Chapter Seven

Saturday approached quickly and the hospital holiday party was in full swing, its energy vibrating through the walls of the main hall. Jason sipped his punch, laughing at one of Bella’s jokes, though his attention was clearly somewhere else. The crowd was lively, a mixture of doctors, nurses, and admin staff unwinding after an exhausting year. Yet, amidst the cheerful chaos, Jason’s gaze constantly shifted to the the cold figure standing by the corner of the room.

Dr. Vincent Maloney was the epitome of isolation, his arms crossed and his expression stony. He was there, but not really part of the celebration. Jason wondered, not for the first time, what made Vincent like this.

“You’re staring again,” Bella teased, nudging him.

Jason snapped his head toward her, caught in the act. “I’m not staring. I was just… observing.

“Sure, ‘observing. Bella smirked, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “You should just go talk to him.”

Jason scoffed. “And say what? ‘Hey, Vincent, why don’t you stop brooding and join the fun?’

“Exactly,” she said, before disappearing into the crowd with a knowing grin.

Jason shook his head but couldn’t deny that the idea was tempting. Something about Vincent always drew him in, even when the man was determined to push him away.

---

Vincent Maloney hated parties. The noise, the crowd, the forced cheer, it all got on his nerves. Yet, as the hospital's ER senior doctor, attendance was non negotiable. He stood at the edge of the room, arms crossed, willing himself to blend into the background.

His eyes, however, betrayed him. They kept drifting toward Jason Miller.

Jason was everything Vincent wasn’t—charismatic, easygoing, effortlessly charming. Even now, the younger man was surrounded by laughter, his smile lighting up the room. Vincent clenched his jaw and diverted his gaze. He couldn’t afford distractions, especially not ones like Jason.

But no matter how hard he tried, he kept noticing the little things—Jason’s laugh, the way his shirt clung to his shoulders, the way he occasionally looked Vincent’s way, as if he knew. It was annoying.

Jason finally decided that he needed some air. The party was fun, but it was also suffocating. As he stepped into the quiet hallway, the cold air provided instant relief. But his breath fastened when he nearly collided with Vincent rounding the corner.

“Dr. Maloney,” Jason said, recovering quickly. “Taking a breather too?”

Vincent’s eyes narrowed slightly before he gave a slight nod. “The noise was getting to me.”

“Same.” Jason leaned against the wall, trying to gauge Vincent’s mood. “Not a fan of holiday parties, huh?”

Vincent huffed a soft laugh, though it lacked warmth. “Not exactly.”

For a moment, silence settled between them. Jason found himself studying Vincent’s face, the sharp lines, the guarded expression. There was something captivating about how unreadable he was, a puzzle Jason couldn’t help but want to solve.

“Do you ever relax?” Jason asked lightly, his lips raising into a teasing smile.

Vincent’s gaze sharpened. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.” Jason raised his hands in mock defense. “Just that you always seem so... uptight. Maybe the holiday spirit isn’t the worst thing to embrace.”

Vincent’s lips pressed into a thin line, but Jason caught the faintest flicker of amusement in his eyes.

Jason was annoying yet, Vincent couldn’t bring himself to walk away. Something about the younger man’s persistence, the way he refused to be discouraged was both infuriating and oddly cute.

“Why are you always like this?” Vincent asked immediately. The words escaped before he could stop them.

Jason blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Like what?”

“Persistent, Vincent clarified, his voice quieter now. “You don’t take a hint, no matter how much I try to push you away.”

Jason tilted his head, a soft smile playing on his lips. “Maybe because I don’t think you really want me to back off.”

Vincent froze. The air between them grew heavier, the unspoken tension becoming thick. He wanted to argue, to deny it, but the words wouldn’t come. Jason had a way of peeling back his carefully constructed walls without even trying.

Jason felt a rush of adrenaline as Vincent’s mask slipped, if only for a moment. He stepped closer, his voice soft but firm. “You don’t have to keep everyone at arm’s length, you know. It’s okay to let people in.

Vincent’s jaw tightened, his eyes moving away from Jason's. “It’s not that simple.”

“Then make it simple,” Jason countered, his gaze steady. “Just this once.”

For a long moment, Vincent didn’t move. Jason could almost hear the war waging in his mind. Then, without warning, Vincent closed the distance between them, his lips crashing against Jason’s in a kiss that was both desperate and exciting.

Jason froze for a split second before responding, his hands finding their way to Vincent’s hair. The kiss was intense, a mixture of the tension that had been building between them for months.

When they finally broke apart, both men were breathless, their foreheads resting against each other. Jason’s heart raced, his mind swaying from what had just happened.

---

Vincent stepped back, his breathing uneven. Panic and desire fighting within him, the weight of what he’d done came crashing down. “We shouldn’t have......

“Don’t! Jason interrupted, his voice steady. “Don’t ruin this by overthinking it.”

Vincent’s lips parted as if to argue, but he stopped himself. The truth was, he didn’t regret it. Not really. But admitting that was a different matter entirely.

“We should get back to the party,” he said instead, his tone fixed.

Jason’s expression softened, but he nodded. “Yeah, Probably.”

On returning to the party, the atmosphere felt even louder, the laughter and music a sharp difference to the charged moment they had just shared. Jason’s eyes scanned the room, landing on Bella, who immediately spotted him.

“Where’ve you been?” she asked, a knowing smirk on her lips.

“Just needed some air,” Jason said casually, though he knew his flushed cheeks betrayed him.

Bella raised an eyebrow but let it slide, her attention quickly diverted by another colleague. Jason stole a glance at Vincent, who stood on the opposite side of the room, his expression unreadable.

Jason didn’t know where this would lead, but one thing was clear, things between him and Vincent had shifted firmly.

---

Author’s Note:

What do you think Vincent is feeling after the kiss? Is he going to push Jason away again, or will he finally admit his feelings? Let me know your thoughts.