Through the main entrance, Hadley walked briskly toward the outpatient building.
As she neared the emergency room, her steps grew slower. Hadley wondered whether Colleen happened to be on duty today.
Ever since Colleen ended things with Brady, the two of them had only kept in touch through messages and hadn’t met face-to-face.
Thinking of this, Hadley leaned forward, trying to peer inside.
By coincidence, Colleen was just stepping out.
“Co—” Hadley lifted her hand high, ready to call her friend’s name.
“Colleen!” The shout came first, carried by a deep male voice from behind.
Startled, Hadley turned and found a young man in a tailored suit, his gold-rimmed glasses giving him a polished look.
Colleen spotted him as well, and her smile widened as she waved back.
The two began closing the distance between them.
“Workday over?” asked the man with the gold-rimmed glasses, halting mid-stride.
“Yes.” Colleen gave a nod.
“I wrapped up my shift already, and I hope you didn’t have to stand around too long.”
“Not at all,” he responded with a warm grin, extending his hand to take Colleen’s backpack.
“Let me hold this for you.”
“Appreciate it.”
Off to the side, Hadley remained still, her quiet gaze taking in the scene. She could recognize what bound them together without needing to ask.
With measured steps, she started to retreat.
Yet Colleen noticed her and called out, “Hadley?”
“Colleen.” Hadley paused and returned the smile.
Stay tuned for more gαlnσνs.c○m
“Give me just a second.” Colleen addressed the man briefly before hurrying toward Hadley.
“Did you come with Joy for her check-up?”
“No.” Hadley shook her head, her smile soft as she answered, “I only stopped by to pick up Nyla’s prescription.”
“I see…” Colleen gave a small nod, her lips pressed tight before she faltered.
“He…”
Her words stumbled, but she managed to continue.
“He’s my boyfriend.”
The revelation didn’t really surprise Hadley, and she flashed her friend a kind smile.
“He comes across as dependable. Very much the gentleman.”
In truth, he lacked Brady’s charm and youthful looks, but age and steadiness gave him a different sort of presence.
“You’re right.” Colleen lowered her gaze, her eyes carrying a faint redness as she forced a weak smile.
“One of the aunts from my mother’s side was the one who introduced us.”
That much was hardly surprising.
After everything that happened with Brady, Louise would certainly take matters into her own hands when it came to her daughter’s marriage. And in Hadley’s view, without Louise stepping in, Colleen would never have moved on with someone else so soon.
Casting a look toward the man with the gold-rimmed glasses who lingered nearby, Hadley asked with quiet concern, “Does he treat you kindly?”
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.
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