Read Online Heart Conditions (The Breakup Doctor Series Book 3) by Phoebe Fox - Free Book Online Page A

away with Perfect Pamela, or that she wasn’t just perfect…she was saintly.
    “Wow, well, that’s…Wow. Well, good luck to her. And to you. I mean, you’re not interviewing, of course. I just mean…Um, that’s…quite impressive, isn’t it? She’s…amazing…” I trailed off miserably.
    “How are you doing, Brook?” Ben said into my self-pitying silence. “I mean with Jake?”
    “I’m fine,” I said. “Jake’s fine—I’m taking good care of him, and you have nothing to worry about. I promise.”
    “I never worry about him when he’s with you.”
    I blinked at his words. “That’s…Thanks,” I said quietly. After everything that had happened between us, I was floored that Ben could say he trusted me again.
    “So we’ll be back Thursday,” he went on. “How about we meet somewhere dog-friendly, and I can buy you dinner that night to thank you?”
    The idea of sitting through dinner with Ben and Pamela to hear all about their trip and her attempts to save the world practically triggered my gag reflex. “Why don’t I just swing him by your house when you two get back? I’m sure you’ll want to…you know…um, get unpacked.”
    “Oh. All right. Then…that’s fine. Thanks.” He sounded disappointed, and I winced at how ungracious I’d sounded.
    “It’s a really nice offer, but not necessary,” I tacked on. “I’m happy to have Jake. Anytime—really. I’ve missed him.”
    “He misses you too, Brook.”
    I listened to him breathing for a moment, unsure what to say, unwilling to hang up.
    “Say hello from me!” Perfect Pamela’s silken voice in the background cut through my stupor. I wished she’d sounded snarky or controlling or jealous, but no. She just seemed sincere.
    “Hi to Pamela!” I said brightly. “Please wish her big, big luck from me!”
    “Will do. Take care, Brook.”
    “You too, Ben. Bye.”
    I set the phone down, the quiet of my house feeling even more acute. Sasha still hadn’t called back. Ben was gallivanting through the Big Apple with Saint Pamela. Michael was…well, I didn’t know what Michael was. I needed someone to figure that out with.
    Jake had finished his dinner and was lying contentedly at the base of my stool, head resting between his paws. “Hey, buddy,” I said. “Come here. Come here and talk to me.”
    His eyes blinked open and he gazed up at me, but made no move to get up.
    “Jake,” I said. “Hey, Jakie! Come here, boy. Come here! You want some love?” I infused my voice with great excitement, but Jake only closed his eyes, let out a sleepy groan, and farted.
    I sighed.

seven

      
    Sasha finally called me back late the next morning. I was with a client, so I missed her call, but when I returned it I got her voicemail. “Call me back!” I said insistently.
    And she did—later that afternoon. Again my return call went to voicemail. The cycle happened one more time that day, and I finally realized she was deliberately calling in the first fifty minutes of an hour, when she knew I would be in a consultation with a client.
    My best friend was avoiding me.
    I remembered how strangely she’d been acting at dinner at my parents’ Sunday night—the last time I’d talked to her directly. Something was bugging her, and there was only one problem she could have that she might feel she couldn’t talk to me about.
    Stu.
    My stomach tightened—was my brother reverting to his old commitment-phobic ways?
    That would devastate Sasha. She really cared about him—and she was herself with Stu in a way I’d never seen her with anyone else: relaxed, comfortable, goofy and…happy. I’d been certain he felt same way about her, but I couldn’t think of any other reason Sasha would be avoiding me like the clap.
    Her final message said she was meeting with her trainer that evening for an extra-long workout at the gym, and wouldn’t be able to talk. Clever girl. She knew I would never set foot in there.
    I had to talk to her, but Sasha