11. Lillian #2
By the time Lillian finally had a second to herself, it was nearly 8:00 p.m., and she hadn’t even texted Rebecca yet. She grabbed her phone from her pocket and typed out a quick message, her fingers hovering over the keyboard before hitting send.
I’m stuck at work, but I’ve adjusted our reservation. I’ll pick you up at 9 p.m. instead.
She sent the text and waited, her heart beating a little faster as the minutes ticked by.
She didn’t know how Rebecca would react—if she’d be frustrated by the change or indifferent, as she often was.
Lillian knew how much Rebecca valued her time, and the last thing she wanted was for her to feel like Lillian wasn’t making an effort. But this was out of her control.
Her phone buzzed in her hand a minute later.
Okay.
The one-word reply made Lillian’s chest tighten.
Rebecca wasn’t exactly known for lengthy, emotional responses, but the flatness of it stung more than she’d like to admit.
She had hoped for a little more...something.
Excitement, maybe. But there was none of that in the message. Just a simple, impersonal okay.
Still, Lillian wasn’t going to let it ruin the night. She had already decided to make the best of whatever time they had together, no matter how the day had gone. If anything, they both deserved a break after the hellish day they’d had.
She rushed through the last few tasks of her shift, making sure everything was in order before she could leave the hospital. By the time she finally stepped out into the cool night air, her body ached from the long hours on her feet, but she pushed the exhaustion aside.
As she walked toward her car, she sent another quick text to Rebecca.
"I’m on my way. Be ready in 15."
Lillian drove through the city, her thoughts spinning.
She wanted to shake off the stress of the day, focus on the fact that this was their night.
Despite everything that had gone wrong, she was determined to make this work.
They needed this night to be something real, something that didn’t feel like a fleeting moment stolen in a hospital corridor.
When Lillian arrived at Rebecca’s apartment building, she parked her car and shot Rebecca a text letting her know she was outside.
As she waited, she glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror, quickly running a hand through her hair and smoothing out the fabric of her shirt.
She still had her scrubs folded up in the back seat, but she had managed to freshen up before leaving the hospital, throwing on the dress pants and loose fitting button down shirt she had planned for tonight.
She wanted to look good—for herself and for Rebecca.
The building’s front door opened, and Lillian’s breath caught as she watched Rebecca step out.
Even in the dim glow of the streetlights, Rebecca looked incredible.
She had changed out of her work clothes, tight jeans hugging her curves perfectly, her dark hair falling in loose waves around her face.
She looked composed, but Lillian could see the faint lines of stress still etched into her features, the weight of the day still lingering in her posture.
Lillian got out of the car and opened the passenger door for Rebecca.
Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, neither of them said anything.
The air between them was thick with tension, but it wasn’t the kind of tension Lillian was used to.
It wasn’t the hot, simmering attraction that usually crackled between them. This felt...heavy.
"Rough day?" Lillian asked, her voice soft as Rebecca slid into the seat.
Rebecca nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line. "You could say that."
Lillian shut the door and circled around to the driver’s side, sliding into her seat.
She glanced over at Rebecca, feeling the weight of the silence between them.
This wasn’t how she had imagined their night going.
She had wanted something light, something that would break the tension between them, but now it felt like they were both carrying the weight of the entire world on their shoulders.
"I’m sorry we had to change plans," Lillian said, starting the engine and pulling away from the curb. "I know you’re probably exhausted."
Rebecca leaned back in her seat, staring out of the window for a moment before finally replying. "It’s fine. Work is work."
Lillian kept her eyes on the road, the tension growing in the car.
She could feel Rebecca’s coldness, the emotional distance that always seemed to creep in when things got hard.
Part of her wanted to ask Rebecca how she was really feeling, to break through that wall.
But another part of her didn’t want to push, especially not tonight.
They drove in silence for a while, the city lights flashing past them, until finally, Lillian spoke again. "I know this wasn’t what we planned, but I thought we could still grab something to eat. There’s this late-night diner I know. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s quiet. We can just talk."
Rebecca glanced at her, her expression softening ever so slightly. "That sounds...nice."
Lillian smiled, a small sense of relief washing over her. Maybe tonight wasn’t going to be perfect, but they were together, and that was enough for now.
She drove toward the diner, the hum of the city fading into the background as they settled into the silence between them. For the first time all day, Lillian felt like maybe—just maybe—things were starting to fall into place.
As they pulled into the parking lot of the small diner, Lillian glanced over at Rebecca, her heart pounding just a little faster. The lights from the diner’s neon sign cast a soft glow across Rebecca’s face, highlighting her sharp features and the unreadable expression in her eyes.
"We’re here," Lillian said, cutting the engine.
Rebecca turned to look at her, and for a moment, Lillian thought she saw something flicker in her gaze—something vulnerable, something real. It was gone almost as quickly as it appeared, but it was enough to remind Lillian why she was doing this. Why she kept trying, despite everything.
They both stepped out of the car, and as they walked toward the diner’s entrance, Lillian couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope. This wasn’t what she had planned, but maybe it didn’t have to be. Maybe tonight could still be theirs, despite the rough day, despite the exhaustion.
They entered the diner, the warm smell of coffee and frying food greeting them as they slid into a booth near the back. The waitress came over, taking their orders, and for the first time that night, Lillian felt the tension between them start to ease.
As the food arrived and the quiet clatter of plates filled the air, Lillian looked across the table at Rebecca and said softly, "I know we both had a hell of a day. But I’m glad we’re here."
Rebecca met her gaze, her cold exterior cracking just a little. "Yeah. Me too."
Lillian watched as the waitress placed their plates down in front of them: a greasy cheeseburger and fries for Rebecca, and a simple BLT for herself.
The diner’s warm, low light flickered gently above them, casting a soft glow over the table.
It wasn’t the elegant, quiet restaurant she’d originally planned for their date, but there was something about this small, unassuming place that felt right.
It wasn’t glamorous, but it was real. It felt like a good place to break down the walls between them.
Rebecca sat across from her, staring at the burger in front of her like it was something foreign, something she hadn’t seen in years. And for a moment, Lillian wondered if that might be true.
"This is...far from what I’m used to," Rebecca said, her lips quirking up at the corner as she picked up the burger and inspected it. She looked like she was about to laugh, though her eyes still carried that cool, detached glint. But there was a softness, too, an openness Lillian hadn’t seen in a long time.
Lillian grinned, settling back in the booth. "Yeah, it’s not exactly fine dining, but I figured we could use something different. I think there’s a certain charm to a place like this."
Rebecca raised an eyebrow, biting into the burger with a slow, deliberate motion. The grease dripped onto her plate, and for a second, the elegance she carried with her everywhere seemed to falter. When she swallowed, her expression changed into one of pure surprise.
"Okay, I’ll admit it. This burger is actually good." She wiped her lips with a napkin, smirking. "I don’t think I’ve had a proper diner burger since...god, I don’t even remember. Years, probably."
Lillian chuckled, picking up one of her fries and pointing it at Rebecca. "You’re telling me you’ve been depriving yourself of this kind of greasy goodness all this time? That’s practically a crime."
Rebecca let out a soft laugh, a sound that was far rarer than it should have been, and it made something inside Lillian ease.
For once, they weren’t in the hospital, weren’t trapped in the formal roles that kept them apart.
Here, in this cheap little diner with its flickering neon sign and checkered floors, they were just two people—just Lillian and Rebecca.
Rebecca’s eyes flicked to the burger again, her smirk fading slightly. "I suppose I’ve been busy trying to keep up appearances. Fine dining and all that. You know, part of the image."
"Ah, yes, the image ," Lillian teased, leaning forward on her elbows. "Dr. Rebecca Lang, brilliant surgeon and connoisseur of all things fancy and expensive."
Rebecca rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. "It comes with the territory. Family expectations and all that." She took another bite of her burger, chewing thoughtfully. "But I have to say, there’s something nice about just eating a burger in a cheap diner. No pretense."