CHAPTER 27
RILA
She was anxious about this day. Not in the sense of being nervous, because she wasn't. It was more like excitement.
After her mother's surprise on Friday morning, Jessie showed up at the apartment just as Kieran was leaving for the airport. The surprise at finding him there prompted Rila to tell her about their night before they got to the subject that had brought her friend there: her suspension.
When all the updates about her life came to an end, Rila dragged the other doctor with her to the grocery store. Because that was what their friendship was for, through thick and thin. Which included the damn grocery store.
She spent the weekend alternating between swimming, studying, sleeping, and exchanging messages with her two friends in the group she had created.
It was through this group that she received links from some tabloids with photos of her and Kieran kissing in the entrance of her building on the day they made up.
And she didn't even see anyone taking those photos that night, just as she hadn't remembered that he was a public figure and that they had to be careful with that kind of thing.
Another thing she did on those forced days off was watch Kieran’s games, screaming and cheering for the man she loved while wearing his last name on her back.
It was strange to realize that she now thought of him with love and passion, when she had spent so many years with anger and hurt.
But it was a good kind of strange, the kind that made her want to smile like a teenager all the time.
Except when she stepped into the emergency room and Dr. Purke appeared before her like a damn ghost. Arms crossed and looking superior, he looked her up and down before narrowing his eyes. At that moment, she wanted to snarl.
— I hope you're ready to act like a doctor again — his tone dripped with sarcasm and provocation.
— I've never been more rested and focused — she gave him a smile that she knew would irritate him.
No, it wasn't a good idea to poke fun at the boss who already didn't like her, but Rila couldn't control herself.
— I'll keep my eyes on you, Dr. Hill. Do something stupid and you'll have to convince the board of this hospital not to kick you out.
The threat made her blood boil.
Yes, she knew there was no room for mistakes in this profession.
However, she was still a resident, which meant that sometimes she would do stupid things that were obviously not on purpose.
But that was why she was here, living with sleep deprivation, constant adrenaline and almost no time to have a life outside the hospital.
To learn and to be a better doctor with each passing day.
And she would make that very clear to him.
— I'm not going to say that I'll never make another mistake again because, like you, I'm human, and we make mistakes.
But I'm going to do my best to not let that happen — she lifted her chin and kept her gaze steady on his — I know I'm a good doctor, Dr. Purke, just as I know I'm not the kind of person to run away when things get tough.
The only person who could make her act like a coward was the same person who had just made her brave. Brave enough to accept him into her life again. Brave enough to trust in his love again.
— So I fight and will fight for as long as it takes to stay at this hospital.
Not only because I want to finish my residency, but also because it's where my friends are, which makes MedHarbor my home — MedHarbor wasn't just any hospital, it was where she found Jessie, Blake and, in a way, had brought Kieran back into her life — And if my being here bothers you for some reason, well, that's up to you.
There's nothing I can do about it, except keep doing my best at work.
The trauma chief stared at her in silence, his face expressionless. A heartbeat passed. And another. After the third sequence of systole and diastole, he took a deep breath.
— I don't want to see hockey players wandering around the hospital looking for you — he warned.
— You won't.
She would text Kieran and Adrian to reinforce that visits for non-medical reasons were not to happen, unless they wanted to make her very, very angry. Because if she had to listen to Lionel Purke scold her about them, Rila would kick their asses.
The second worst part of the day was being approached by some staff wanting hockey game tickets, because apparently the entire hospital knew she was the woman in the photo kissing one of the Bruins defensemen.
By the end of the day, she was replying to a text from Kieran on her way up to her apartment when the elevator doors opened and the first thing she saw was blue. Her favorite blue.
Crystal blue like the Caribbean sea.
Then she noticed he was holding something that made her heart clench with a mix of emotions.
A bouquet of flowers made of building blocks.
There were different types and none of them were the same as the ones she had stored in the box in her wardrobe. It was as if he remembered every flower he had made for her and was careful not to repeat them.
Seeing him with that brought back bittersweet memories. They were the same memories she had fought against every day since he had re-appeared in her life. Memories that had brought her pain for a while, but were now returning to what they were: happy ones.
— Kieran?
— We're going on our third date — he stated.
— What? — Rila frowned in confusion — I thought it would only arrive later.
From what he had said in one of the messages yesterday, he should be in Washington preparing to catch the plane with the rest of the team.
— I took an early flight because we have an agreement to fulfill. I owe you a third date, love.
Of course he wouldn't forget that. And of course she melted with that love at the end of the sentence. He had been using the nickname often, but she didn't think she would get used to the way her chest warmed whenever she heard it any time soon.
— And I thought I should give this to you — he stretched the flowers towards her — They were all made on your birthday.
That's when she realized there were six flowers in that bouquet, which didn't make much sense since they had only spent five separate birthdays. There was only one explanation for the extra flower.
— So, am I already getting this year's gift?— she picked up the bouquet, examining each piece carefully, her heart warming with a feeling she knew all too well. One that had been a part of her for all the years Kieran had been in her life.
Love.
— No — the player took a step towards her, the smell of cinnamon completely enveloping her, and she pointed to one of the pieces — I didn't forget that year.
He was talking about the last time they saw each other, when everything fell apart. Rila had gone to Montreal as soon as she was released from medical school, they had spent her birthday together and were meeting his parents for Christmas lunch.
She never received the flower that year, with Kieran saying he had forgotten. Then, two days later, her heart grew a painful hole.
— I couldn't give you this knowing what I would have to do — the blue eyes that made her melt inside while freezing her in place were filled with regret — I want you to know that what I said that time was true, Rila. My love for you has not died and never will, just like these flowers.
He was talking about the note. The one that came with the last flower she received and that was thrown away as soon as she arrived from Canada, her heart in tatters. The same note that Rila had considered a lie for years.
— I'm going to hold you to that promise for the rest of your life, you know that, right? — she shook her head from side to side, not holding back the smile that spread across her mouth.
— I know. And I'll be happy to make sure it's fulfilled —the player leaned towards her, brushing his lips against hers as he murmured — Every single day.
He kissed her quickly and softly, pulling away shortly after.
— Now, we have a date to go to.
— Right — Rila cleared her throat, trying to focus on the words and not the mouth that was spewing them out — Where are we going?
— Nowhere, our date is here — Kieran stepped aside and she noticed some bags on the floor in front of the door — You said that your schedule is crazy and you're always tired.
So we're going to put together some lunch boxes so you can eat right until I get back to Boston next week.
And then I'm going to do it again. And again.
And again. Because I want to make sure my woman is eating right.
With each word, the smile on her lips grew wider and her insides melted. This was the Kieran Ward she knew and fell in love with years ago. The man who cared for her.
— Your woman, hun? — she opened the door and helped him put the bags inside — I liked that. And your idea.
— I'll start cooking while you go upstairs and relax in the tub — the player approached, pulling her by the waist until their noses touched — Then you'll come back here and drink a beer while you watch me chop vegetables.
— This is weird, but I think I'm getting horny — Rila licked her lips — It's the perfect dirty talk for tired residents.
Kieran gave one of his rare smiles and pressed their mouths together. She loved all his kisses, but this one, when he kissed her while smiling, hit her in a different way.
— Oh, and one more thing — he went to one of the bags and pulled out a black and gold Bruins jersey — You will wear this.
She took the cloth and spread it in the air, seeing the number twenty-two and WARD engraved on it. Rila saw the player give a smile full of promise before disappearing into the kitchen.
Half an hour later, she joined him in the room, her hair now clean and dry and wearing his uniform. He motioned for Rila to sit on the counter and opened a beer for her.