Page 92 of Maxwell

Maura stroked her hair. “I can’t believe I misjudged him so much.”

Jasmine sniffed. “I don’t blame you. I was sleeping with the man and had no clue.”

“He really had me fooled,” Maura said, sounding sad and disappointed. “Has he called at all?”

“He came by, but I wouldn’t let him in. He called a bunch of times. Now he’s sending texts. I don’t want to have anything to do with him.” Jasmine lifted her head and rubbed the tears from her eyes. She should block him, but she hadn’t been able to take that final step. “For the record, I’m done.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m over it. I’m done with dating. I’m going to die an old maid.”

“Jay, come on.”

“I’m serious. I can’t do this anymore. This time, I feel like...” Her bottom lip trembled. “It’s like I’m dying.”

Maura held her hands and squeezed. “Oh, sweetie.”

“I’m dying, Maura. And it’s the worst feeling.” Fresh tears streamed down her cheeks.

“I know.”

“Why did he do this?”

“Men are awful.”

Jasmine dropped her head on her sister’s shoulder. “I just want to disappear for a while, and I hate that I’m letting Dad down.”

“I’ll explain it to him, though I think he figured out what was going on when Maxwell resigned so abruptly.” Maura rubbed her back.

“He needs me at the practice, and Keisha’s probably overwhelmed and working late. It’s not fair to her. And the kids... they’ve lost someone who was good to them and cared about them.”

“None of which is your fault. Maxwell is the one whose actions caused this mess. Screw him. We’re gonna get through this, okay?”

Jasmine sniffled, nodding her head.

“I’m gonna call Mom and Dad and let them know you’re okay, but you need to call them too, at some point.”

“I will. Not today, though.”

Maura rested her head on top of Jasmine’s. “I’m really sorry, Jay.”

On the show, the couple had chosen a home. They looked contented in their new place. She would never have that.

Jasmine sighed. “Me too,” she whispered.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

It felt good to be outside after being cooped up in her apartment for days. Maura’s visit had been the nudge Jasmine needed to stop feeling sorry for herself and get outside again.

She had called her parents and assured them she was in good health and promised her father she would be back to work on Monday. Knowing she didn’t have to face Maxwell helped. She missed him like crazy and hated that he had left the practice, but her heart couldn’t take seeing him. She resolved to work hard toward recruiting a new doctor as soon as possible so her father and Dr. Park weren’t overwhelmed having to take on Maxwell’s patients.

Climbing out of her Acura with her Chipotle meal, Jasmine walked toward the front of her building. This was the first real meal she would have in days, having subsisted on crackers, cheese, and potato chips since she hadn’t had the energy to cook. One day she would look back on this period and berate herself for being so pathetic over a man.

“Jasmine!”

She glanced over her shoulder. Jayson was jogging toward her.

She tensed. “What are you doing here?” she asked, glancing behind him because she half expected to see Maxwell with him.