Chapter Twenty-four: Archer

Chapter Twenty-Four

Archer

“Are you doing all right, babe?” I ask Quinn, wondering if the sun is getting to her like it’s getting to me. Though judging by the distance between us, she’s doing just fine.

She stops, turning around and holds up her phone, taking pictures of our surroundings before taking one of me.

“I’m fine, just like I was the last time you asked me. You’re a slowpoke.”

I laugh. “You ran up ahead.”

“I thought I saw a ferret.”

“They’re mongooses. Mongeese? They were brought here to help control the rat population but took over.”

“Well, they’re cute. I want one.”

“I think they’re mean.”

“They just want love.” Quinn puts her phone back in her bag and holds out her hand. I take it, lacing our fingers and pulling her in for a kiss. We’re hiking today, on our way to see a waterfall. It’s hotter today, and the comfortable breeze is gone now that we’re in the thick of the woods. Still, being here with the love of my life is good for my soul. I didn’t know how much I needed this until we got here.

Quinn makes it easy to enjoy life. To laugh and smile. To be happy. She’s distracting, which is good because I’m having a really hard time not obsessing over the fellowship. We’re on day three of our vacation, and other than Quinn bringing it up at breakfast, nothing more has been said about it.

Though I know we’re both thinking about it.

Part of me didn’t think I’d actually get in. It’s an extremely competitive program, and after not hearing back for several weeks, I assumed I hadn’t made the cut.

And it was a relief.

I could pick and choose my job—to an extent—from there on out. There are enough hospitals around Chicago that I’d get something, and Quinn and I could raise Emma together like we want to. We could talk about looking for a new place, maybe even one in the suburbs with a yard.

But if I go to Boston…I don’t know what will happen. It’s only temporary, but two years is a long fucking time. I don’t want to be away from Quinn for two days, and Emma…I’d miss so much if I were in Boston. We’d see each other as much as possible, of course, but it wouldn’t be the same.

Getting the fellowship and becoming a trauma surgeon has been part of my long-term plan since I got into med school. I want to do this, and I know I’ll love working trauma.

“There’s another one!” Quinn whisper-yells. “Come on, you have to admit it’s cute.”

“It’s not hideous.”

She laughs and starts forward again. We made it another few yards before I slow to a stop.

“Listen,” I tell her, tipping my head.

She closes her eyes, lifting her chin to the sky. “Water.”

“We’re close to the waterfall.”

Quinn’s lips curve into a smile and we start forward again. I break a spiderweb out of Quinn’s way at the last second. We’re on a less popular trail, going to see one of the smaller waterfalls. We haven’t seen anyone else out here in a while, which has been nice. The world seems to fade away when Quinn’s with me like we’re the only two left in it.

The path gets a little steep and slippery with wet rocks and mud. I keep a tight grip on Quinn’s hand, but she doesn’t need any help. Emerging through a thick of trees, we see the waterfall.

“It’s gorgeous,” Quinn breathes.

“It is,” I say, but I’m still looking at her, watching her face light up as she takes it all in.

“Come here,” she says, turning around. She gets out her phone and holds it up to take a picture of us kissing with the waterfall in the background.

“You’re a terrible selfie-taker,” I joke, taking the phone from her.

“I don’t take too many selfies. And when I do, they’re of me in lingerie and I accidentally send them to my brother.”

We both laugh, and I take a photo. It’s candid and probably my favorite of us so far on the trip.

“I can’t believe I had to ask my mom to delete it for me.”

“At least it wasn’t your dad.”

“Oh my God, I know.”

We sit on the flat rock, feet dangling over the water, and eat some of the snacks we packed. Neither of us speaks as we eat, but it’s not awkward in the least. Quinn finishes her water and puts the empty bottle in her bag.

“I have to pee.”

“Go in the woods,” I tell her, waving my hand at the trees behind us.

“Keep watch and make sure no one is coming?”

“Okay.” I finish my food and get up, looking down the path. There’s no one in sight. Quinn goes a few yards away just in case, and once she’s out of sight, I carefully pull her grandmother’s ring from my pocket. It’s in a little velvet bag, but I’m still scared of losing it.

The question burns in my throat, and I’ve gone over and over what I want to say to her. Laughter echoes through the forest, and I quickly put the ring back. Quinn is making her way back and gets to me before another group of hikers comes to the waterfall.

Taking Quinn’s hand, we start down the path going back the way we came. We have a fancy dinner later tonight…I can ask her then. Though that’s a little cliché and Quinn doesn’t like cliché. The pressure to make this proposal unforgettable is getting to me. Quinn deserves the best.

“There’s another mongoose,” I tell Quinn, pointing it out. “And yeah, I’ll admit it now. They’re cute.”

“Let’s take one home with us.”

“That would not go over well with TSA.”

“Fine. I’ll just get another cat.”

I put my arm around her. “You’re turning me into a cat person.”

Quinn smiles. “Now that’s something to be proud of.”

*

“Wow.” My eyes widen when Quinn steps out of the bathroom. She just got done getting dressed and looks stunning in a low-cut white dress. “You’re beautiful, babe.”

“And you look pretty hot too, Dr. Jones.” She makes a move to come in and kiss me.

I hold up my hand. “I almost forgot my accessories.”

“Accessories?”

I reach into my suitcase, pull out my stethoscope, and hang it around my neck.

“No. You did not,” Quinn laughs.

“We gotta make sure people know you’re dating a doctor, right?”

She laughs again, throwing her head back. “I can’t believe you brought that and didn’t get it out until now.”

I stride over and kiss her. “Is it turning you on?”

“Being able to make me laugh is one of the hottest things you can do.” She runs her hands down my chest. “You’ll have to give me a checkup when we come back.”

“As a doctor, it’s my duty to examine every single inch of you.”

She takes the stethoscope from around my neck and puts it on, listening to my heartbeat for a moment.

“I love you, Archer,” she says slowly, looking up into my eyes. She takes the stethoscope off and tosses it on the bed. I kiss her hard, feeling the ring in my back pocket. Cliché or not, I want to ask her to marry me tonight.

“And I love you.” I kiss her once more and then break away, needing to stop now or else I won’t be able to. She’s pressed up against me, and letting her go proves to be difficult. I’m about to let her go when I feel something.

“Is that Emma?”

“You felt that?” she exclaims.

“Yeah.” I put my hand on her stomach and wait to see if I’ll feel it again. I don’t, not now at least. Quinn moves my hand to the other side of her stomach.

“Can you feel that?”

I shake my head. “I didn’t think I’d be able to feel her this early.” I take my hand off Quinn’s stomach and close the balcony doors. We need to get going before we miss our reservation.

The restaurant is outside on the beach, and our table is close to the water. The only light around the tables are from candles and tiki torches. Yes, this is the perfect place to ask Quinn to marry me.

We get seated and are looking over our menu when cheers erupt around us. I look up to see a guy down on one knee sliding a ring on his girlfriend’s finger. Well, there goes that idea…

“I wouldn’t want to get engaged in a public setting like this,” Quinn tells me, looking back at her menu.

I guess I dodged a bullet here for sure then.

“Why not?”

“Everyone is looking.”

“Oh. Good point.” So, something secluded is better. We have plans tomorrow that involve a group, but I’m sure I can get her to go on a walk along the shore with me at night. My heart speeds up thinking about it.

“What are you getting?” she asks.

I haven’t even looked at my menu yet. “I’m not sure. What about you?”

“Probably this one that I can’t pronounce.” She points to it on her menu. “Everything sounds good. I swear I’m going to leave here weighing ten pounds more than I did when I came.”

“The food is good. Now I really don’t want to go home to microwavable meals and Ramen noodles.”

“Hey, you’re almost done and then—” She cuts off, remembering that the fellowship is still up in the air. “I’m not the best cook, but that’s mostly because I’m lazy. I have a lot of my mom’s recipes so I could make us decent dinners if you’re, uh, you’re in town.”

She folds her hands in her lap, looking out at the ocean.

“I’m proud of you,” she says after a minute passes. “And I want you to know that I’m in favor of whatever you choose.”

“You are?” I ask because I’m not even sure if I am. I want to take the fellowship and become a trauma surgeon. But not only is the fellowship far away, but I could work just as many hours as I do now as a resident.

“Yes. You’ve wanted this for so long.”

I look at Quinn. “I have.” But there’s something I’ve wanted even longer: her.