Free Fallen from Grace [Part Two of the Thicker than Blood Series] by Olivia Leighton

My brain was in turmoil as I drove home after my last shift for four days.  Could Matt actually be in love with me?  I analyzed our interactions over the course of our friendship.  He was kind, a giving lover and was always there for me when I needed him... well, except for now.   Matt never bought me flowers or suggested we go out to a romantic dinner... so what was it Marie was seeing that I wasn't?
     
    At a red light, I noticed that clouds were rolling in from the west.  Looked like we'd be getting some rain.  I sighed.  Rain would be perfect to fit my current emotional state.  Perhaps I could hibernate for the next twelve hours.
     
    If Matt was in love with me, would I be open to being with him?  And what of Dr. Amante?  He was hot and passionate to be sure, but his strange hot-and-cold behavior paired with his almost stalker persona left a lot to be desired.  Though my internal monologue was maddening, I had to smile.  I couldn't think of another time that I had two men wanting to be with me, if that was truly the case.
     
    After parking the car in the garage, I went right to bed.  Despite my mind churning with questions, sleep found me rather quickly.
     
    I spent the next couple of days catching up on reading and watching a few of my favorite TV shows.  I also tried to get in touch with Matt one more time, but again, no answer.   I left him another message, but I told him I was beginning to worry about him – and I was.  In the time I knew him, I don't think we've ever gone so long without talking.
     
    When Wednesday finally rolled around, I couldn't have been more excited.  I finally had something to do that would draw my attention away from the two men.  After a short walk, I met Tiffany at the Galleria Mall's entrance around 5:00 p.m.
     
    She looked her usual cute self; long, black hair framed her beautiful face and wearing a small, pink baby-t and jeans.  I dwarfed her in more ways than one... she was about five foot and a size 0.  We were quite the contrast.  A large and tall, white woman with bright-red hair and the short, thin, Hispanic woman.  She made me feel like an Amazon.
     
    “Hey!  There's my little stranger!”  I called out to her as we neared.
     
    “Long time, no see!”  She smiled as we hugged.
     
    Tiffany shared nearly all of my interests, with the exception of music.  She enjoyed current pop music while I preferred alternative and classic rock.  We used to try and take in a few concerts, but we would end up hating the others selection that we stopped going.
     
    “So, how goes it?  Haven't heard too much from you since Friday,” Tiffany asked.
     
    I rolled my eyes and shook my head.  “I have so much to catch you up on... I've been trying to save it up, but I swear, if there was any more, I'd burst!”  And that was the truth.  I was dying to tell her all about Dr. Amante and what Matt said... but I was afraid that everything would come out as one giant jumbled mess over the phone.
     
    “You wanna have dinner now so we can talk about it or you wanna do some shopping first?”  She asked as she tried to lead me forward, but then turned back to me quickly.  “Wait, did you meet someone?”
     
    I smiled. 
     
    Tiffany jumped.  “Oh, you did!  Tell me!”
     
    “Uh... okay.  I met someone, he's... different.  And something weird happened at the hospital.  Also, I think Matt is in love with me,” I blurted out, unable to contain it for another second.
     
    “Whoa!  You've had quite a week!  Start with this guy. Who is he?”  Tiffany loved juicy gossip and I was going to spill a ton of it for her.
     
    “His name is Alex Amante, he's a new cardiologist with the Welch Group.”  Tiffany grinned from ear to ear as I continued.  “He's tall, like six-two, has black, wavy hair, olive skin and these beautiful caramel-colored eyes.”
     
    “Wow, sounds hot...”
     
    “He is,” I said as I pulled out my phone, googling Dr. Amante.