering this damn cream on it all day, and thank god it’s helping. Shit, just thinking about it makes me squirm. I’ll be right back I gotta re-lather.”

“She’s hilarious, Lil,” Kate said.

I nodded in agreement but was distracted by Guy’s fast approach.

“Doll,” he slurred. Oh shit, he was drunk. “Come on, let’s dance. You owe me.” He grabbed my hand, tugging me from my chair.

“Guy, you’re drunk.”

“What? So. I just wanna dance.”

We weaved our way through sticky bodies to the center of the dance floor. Guy wrapped his arms around my waist and held me close. My heart rate shot up in the oh crap sort of way. Damn, I should have made an excuse. The way his warm breath bathed my neck sent a shiver down my spine. This was dangerously close to going over the friendship line. And his dancing ability was not lost on me. He was good. Too good. His body rhythmically swayed and moved with the beat perfectly, coaxing me with him.

“You smell so good, Lil.” He nuzzled his face in my neck.

“Guy,” I warned, tightening my body and backing away slightly.

“Oh doll, just dance with me.” He languidly dragged his hands up my body, caught up in the moment. Or that was what I hoped. Catching me off guard, his lips brushed against mine. I blinked frantically and moved my face. Guy ignored my flinch, possessively sliding his hand around the base of my neck. His lips attacked mine in a deep, hungry kiss. I softened for just a moment enjoying his warmth, only to jerk back with my head spinning. Deprived of some much-needed air, I pushed against his chest trying to gain my space. What the hell?

“Shit, Lil, I’m sorry. I just thought ... fuck.” He bowed his head and looked away.

A pang of guilt washed through me. If I had opened my damn eyes I would have seen this coming from a mile away. His flirting, our banter, his need to somehow touch me in any situation. Damn.

“Guy, no, I’m sorry if I was leading you on ... it’s just ... I thought we were just friends.” I turned away. “I’m just gonna head back to the bar.”

“Yeah, yeah, okay,” he stuttered. Obviously embarrassed, he shook his head, muttering several more expletives under his breath. I decided long ago that I would never settle for anything less than butterflies, and I learned tonight they were only reserved for Chase.

Completely flustered, I weaved my way through the mass of people bumping and grinding and grabbed my bag. I mumbled to the girls that I left my phone in my car and I would be back. Pushing through the front door of the bar, I stopped and let out a long breath.

“What the hell,” I sneered. A drunk couple stumbled out the door and slammed into my side. Unsteady on my heels, my ankle buckled. “Shit!” I tried to catch myself. Two strides later I was on my knees in the middle of the freaking parking lot.

“Lili, what the fuck, are you okay?” The voice behind me sounded labored and panicked. His voice. A voice I craved more than anything, now made me fiery mad. What was he doing here? “Why are you on the ground? Are you drunk? Are you hurt?” Apparently missing the collision, he lifted me off the ground.