Accidental Surrogate

Chapter 311: Cora at Home 

Cora

When I wake up it’s almost eight at night and I groan, realizing that my sleep schedule is

completely wrecked. I’m reminded, suddenly, of my years as a medical resident when this sort of thing was normal – sleeping all day, taking night shifts, living moment to moment rather than a steady, scheduled life.

And quite frankly, right now? That sounds really wonderful, compared against a whole night of empty hours in which I have nothing to do but… think.

Think about what I’m doing in my life, think about my career which has gone in a really weird direction, think about my relationship…s.

About a certain kiss in the woods.

About a sweet doctor who, apparently, wants to build a life with me.

I sigh and sit up, looking around at my sterile little apartment. I never really decorated, I realize as

I look around at the grey and beige furniture, the simple linens, the charmless curtains. Everything is functional and high quality but none of it is… me?

Or is it?

I frown at my space, thinking of Ella’s sweet home that – even though Sinclair picked out most of the furniture before she moved in – still sings Ella Ella Ella in every corner. It’s warm and sweet

and comfortable. What does my space say about me?

I mean, I’m an orphan – I never had any possessions or any control over the environments in

which I lived, so where would I have learned to decorate? I never had a mother to show me how

So where did Ella…

groan, rolling my eyes at myself, sick, again, of being

so, so much – and I’m so happy she has what she wants in her life. But sometimes she’s just

But when I pick it up the first thing I

did

Cora? You

2

get up – I know you were up all night

heard from

through the rest of my phone, trying, determinedly,

peep. As I take a deep breath and check my email, another message from Hank pops up.

mean, this is a little pathetic,

your apartment door…

heart twinges a little bit when I see that. Hank. He’s being

between us last night, it doesn’t change anything. And there’s a man standing

Quickly, I jump out of my bed and dash for the front door of

it, I yank it

going wide, accidentally dropping the large bag of Chinese on the little mail table I keep outside my door.

“I’m so sorry,” I continue, smiling at him, “I just woke up – we were

says, giving me his rare, warm smile. “I

come in?” I ask, leaning against my door frame and gesturing towards my little apartment. “I am…well,

says, his lips turning up a bit at the corner. “That sounds great, Cora.”

Chinese spread out around us on the coffee table, eating right out of the containers with the supplied chopsticks, Hank tells me all about his day. He held down the fort at the little free clinic we both work at, seeing both prospective mothers as well as general ailments from humans and wolves who currently don’t have

a busy day with some tricky cases. I watch Hank closely as he tells me his story, my eyes flicking over his handsome, serious face – his thick brown hair

my stomach as I watch him, something that makes me…well, makes- me want to jump across the couch and kiss

me blink and focus on

myself to listen to his words. Then, I grimace a little. I’m sorry, Hank,” I say, giving him an apologetic look. “I got….lost in my thoughts

to grab my hand, squeezing it a bit before sitting back. “I was

instantly, looking down at my chicken with broccoli and picking up a morsel. “But

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