“It’s okay, I’m fine. Believe me, I’m not regretting the fact that I don’t have to spend another minute in that place. It’s just sad knowing I’ll never work in any hospital ever again,” I tell her.

Parker’s eyes narrow in irritation as she stares me down. “Stop it, right now. Garrett isn’t finished fucking people up. If anyone can get things straightened out, it’s going to be him. This mess is going to get cleared up once and for all and you will work in a hospital again, Liv. This is just a minor setback. You’re going to wipe Old Man Johnson’s ass, make sure he takes his vitamins and tuck him in at night. Before you know it, you’ll be back at a bigger and better hospital wiping three times as many asses.”

We share a laugh and, for the first time in a very long time, it feels good to be happy. I’m so used to taking care of everyone else, helping them with their problems and making them feel better, that it’s still a little tough for me to accept my friend’s help. Just like Parker when we first met, I did everything I could to push her away when I was in my deepest pit of despair. She was having no part of that nonsense, though, and she kicked my ass and brought me back to life. If it wasn’t for Parker and Garrett, I would still be curled up in the fetal position with the curtains drawn, wishing for a way to end the pain in my heart once and for all.

“So, what time do you have to be at this guy’s house tomorrow?” Parker asks, finishing off the last of her coffee.

“Eight. His house is in some fancy area of La Jolla, so it should only take me about twenty minutes to get there from Midtown.”

The nursing temp agency gave me the bare minimum of information about my client. I know he’s a vet who needs physical therapy and that he’s a stubborn ass who’s been through two other temp nurses in as many weeks. The agency glossed over the fact that the women left crying after he yelled and cursed at them every time they attempted to do their jobs. Obviously, my first day back in the work force is going to be anything but dull.

“I don’t have a lot of details, but I know he lives in La Jolla Shores,” I tell her.

Parker lets out a low whistle. “Ooooh, fancy! Garrett and I looked at a house there last year, but it was way out of our price range.”

I don’t comment on the fact that my ex’s family lives in La Jolla, or that the La Jolla Shores Country Club was the setting for the single meal I’d shared with his parents during the almost two years we spent together. Even though I had never been invited to Cole’s parents’ house, I knew enough about his family to suspect that the people who live in La Jolla Shores make a hell of a lot more than I do a year, a point that his mother reveled in driving home. Just the thought of having to drive through an area where I’ll have to breathe the same air as that woman makes my skin crawl.

“Just make sure you don’t take any shit from this guy. I’m sure you’ll have that cute, little old man eating out of your hand in no time,” Parker snickers.

“How do you know he’s cute? He could be hideous. Maybe that’s why he goes through nurses like they’re candy.”

“Honey, if they live in La Jolla Shores, they have enough money to make him cute. Who knows, maybe this will be your ticket back into the dating world,” Parker says with a smirk.

According to Parker, a night of mind-numbing sex is the final step in my healing process, and she’s been trying everything she can the last few weeks to get me to go on a date. I know she means well, but that is the furthest thing from my mind and, thankfully, Garrett is on my side. Every time Parker brings it up, Garrett shuts her down and tells her to leave it alone.

“Right, because a sugar daddy is exactly what I need,” I tell her with a shake of my head.

“Hey, if anyone can help you forget ‘he who shall not be named,’ it would be a crotchety old dude who lets you spend all of his money.”

The smile on Parker’s face dies when she realizes what she just said and she immediately tries to backpedal. “Shit, I didn’t mean—”

“It’s okay,” I cut her off reassuringly. “I know.”

Having the mother of the man you love accuse you of being nothing more than a money hungry whore isn’t something you just shake off, but I know Parker didn’t mean to dredge up bad memories with her joke.

“And hey, I still have her uncashed check in a frame to prove that she was wrong about me, so there’s that,” I add, trying to lighten the conversation.

“God, I wish I could kick that bitch’s ass,” Parker mutters.

“You and me both. At least I’ll never have anything to do with her and her family again. I’m going to put on a happy face, kick ass at this job and move on.”

Parker nods her head in agreement and we get up from the table and make our way outside. I pause on the sidewalk, tilting my chin up and closing my eyes as I take a deep breath and allow the sunlight to warm my face. I contemplated moving away from California after everything that happened, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Eliminating every trace of him from my life was as close as I could get. I knew I would miss the beautiful weather and being able to walk out my back door and right onto the beach. The sun and the salty ocean air went a long way towards helping me heal.

Tomorrow, I’m starting a new chapter of my life. The memories and the pain of the last year will be a thing of the past very soon, and hopefully, I’ll finally be able to let go once and for all.