Walking Red Flag (Ocean View #2)

by Morgan Elizabeth

I love the chaos of it. I love the unpredictability, the excitement. After a life of being asked to be the opposite, when I started my residency, I fell in love with emergency medicine and helping people in the midst of trauma. Now I work on everything from urgent care to resetting broken bones to kids who shove things up their noses. I love never knowing what I’m going to be working on.

“I love you, Victor,” she says, her voice soft, and it’s the truth. My mom loves me. She just comes from a different generation with a much different focus.

Whether or not I realize it, I fall in love with Gabrielle Mancini and her endless talking, her gorgeous mind, and hilarious personality.

comfortable. But I open my eyes again to finish our conversation. “The only rule I have is if I’m giving it up to some random guy, he better know how to make me come, you know? Because I waited too long for it to suck.”

There are only two times when my brain quiets down. Two times when the questions stop, the ideas pause, and my mind is blissfully silent. One is when the music is loud and all-consuming. The second is when I’m reading. Once I ran through The Great Gatsby

But each of them was good for my soul. Each of them let me get lost and turn off my brain. Live in happily ever afters and watch the drama unfold and then wrap up neatly, unlike the real world. That day I stopped caring about what other people thought. That day, I realized I needed to live to make myself happy.

“Yeah, that’s really gonna absorb the liquor. Jesus, Gabi. Did you have breakfast?” Her fingers tug at the hem of my shirt she’s wearing. It looks good on her. Too good. “No.” Her voice is low and quiet. “Why not?” “I forgot.”

me

have a killer memory except for things like doctor’s appointments or why I went into any given room at any given moment. I’m like an elephant, I— Then it comes back. I remember telling someone that last night.

Wide eyes. Fuck, her face is so expressive. To

There’s no need. It’s becoming evident I find everything about this woman unbearably adorable. I am so fucked.

But as I think I can come to expect, she doesn’t listen. My phone buzzes at 8 p.m. An unknown number. It doesn’t matter. The words clue me in. Unknown: I don’t follow rules written by men. I accept your proposal. When are you free next? This is going to be a wild ride.

“She likes to read; she likes my words. Perfect.” That thumb moves up my slit, exposing me to his watchful eye.

“You’re not the only one who wonders things, Gabrielle.” With my words, she relaxes, her body going limp in her seat on the couch, and she sets her phone aside.

And the fact that her brilliant, creative mind has been a sore spot for her in the past, the fact that it hasn’t always been seen as brilliant and interesting and exciting, makes me want to go hunt down her siblings and beat some sense into them.

“And I’ll tell the cops that my best friend just had her first orgasm in 28 years!” The smile stretches until it hurts my cheeks, but a blush comes to my face to join it.

“He doesn’t think I’m weird and annoying.” “You’re not.” “I mean, I am. But I’m fine with it.” “Gabi, I—” “No, stop, that’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying… he went with it.” “And that… that means something to you.” Understanding blooms on her face. I nod. “It means something to me,” I say, and she sighs, one of resignation. Here comes logical Cassie. “Babe, that’s why you need to be careful. I see it now, Gabi. You could get hurt. I don’t think… You

“I’ll meet you in the emergency room, Gabi. I’ll be there. I’ll help you. We’ve got this, okay, baby?” Crystal clear focus pours over me. This is easy. Obviously, I need to go to the hospital.

“Try that again and you’ll be livin’ in a fuckin’ hotel room. Won’t matter who fuckin’ paid for this kitchen. This kitchen, mind you, that I keep clean, make you all your damn meals in, raised our babies in, while you sat on your damn chair and ate prosciutto and bruschetta I laid out for you.”

And I think he loves me? Panic starts to settle in as I try to decode this situation, separate daydream from reality. It turns out it’s all real. This beautiful dream is my life. I know this when Vic’s face gets serious, taking me in, eyes flitting over me. He sees the panic. He knows. He always freaking knows

can ask questions, but I can’t be embarrassed. Questions are healthy.” I smile. This is not her first… question.

put my arms out to grab him, to snuggle him and smell his head as if he’s still a newborn. God, I miss that smell.

Cassie’s list of red flags: Tall, dark, and handsome. Panty-dropping smile. A good dancer—why can

a note for all the gals and pals