"You look like hell," Madisyn says as I practically run into her as I rush toward the elevator.
"I feel like hell," I say.
"Too much to drink?" Madisyn takes a stab at the problem. She's far off base.
It's just the two of us in the elevator, and I'm grateful for the reprieve from Mark. Who would have thought going to work would be easier than dealing with a jealous fiancé?
I pull my hair back with an elastic band around my wrist. "No, Mark is pissed about Luka."
She cringes. "How come?" Madisyn asks.
"Luka walked me home," I say, leaving out all the dirty details that she's looking for, like the fact he met Mark and learned that I have a daughter.
The elevator dings, and the double doors open. Madisyn steps out and waits for me to accompany her. She's already in her scrubs and has her identification badge on her shirt. I still need to change into my work attire.
It turns out I'm later than I thought. I head down the hall, and Madisyn follows me as if she has nothing better to do. Doubtful. She probably just wants all the gossip.
"Luka was a hundred times grumpier after he dropped you off. Did you tell him about Bay?"
"What? No."
I hurry down the hallway and head in to get dressed. I'm mostly changed, but I don't typically wear my scrubs to work. Plus, I always keep an extra change of clothes handy if a patient gets sick on me. It wouldn't be the first time.
"Well, what happened?" Madisyn asks. She glances me over. "You look like hell, and so did he last night."
"Nothing. I mean, it should have been nothing. He walked me to my door. No big deal, right? Well, Mark opened it."
"Shit," Madisyn gasps, and her eyes widen. "Did Luka try to kiss you?"
I chuckle at her remark. "No, it was nothing like that. Mark mentioned that Bay had a fever, and Luka overheard. I guess he wasn't ready to find out that I have a kid."
"Or a fiancé!"
"Right." I chew on my bottom lip as I strip down and change clothes in haste. "Not sure how much longer that will last," I mutter.
"What?" Madisyn hears my remark.
Shit.
"Mark doesn't want me to tell Luka that Bay is his daughter." I slip on my sneakers before tying the laces. I shove my clean clothes into the locker and shut it, then drop my phone into my pocket.
"Why the hell not?" Madisyn folds her arms across his chest. "You have to tell him! He's the father, not Mark."
Does she think I don't realize that already? "Yeah, so we got into it last night. He slept on the couch."
"Yikes." Madisyn grimaces. "Anything I can do to help?"
I tug my bottom lip between my teeth and shake my head. There's nothing that I can think of that will fix this, except for giving into Mark, which I refuse to do.
Madisyn slaps me on the back. "Don't sweat it. He'll come around."
"Mark or Luka?" I ask with a nervous laugh. I'm not sure Mark will come around. That's one of his quirks. He's stubborn to a fault.
"Mark. I do not doubt that Luka will make a great father."
I exhale a heavy breath. "Yeah. How am I supposed to tell Luka when Mark will have a fit? I swear it's like having two toddlers at the house."
Madisyn gives me a genuine smile and grabs my hands. "How about you come by after work tonight? We can have dinner, and you can spend a little time with Luka."
"You're setting us up?" The girl is devious.
Madisyn squeezes my hands. "I'm trying to help. What you decide to tell him, that's entirely up to you. But it seems like you can't meet Luka somewhere without Mark getting upset. Am I right?"
"Mark will be upset if I tell Luka about Bay. It's not that I'm meeting him. He's jealous, but it's not the type of jealousy you'd think a man would have."
"What do you mean?" Madisyn asks.
I head to the hallway, needing to get started for the day and check on my patients. "Mark thinks Luka isn't my type. He's not possessive jealous. He seems more afraid of Luka interfering with our family's perfect little life."
"It's still a form of jealousy, and oh my gosh, Mark ought to be jealous of Luka. He's eye candy and a bad boy. I never knew you were into the troublesome ones."
A faint smile tugs at the corners of my lips. "Yeah, me either. He just noticed me at the bar a few years ago."
"I'll say." Madisyn grins. "I want all the details—later. I have to start my rounds."
"Tonight. But is it okay if I bring Bay?" I don't want to abandon her two nights in a row.
"Of course. I'll text you the address."
* * *