Third Wheel to My Own Love Story

Shane's POV

Ruby Sutton didn't realize I was gone until three hours later.

Her text message sounded cold and distant. "Where are you? I asked you to grab us some drinks at the park entrance. Did you get lost again?"

I had lost count of how many times she only remembered me when she needed something.

I didn't reply and continued with my work.

The head nurse, Teresa Towne, had just finished her rounds. She looked surprised when she saw me.

"I thought you saved up your vacation days to go on a trip with Ruby and Joel. Why are you back already?" she asked.

My hands froze as I sorted the medication.

They only had to complete one emergency surgery together to earn a week of extra leave.

On the other hand, I had to use my hard-earned vacation days to go on a trip with them.

Yet the trip I had been looking forward to only made me feel invisible.

Three hours later, Joel Ziegler walked into the nurses' station carrying a giant stuffed animal.

"Hey, Shane. Ruby and I pretended to be a couple to win this. We had to hug for 30 minutes straight. I'm beat!" he said. "But if it cheers up my best buddy, it's worth it."

I had suggested joining the hugging contest earlier, but Ruby brushed me off by calling it childish.

So, I never brought it up again.

But when Joel said he wanted the prize, she didn't mind pretending to be his girlfriend.

I was her real boyfriend, not him.

A heavy feeling settled in my chest.

When I didn't take the stuffed animal from Joel, Ruby reluctantly shoved it into my arms.

"You left without saying a word, and Joel was worried about you. What's with the attitude?" she said.

As soon as she said that, everyone around us looked at me with disdain.

Joel shot her a glare and quickly smoothed things over.

"You know she's terrible with words. Don't let it get to you," he said. "Shane, are you still upset about the photos?

"I've got a bunch of embarrassing pictures of her on my phone. I'll show you!"

As if to get even, he opened his photo gallery. Ruby, who was normally so serious and proper, looked playful and downright goofy through his lens.

Meanwhile, the 1267 photos on my phone were all candid shots of her from every angle.

Ruby threw an arm around Joel's neck and started tickling him.

"I told you not to show those to other people. You're going to pay for this!" she joked.

"Ruby, stop! I'm sorry!" Joel laughed as he squirmed.

I stood off to the side in stunned silence, feeling exactly like the outsider Ruby had called me.

…

Later, I went straight upstairs and knocked on the hospital director's door.

"Dr. Carter, I've decided to accept the overseas training program," I said.

Barry Carter lit up, but then he looked concerned.

"I'm glad you accepted," he said. "But have you talked it over with your mentor?"

He meant Ruby.

Joel and I both trained under her when we first joined the hospital, but only Joel was kept on.

I didn't make a single mistake during my internship. I even earned three special commendations, but Ruby said I was only doing my job.

Once, I stayed up all night finishing patient charts and didn't go home for 24 hours. She said I was only working harder because I wasn't good enough.

But when Joel saved an epilepsy patient by himself, Ruby sent several letters of recommendation to Barry's office. She got him into the ER despite the usual requirements.

Later, I realized that the harder I tried to catch up to them, the farther behind I fell.

I shook my head and gave a small, resigned smile.

"There's no need to discuss it with her. I've made up my mind."