Olivia“This is completely unprofessional. We’ve scheduled this checkup for days, and he should be here on time.”Bryan Wells looks at me like it’s my fault, his scowl darkening his features. I don’t know what to say. I’ve already informed him that Luke’s in the middle of an emergency surgery and it’s running longer than anticipated due to some complications—and we already informed Bryan this morning, too, which makes this the second time.I clear my throat and try again.“I’m sorry about this, Mr. Wells. We didn’t expect Dr. Jennings to handle a surgery today, but it can’t be postponed. Rest assured, though, that he will cater to you first thing as soon as the new appointment is set. If you could kindly tell me when you are available again?—”“I’m available now. I came here expecting the checkup now.”I pause. “This morning, we sent you an email informing you about the situation and?—”“Are you his secretary?”I blink, not missing the condescending tone. My shoulders stiffen, but I k
JadeI groaned as Kelis' iconic lyrics blasted from my phone, interrupting the monotony of stock-taking. My coworkers chuckled at the unexpected ringtone, courtesy of my best friend Tammie's sense of humor. I smiled, locating my phone beneath the cluttered papers on my desk."Rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous, aren't you?" I teased, answering the call.Tammie's flat response instantly wiped the grin off my face. "Hey, Jade.""Tamz, what's wrong?" Concern crept into my voice. We'd been inseparable since middle school, and her unusual tone unsettled me."Grandma Rose is in the hospital," Tammie replied, her voice cracking.My heart sank. Grandma Rose had been a surrogate grandmother to me, too. "Oh, Tammie, I'm so sorry! Which hospital?""St. Joseph's. And I need a favor." Tammie's words were laced with desperation. "I need you to fill in for me at the auction."I hesitated, confused. "But it's an emergency. They'll understand, won't they?""I could breach my contract, and I re
Michael I watched as the beautiful woman disappeared behind the curtain, her earlier stumble still etched in my mind. Her confident yet erratic demeanor intrigued me. As I turned to leave, something caught my eye – a glinting pin on the floor.I picked it up, admiring the blue and green jewels sparkling in the light. It likely belonged to the beautiful woman, but returning it now was impossible. Our reunion would have to wait.I joined my mother, who looked impatient, her eyes scanning the room. "This is why you should have let me help with the organization," I teased, taking my seat beside her.She laughed, playfully punching my arm. "Fundraising doesn't work that way, Michael. People need to see the impact of their donations.""I know, I know. But sometimes I think you enjoy torturing me with these events."Her stern expression softened. "I appreciate your support, dear. It means a lot to me."As the auction began, I bid on a few items, my mind drifting back to Miss Two Left Feet.
JadeI rushed to change, my mind racing with thoughts of Michael. As I entered the main hall, I spotted him waiting, his gaze locked onto me. My heart skipped a beat.He flashed that devastating smile, and I smiled back, feeling a flutter."That was more than fifteen minutes," he said, standing up."You were counting?" I teased.Michael's smirk hinted that he wasn't the type to wait for anyone, making me feel flattered."Shall we?" he asked, offering his arm.We walked to the parking lot, where a sleek black Mercedes awaited, complete with a driver.As we settled in, Michael patted the space between us. "I don't bite."You're not the problem, I thought. I needed space to keep my head clear."I'm pretty sure I could take you," Michael said, his eyes scanning me.I suppressed a shiver. This intense attraction was uncharted territory."What makes you sure that I don't?" I asked.Michael's reply sent a spark through me: "I'm pretty sure you'd let me."The driver's presence was a timely re
Michael I woke up feeling refreshed, a rare sensation in my hectic life. My mother often joked that I was twenty-eight going on sixty. But last night had been different. Jade was witty and charming, and our connection was undeniable. I hadn't planned on skipping dessert, but I couldn't resist her. And now, she'd invaded my dreams. I smiled, expecting to see her beside me. Instead, I found an empty bed. I frowned, scanning the suite. The silence confirmed my fears. No note, no explanation. I cursed myself for not getting her number. "Damn it!" I muttered. I'd never been on the receiving end of a disappearing act. Who did Jade think she was? I replayed our night, searching for signs of miscommunication. But Jade had enjoyed it as much as I had. She'd left a mark, and I hated that. Why hadn't she said goodbye? Was that too much to ask? I thought about our conversation, trying to recall any hints. But Jade had seemed just as invested. I grabbed my phone and dialed
JadeI closed my eyes and let Ed Sheeran's voice soothe my soul, knowing fully well that I was moping but didn't care. I promised myself just a few more days, and then I would stop thinking about Michael. It was proving to be extremely difficult to forget about the man when I dreamt of him every time I closed my eyes. We'd had the perfect night together, and my mind couldn't stop replaying it, which was both satisfying and torturous. I heard my bedroom door open, and I opened my eyes to see Tammie narrowing her eyes at me."You know that listening to heartbreak songs makes you feel like crap, right?"I sat up and paused the song playing on my phone. "Joke's on you. That was actually a love song."Tammie rolled her eyes. "You need to get out more, and I mean just getting out into the sun. Have you seen how pale you look?""I had that stomach bug all weekend, remember?""Yeah, but I thought you were feeling better now?""I am. Maybe my complexion is just taking time to catch up."Stayin
While Tammie waited for me, I grabbed a jacket and put on my shoes in silence. We bought a test within thirty minutes and were back in my room. My heart threatened to jump out of my chest, and I felt like throwing up again, only this time because of nerves. I paced the room as we waited for the minutes to be up, and when Tammie's alarm went off, I felt my heart stop. My hands shook with anxiety."I can't look," I said tearfully to Tammie, and she nodded.She checked the test I had placed on a chair on top of some toilet paper, and her face told me all I needed to know. I checked for myself, picking up the stick and seeing the two lines sealing my fate."I must have done something wrong," I said, shaking my head."Jade-""I've heard these things sometimes give you a false positive."The test had to be wrong, I told myself. There was still a chance that we would laugh about this tomorrow; this was just some fluke.Tammie gave me a sad look but nodded. "It's okay. Let's get a different b
The following fortnight was filled with work and finalizing my application. The morning sickness seemed like an all-day sickness sometimes, and I quickly realized that this child had a strong aversion to dairy products. It felt strange realizing that the things I used to like to eat didn't matter anymore. As much as I wanted to hide and pretend that this wasn't happening, my body was changing quickly, and the tiny person inside my belly would not be ignored. The only thing I could do was take one day at a time, and I invested most of my time in researching more about giving up my baby for adoption.Today was one of the slower days at work, and I was counting down the minutes until my shift was over. I was meeting Tammie for lunch first; then, we were going for my first ultrasound appointment later. As soon as my alarm went off, I quickly got ready to leave. I was so rushed that I almost bumped into a lady at a corner, pushing her baby in a stroller."Oh, I'm so sorry," I apologized pr
Olivia“This is completely unprofessional. We’ve scheduled this checkup for days, and he should be here on time.”Bryan Wells looks at me like it’s my fault, his scowl darkening his features. I don’t know what to say. I’ve already informed him that Luke’s in the middle of an emergency surgery and it’s running longer than anticipated due to some complications—and we already informed Bryan this morning, too, which makes this the second time.I clear my throat and try again.“I’m sorry about this, Mr. Wells. We didn’t expect Dr. Jennings to handle a surgery today, but it can’t be postponed. Rest assured, though, that he will cater to you first thing as soon as the new appointment is set. If you could kindly tell me when you are available again?—”“I’m available now. I came here expecting the checkup now.”I pause. “This morning, we sent you an email informing you about the situation and?—”“Are you his secretary?”I blink, not missing the condescending tone. My shoulders stiffen, but I k
I nod, not about to tell her that I'm confident there will be. I can see the clear enjoyment on her face as we stroll toward the flowers, which are even more beautiful up close. When the breeze picks up and she shivers, I remove my coat and place it over her shoulders, then openly appreciate her dress."You know what my new favorite is?"Olivia sends me a curious look. "What?"I wink. "Black dresses. Specifically, you in them."She laughs hard, and it's the most melodic sound there is. I rub her shoulders to add an extra layer of warmth, but really, it's just an excuse to pull her closer to me.And when she doesn't protest, I can't think of a more perfect date than this.When I walk Olivia to her doorstep, I thank her for spending the night with me and for giving me a chance. Her smile turns shy."I should be the one thanking you, Luke. You made so much effort and I like how we spent the date.""You do?""Yeah. It was pretty amazing."I can't help but agree. Then I can't help looking
Luke"I'm not going to lie, I was expecting you to go a different route. You know, the typical fancy dinner in a fancy restaurant, with you showing off your knowledge of wines and some menu that I can't even pronounce."Olivia's tone is laced with humor, and I can't help but laugh. Then I shake my head as I guide her inside the movie theater, where the carpets are lush, and the most lit area is the concession stand."To be fair, I've taken most of my dates to fancy restaurants, but I want it to be different for us."Curiosity shines in her eyes as she looks around before we stop at the concession stand. It's a long area filled with glass displays of goods and a menu on the wall. I wait for her to read everything."Wait...shouldn't they just offer stuff like popcorn, candies, and soda? They have quite a variety of food." She then glances from side to side. "And where is everyone?"I bite back a grin. "Don't be mad, but I kind of rented the whole place for the night so we could have it
My skin buzzes at the sound of his deep voice. I have a second to wonder if it's my imagination before I glance toward the door where Luke is standing.In the flesh. Looking so good that it hurts.At my lack of response, he cautiously slips in and closes the door with a lock clicking, shutting us out from the rest of the world. My heart picks up speed as his gaze roams over me, then settles on my face. I swallow and finally push down my speechlessness."Luke...what are you doing here?"He's silent for a while as he just looks at me. Then he clears his throat."I saw you earlier. Wearing that...looking like that. You took my breath away, but you were gone just as quickly."The way he says it...I can hear his longing. The smile from earlier is gone, replaced by a desire glimmering deep in his gaze. There's a triumphant feeling inside me that he never looked at the gorgeous woman in white this way, but it's immediately smothered by the knowledge that they're still a much better pairing t
Olivia"Hey, Liv! I'm glad you could make it!"I grin at Wanda, who's already with Maria and Jasper when I find her. The three make a beeline toward me, giving me hugs before they take in what I'm wearing. A round of oohs and aahs come, and my cheeks heat up."Come on, guys. I just got this from a thrift shop. And it's basic black."The event was announced long ago: a small charity party with the doctors, the staff, and some of the hospital's major sponsors in attendance, held at the largest conference room. It didn't sink into my mind that it would be a semi-formal event or that it would fall on my day off until yesterday, but the black dress that has always been in my closet is a lifesaver.Medical assistants are not obligated to go, but the director wants us to. Nurses don't have to, but Maria and Jasper are free and said they wouldn't miss getting all glamoured up for the world.Maria rolls her eyes good-naturedly. "Sweetheart, if I looked like that in black, I would wear it every
I nod. "Yeah. For when the software has some technical problems and someone has questions about how to use the device."Henry shakes their hands, including Riley's. A seasoned veteran of life, he's friendly, outgoing, and pretty much will shake anyone's hand, which makes him perfect for his department. "Pleased to meet you both. Luke hasn't brought a lot of guests here, so it's good to see some new faces. Are you customers of the product? Or perhaps you're a new member of the team?" He beams at Riley. "And who's this sweetheart?"I look at Olivia, unsure how to play this. But before I can answer, Riley speaks first."I'm Luke's daughter."It's like a bomb dropping-at least, it feels that way to me and Olivia, if her wide eyes and stupefied expression are any indication. My head whips toward Riley, who is smiling at Henry, with Henry eyeing her curiously."You are?"She nods. "Luke is my dad." Then she turns to me. "You're my dad, aren't you?"Color me stunned and rendered speechless.
LukeBeing in Olivia’s house again after taking her so thoroughly a week ago feels more intimate than I anticipated, but it’s also exciting. It’s my third playdate with Riley, who doesn’t have movie-watching in mind this time.“I still have homework, Luke, and I should finish it today.”“Oh. Do you want help with it?”“No. I want to do my homework by myself. Mom says to ask for help if I’m confused, but I’m not confused.”It’s another way of saying she’s independent, which amuses me as I follow her to a room that her mom made into her homework area. The small table is already littered with books, crayons, and the like. I watch Riley start coloring before I gingerly sit on the stool beside her.Immediately, she giggles. “You’re too big for the chair, Luke.”I grin. “It’s okay. I just want to watch you.”She finishes coloring and starts on some math problems. I wait for her to ask for help. But she doesn’t. Realizing my presence might be a detriment more than anything, I carefully stand
I curl my hand inward until his head tilts just a little bit to rest on it. Luke emits a longer sigh, his weariness visible. But he doesn't even care about that.The guy who acts out in front of everyone, sometimes even to patients, has a good heart. I've seen glimpses of it throughout our interactions and the way he treats Riley, but I guess I've been holding back from fully seeing this side of him. He's also just human-the type who, at the end of the day, feels for his patients and gets affected by their condition no matter how hard he tries to separate himself from them.It's this understanding that propels me forward until I'm no longer just cupping his cheek but hugging him, too. I can sense his surprise from his sudden tension, but it's gone in a blink as his arms wrap around me. I know I'm the one comforting him, but the warmth he emits is a source of comfort for me, too."Liv...what is this?"His voice is gruff and just a little bit confused."I just thought you needed a hug."
OliviaI pace the office, done with work, and find myself stuck with nothing to do. I’m sure many people would kill for that problem, but without anything to do, my mind can’t help running a mile a minute as I wait for the person I need to speak with the most.I jump at the knock on the door, then turn to Wanda as she peeks in.“Hey. Wanna get some of that fresh bread down the street before we head home?”I force a smile out. “Sounds great, but I’ll have to pass. I’m staying for a bit.”“Isn’t it past your work hours?”“Yes, but I need to check in with Dr. Jennings about the surgery progress. It’s easier to record everything now than tomorrow.”She shakes her head and mutters about me working too hard, then waves and leaves. I glance at the clock. I should be going home, but it’s one of those lucky days where Nancy asked to stay longer since she needs the extra cash.But as it turns out, I don’t have to wait long as Luke walks in a few minutes later, already scrubbed down.I already h