,

"Licia,

" Susie piped up, her senses suddenly on high alert,

"What did you just say? You've got a crush on Dr. Yates? That's not gonna fly, you know. You're only supposed to have eyes for my brother.

", Gone was her playful demeanor, replaced with a look of sheer panic directed at me., I couldn't help but let out a sly chuckle, though I played it off with a helpless shrug,

"But c'mon, the man's a total knockout. The moment I laid eyes on him, I thought, 'Is this guy for real? More like a Greek god than a doctor.

"

",

"No way,

" Susie grabbed my arm, her determination clear,

"Licia, sure, he's easy on the eyes, but if you really look at him, he's got nothing on my brother. Doesn't have that rugged charm or the manliness. And let's not even start on how solid a guy my brother is. Nothing like Dr. Fancy Pants over there.

",

"Really?

" I feigned confusion,

"What makes you say Yates isn't solid?

", Susie pouted, then began shaking my arm,

"You can't go falling for anyone but my brother. You're his, and that's that.

", This little lady was all about monogamy, it seemed.,

"You're a fan of those 'till death do us part' romances, aren't you?

" That's how they all go in the books, after all., No matter the trials or tribulations, the readers always root for the main couple to stick it through., Susie, having been practically raised on romance novels, had undoubtedly cast herself in one of those stories.,

"Exactly! So, you've gotta stick with my brother. No falling for other guys,

" she declared, quite possessively.,

"But Yates has already got someone he's into. If you go for him, you're either wishing for them to break up or resigning yourself to the sideline, suffering the silent agony of unrequited love, just like the second female lead in those novels,

" I gently reminded her., Susie's eyes widened in surprise,

"Dr. Yates has a girlfriend?

", Before I could respond, she continued,

"Makes sense. How could a guy that charming and handsome not be taken?

" Seeing her come to her senses, I played along,

"Right? Do you know who he's into?

", She shook her head,

"I just met him today. How would I?

",

"It's Dr. Willis,

" I revealed, watching as Susie's eyes went wide, her initial excitement dimming gradually., Leaning against me, she sighed,

"No wonder he came to see me personally. It's all for his girlfriend.

", Side by side, we gazed out the, window,

"Dr. Willis has been into, Yates for ages, since their college days. That's why she applied to the same medical school as him, become classmates, to be close to, him, You could say her entire career, was built on that love...

", , As I shared Fanny's secret admiration for Yates with Susie, she immediately responded,

"And Yates never had a clue? Dr. Willis should've just told him. Love's gotta be declared.

",

"Exactly my thoughts. And guess, what? By some stroke of luck, Yates overheard me encouraging her, so their hidden feelings came to fight,

" I looked at Susie, hoping to lighten her spirits. ,

"And I could see in Yates' eyes that he feels the same about Dr. Willis. That look was just like the way you looked at him,

" I nudged, causing Susie's cheeks to turn a shade of red.,

"Licia, enough,

" she chuckled,

"I get, it. I'll stop crushing on Yates. But man, he really is the most...,

" she paused, then corrected herself,

"the most handsome guy I've seen, apart from my brother, of course. , Hearing this, I laughed,

"Right, the most handsome, after your brother.

",

"Licia, you're only allowed to like my brother,

" Susie reiterated, half-joking, half-serious., I tousled her hair, comforting her,

"Yeah, and your brother and I are planning to have kids for you to play with.

",

"Really? You and my brother are thinking about kids?

" Susie's face lit up with excitement., Looking at her adorable face, I nodded,

"Yeah, maybe a beautiful girl just like you.

",

"Twins would be ideal,

" Susie ambitiously added.,

"Sure, if your brother's up for the challenge,

" I quipped, just as Ernest's tall figure appeared in the doorway with impeccable timing., Susie turned to him,

"Bro, did you hear? Licia said...

",

"I heard,

" Ernest cut in, his gaze fixed on me., And me? I was speechless., Search the website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.