“Wait up.” She jogged to make it to the door before Gretchen. Regardless of circumstance, she still wanted to be polite. Or maybe it was more automatic than wanting. Jax waited for Gretchen to sign in and take a seat before sitting beside her. “Are you nervous?” she asked in a whisper.

Gretchen looked at her like she was nuts. “No. I feel good and I know everything is good. I have nothing to worry about.”

Jax envied that confidence. “Good. That’s good.” She spun her keys and grimaced at how loudly the metal clanked together in the quiet waiting room. She opened a Reader’s Digest with zero intention of actually reading it. She scanned an ad for an erectile dysfunction drug, and her thoughts went to the only dick in her life. “What if I did quit my job?” She tried to read Gretchen’s soft smile for a possible meaning.

“You would be happier.” Gretchen took the magazine from Jax’s hands and started flipping through the pages. “If we were still together, I’d tell you to do it today and get a simple job just to bring a little money in, anything that would leave you time to work on your art again.”

She shook her head and opened her mouth to speak, but Gretchen wasn’t done.

“I know,” Gretchen said, her smile faltering. “I wasn’t like this before.”

“You weren’t.”

“I reminded you of how expensive a child and a home can be. I forced you to stay in a job that made you unhappy.”

She lost her breath. “You remember?”

Gretchen closed the magazine and dropped it on the table beside her. “No. But like I’ve said, you told me.”

“I never…”

“Gretchen Mills?”

Jax and Gretchen both looked at the open door. A young woman stood with a folder in her hands and a smile on her face. They followed her to the very back corner of the office, into what was obviously Dr. Melendez’s space. Jax took a seat immediately while Gretchen browsed the many certificates and pictures on the walls. Jax couldn’t imagine the manpower it must have taken to get the large wooden desk into the office.

“She really likes New York,” Gretchen said casually.

Dr. Melendez walked in and went straight for her big leather chair. She extended her hand to Jax first. “Good afternoon, Jax.” She shook her hand and then motioned for Gretchen to take a seat. “It’s nice to see you two again, outside of the hospital for once. How are you feeling?”

“It’s been exhausting,” Jax said, running her hand over her face. “But we’ve gotten into a routine.” She felt Gretchen’s eyes on her and noticed Dr. Melendez’s odd stare. Her stomach clenched. “You weren’t asking me.”

Dr. Melendez’s smile was tight. “No, I wasn’t, but I am happy to hear you’ve worked out a routine.”