On the seventh day of my hospital stay for a broken leg, I was in the rehab ward playing cards with a few other patients when Rowan called.
“Where are you?”
“Out of town for work. I’ve told you that already.” I focused on the cards in my hand, trying to sound casual.
The patient sitting across from me suddenly said, “Olivia, look up.”
I did.
Rowan stood in the doorway in deep blue scrubs, his face a thundercloud. He strode to my bedside.
“You broke your leg. Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you come to Lakefront Medical for the surgery? Why lie and say you were on a business trip?”
One of Chicago’s top orthopedic surgeons, looking for all the world like a jilted boyfriend. I let out a short, bitter laugh.
“Dr. Ashbourne is busy.”
He’d reminded me more than once. He was busy. I shouldn’t bother him with every little thing. I shouldn’t always need him around.
“It’s just a fracture. I took care of it. There was no need to take up your time.”
He Left Me Broken Now He Wants Me Back Chapter 12 He avoided my eyes. “Dr. Bennett.” “The one in your department with the beard? Married five years? I’ve met him.” I didn’t know whether to laugh or be annoyed. “These tactics are ancient, Rowan. And the actors watch their sugar. Almost no one drank
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He Left Me Broken Now He Wants Me Back Chapter 11 I kept walking. For several days, the theater’s front desk was inundated with flowers, fruit baskets, and iced coffees. The delivery person would only say, “A gentleman ordered it for everyone.” The card, written in painfully generic script, read: *The most beautiful scenery in
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He Left Me Broken Now He Wants Me Back Chapter 10 I bit my lower lip and turned to face him. “Are you actually in pain?” I repeated his own words back to him, mimicking his exact tone. “When you asked me that, what were you thinking?” The color drained from his face. “Mia told
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He Left Me Broken Now He Wants Me Back Chapter 09 Rowan started showing up every day. He often carried the faint, clean scent of disinfectant, as if he’d just come from the hospital. One evening, I went downstairs to grab a food delivery. He was waiting at the entrance. “You’re still recovering. Delivery has
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He Left Me Broken Now He Wants Me Back Chapter 08 After the cat finished eating, it swiped at the back of his hand. A line of blood welled up almost instantly. Rowan just looked down at it for two seconds. The cat seemed to realize its mistake and began to inch away. He let
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He Left Me Broken Now He Wants Me Back Chapter 07 Rowan lived his life like a computer program. Once he processed the fact that we had broken up, he should have accepted it and disappeared. If we ever crossed paths again, it should have been as strangers. But he came back the next day.
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He Left Me Broken Now He Wants Me Back Chapter 06 The company didn’t have much of a budget, but the script I had in mind was perfect for them. We spent days buried in discussions, working late into the night until we fell asleep surrounded by takeout boxes and a chaos of sticky notes.
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He Left Me Broken Now He Wants Me Back Chapter 05 I slept until noon. When I woke, the guest room was filled with sunlight. It took me a few seconds to remember where I was. Unopened boxes were stacked against the walls. Clothes and scripts were strewn across the floor. I rubbed my forehead
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He Left Me Broken Now He Wants Me Back Chapter 04 The next afternoon, Rowan announced he was taking me to my follow-up appointment. I just said okay. The car was even quieter this time. He pulled up in front of Lakefront Medical Center. “You went to the wrong hospital.” “No, I didn’t.” He got
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He Left Me Broken Now He Wants Me Back Chapter 03 Rowan did take the time off. The next morning, he was in the kitchen making breakfast burritos. Morning light slanted across his back as he worked at the stove, and for a moment, something in my chest eased. The doorbell rang. Rowan turned off
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