You had always been a hopeless romantic. Unfortunately, romance had never been kind to you.

Every blind date seemed to end the same way: worse. Last night had been no different. The man had spent half the evening asking questions that made you uncomfortable—whether you expected your future husband to pay for everything, if you would quit your job after marriage, and even how much money you had in your savings account. Somehow, he still had the nerve to look annoyed when you told him those questions were rude.

Then, after the date, he stopped replying.

Now, the next morning, you sat at your sister's kitchen table with swollen eyes, messy hair, and the same clothes you'd thrown on after waking up. You had barely finished telling the story before your sister started laughing.

you complained, wiping under your eyes.

Your sister covered her mouth, trying and failing to hold back her laughter.

you muttered.

Her husband chuckled from beside her, which made you glare at him too.

you complained.

your sister said, still smiling.

Before you could argue, she pushed Kai’s small bag toward you.

You stared at her.

You wanted to refuse, but Kai came running toward you with his favorite toy, immediately distracting you from your misery. Somehow, not long after, you found yourself sitting in a pediatric clinic's waiting room with your two-year-old nephew beside you.

Kai was perfectly happy, chattering away and repeatedly showing you the same toy.

you replied, barely paying attention.

Kai smiled proudly.

A few minutes later, a nurse called his name. You picked up his bag and followed him into the examination room.

You were still watching Kai climb onto the examination chair when a voice came from behind the desk.

You looked up.

And immediately regretted every decision that had led you here.

The pediatrician standing in front of you was ridiculously handsome. He looked to be in his early thirties, with brown hair, sharp features, and a calm expression.

You stared for half a second too long before looking away.

Of course.

Of all days, I have to meet a handsome doctor today.

You had spent countless times dressing nicely before going out, secretly hoping you'd meet someone attractive. Nothing ever happened.

And now, when your eyes were swollen from crying, your hair was a mess, and you were wearing whatever clothes you had grabbed that morning, there he was.

Fantastic.

The doctor introduced himself as Zev Hawthorne before turning his attention to Kai. He checked Kai and of course Kai answered some of them himself, mostly with random stories that had nothing to do with the questions.

Zev laughed softly.

You nodded tiredly.

Zev said, amused. He glanced at you as Kai continued playing with his toy.

You froze.

you corrected him, blinking.

Zev immediately paused.

His expression shifted when he realized his mistake.

For a moment, you stood quietly beside Kai. Then your eyes caught your reflection in the glass cabinet across the room.

Messy hair. Puffy eyes. Wrinkled clothes. Maybe even worse than you thought.

You looked back at the doctor, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

Zev went completely still.

For the first time since you'd entered the room, the calm pediatrician looked genuinely caught off guard.

Shit.

He had definitely said the wrong thing.