Dana"Are you okay, dear?" The sweet older woman beside me on the plane reached over and handed me a tissue."Yes, ma'am." I took it. "Thank you."I couldn't stop tearing up. My whole world was behind me and I was running. Again. Maybe I was overreacting, but it just didn't feel like it. It felt like the beginning of another relationship where I was pulling the weight, where I was the only one bending and breaking and changing. I couldn't go through it again.I needed to matter to someone enough for them to change a little too. It seemed like too much to ask."Anything I can do to cheer you up?" She gave me a smile.I forced myself to smile back and blotted my eyes. "No, ma'am. I'm headed to see my best friend in New York, and I wish it were for a good reason.""Care to share?""I fell in love with a really great guy, but it turns out that maybe he's not so great." I let out a painful sigh, not truly convinced that I believed my own words. Kendal was a good man. I was just looking for
Dana"Hey!" Olivia walked up as I made my way down the baggage claim. She pulled me into a tight hug and squeezed. "I missed you so much. Why can't you just call for once and ask me to bring a U-haul?""Would you?" I moved back and pulled my phone out, holding it up. "Do you have a charger?""Um, that's like three upgrades ago, Dana. We need to get you a new phone.""Right. Charger?" I smiled and moved to grab my bag off the turnstile."No, but we can get you one. Let's go up to St. Mark's and do a small tour. I talked to one of the doctors that Luke is friends with up there. He's going to get us in to see Dr. Crawford.""What? No. We don't have to do that. Dr. Lewis hasn't even set anything up yet. I told you all about this just to get it off my chest." I grabbed my bag and gave her an exasperated look."Give me that and hush. You're my best friend and like a sister to me. I'm going to do everything I can to get your ass up here when you graduate." She looped her arm into mine. "Luke
Dana"You can come. No worries." I got out and walked toward the large glass door entrance. The hospital was beautiful and insanely busy. We stopped by the receptionist desk and checked in, got Dr. Crawford's office number and made our way to the elevator.I couldn't help but look for Parks. Jackie would die to know that I was in the same hospital as him. Or maybe not. I wasn't sure if the two of them were on the up or not."This way," Olivia whispered as we got out of the elevator and walked down the hallway toward a hallway of offices. "You want me to wait here?"She didn't want to go in for some reason. She asked twice already. That was code for 'don't make me do it' from our childhood. I decided to honor it."No. I'm good. Be right back." I walked down the hall and stopped outside the door with Dr. Aiden Crawford on it. Knocking softly, I leaned in."Dr. Crawford?""Come on in," a deep voice called from the other side.I pushed the door open and walked in, a little taken aback by
KendalI made a quick stop by the flower market on the way downtown to see her. My heart was racing, my palms sweaty. It felt like I was going on my first date again. A joyous laugh bubbled up in me.I was free. No more letting my job rule my life. Never again. I'd be Dana's whatever for as long as she'd have me. We could build the house of her dreams and start working on making babies.A growl lodged in my throat as my body woke up. My first act after apologizing and smothering her in kisses was to find a way to get her home and in my bed. I needed to spend the next few days worshiping her. I'd fucked up.Why couldn't I see that before?Too much on my plate. A laugh bubbled up and poured from my lips as I tore into the parking lot at the hospital and parked. Clarity was mine, and with it, I could make things right.I jogged toward the hospital entrance, ignoring the odd looks I received. Most people ran toward the hospital, but not with a big ass smile on their faces. Unless they wer
Kendal"Where are you, baby?" I pulled my phone from my ear and walked toward a cab in the airport in New York. The flight had been excellent, the first class ticket probably the reason behind that.Dana still wasn't answering her phone, which was typical of her. It was something we would have to talk about. Her being upset in the future and needing space was going to be a regular occurrence from what I could tell, but I needed to be able to reach her.I had to know that she was safe. That she was okay. That she still loved me.Getting in the cab, I did the only thing I knew to do. Probably not the smartest thing in the world, but I called Ana."Where to?" The cabbie barked at me."Central Park." I pressed the phone to my ear."Hello?""Ana. It's Kendal. I need to see if you can help me find Dana. I pissed her off yesterday because I'm an idiot and she ran to New York. Please tell me you have some way of finding her." I sucked in a quick breath."Yeah. I can track her phone. My mom se
DanaHis words drove lust through me, but shock covered my nerve endings. Had this beautiful man left his life in the middle of the day and flown to New York for me?Had he left everything behind to run hard and fast until he found me?"How did you..." I reached for him, wrapping my arms around him and lifting up as he leaned down and consumed me.The soft press of his lips was nothing compared to the hot wetness of his tongue, sliding past mine, taking control of my mouth and forcing me to comply. I was lost. Completely."Um, guys. I'm going to head to the office. Something just came up. Call me later." Olivia's voice broke through the cloud around me.I pulled back and turned. "You sure? I don't want to-""Yes. Positive." She smiled, wagged her eyebrows, whispered 'hot' and walked out."Why did you run from me?" He brushed my hair back as I turned and looked up at him."I thought I was the only one that cared about us." I pressed my fingers into the thick muscle along his lower back
KendalThree Days Later"I can't believe you pulled it off." Damon positioned himself on the putting green as I stood quietly by the golf cart. I waited until he made his shot to respond."Why? I'm far smoother than you. I helped you get your girl back, remember?" I squatted and studied exactly where to hit the ball to get the best shot."I do remember. I owe you for that.""You've already paid me back, Damon." I stood up and turned my head to the right. "Just keep your lips closed while I win this game, and we'll be good."I was almost surprised by his silence. I lifted my club and swung as his voice ripped around the early morning."FORE!"The jolt of it caused me to twist and shoot my ball off into the trees."You dick." I turned and rolled my eyes. "Karma is going to show up at the time when you least expect it.""Karma is my bitch. Don't be dumb here." He got in the cart and patted the seat beside him. "So you're really thinking about going to New York next year with Dana?""Yeah
Kendal"Why would Damon give you a shiner?" Dana took the flowers I handed her and reached up to touch the side of my face. "I'm going to kill him.""You should. It hurt really bad." I tried to look sad, but I was pathetic at it.She laughed. "Let me discharge my last patient and we'll head over to Dr. Lewis' for dinner.""Good. I'll help." I leaned in for a quick kiss, but jerked back at the sound of an old woman screaming and hollering."This seat is too small! Who's ass do you think these things were made for? I'm a size twelve and I barely got a cheek hanging on! How pathetic is this?"Dana lifted her eyebrows and turned. "Hi, Mrs. Delmaz. This is my boyfriend, Kendal."The older woman's demeanor changed immediately when she saw Dana. "Finally. I've been waiting to meet you since Dana started talking about you a month ago.""Nice to meet you, ma'am." I extended my hand and shook hers carefully."The pleasure is all mine, handsome." She wagged her eyebrows and turned back to Dana.