Chapter 28 Anniversary
ANNIVERSARY
NAVYA
He kisses my cheek…in public. He does it as he passes me at the nurses’ station, his fingers brushing mine for just a second longer than necessary.
“See you later,” he murmurs.
No one cares. Everyone has gotten used to us.
There’s no secrecy, no looking around, and no pretending we’re nothing. There is, alas, also no on-call room sex because now that everyone knows, if we’re seen walking in or out together…they’d know.
It’s not a problem though because we live together.
Five months ago, we moved into a cute little townhouse close to work and in the center of the city—somewhere between Nob Hill and the Tenderloin, physically and emotionally.
Our home is a mix of his expensive European stuff and my colorful, not-so-expensive—Evan’s forbidden me to use the word cheap—Desi stuff.
And, you know what? It works.
He holds my hand on the street.
He takes me to restaurants where people know not only him, but me as well. I’m Evan’s girlfriend. Some even call me his fiancée, and he doesn’t let me correct them.
I’ve met his friends—Massimo, who is exactly as charming and exhausting as advertised—and others who are way more down to earth than I expected.
Ultimately, his family has gotten in line because Nonno approves of me, which is like winning an ancient, unspoken trial.
It’s been two years since that terrible first impression we made on each other in the OR.
We’re planning to celebrate with takeout at home because we’re both too tired to go out, as it’s been a long week.
I’m hoping for a quiet day at least, but that’s not how the hospital gods work. The emergency call comes mid-shift.
Trauma. OR three. Now.
I run.
Adrenaline kicks in, muscle memory taking over as I scrub, gown, and glove.
When I step into the OR, the room is…empty.
Just Evan.
I look past him and see…people beyond the observation glass. Lots of people. Massimo. Latika. Arjun? Carmen. Nonno. What the…?
My heart stutters.
“Navya.” He takes my hands and starts to remove the gloves.
“I fell in love with you because you’re brave.” He casts the gloves onto the floor. “Because you choose kindness when it’s hard. Because you didn’t let me love you halfway.”
I blink and look into the observation room, where people who love us, care for us, are smiling. They’re happy for us. Massimo is wiping his eyes. For all his Don Giovanni ways, the man is a softy.
“I don’t want another year,” Evan continues. “Or another day. I want a lifetime of showing up.”
He drops to one knee.
Right there. In the hospital. In front of everyone who watched us fall apart and come back together.
“Marry me,” he says.
I look around and then glare at him. “We’re both in scrubs.”
He arches an eyebrow. “You’d rather we be naked? I don’t think that’s a good idea. Nonno is here.”
I roll my eyes. “Evan.”
“Will you marry me?” he asks in mock irritation.
“Yes,” I say in mock boredom. “Sure.” And then I screech, “Yippie!”
He laughs as he stands and slips the ring onto my finger.
I look at the ring and grin foolishly. “It’s so beautiful.”
It’s an antique for sure. Like really old. Gorgeous. I’ll have to wear it around my neck on a chain. I’ll never take it off.
Cheers break out from the observation room.
I hear Nonno say, “Bravo.”
“I love you, Doctor,” I whisper as I hold him close.
Evan kisses me in front of our whole world. I’m not invisible. I’m not a secret. I’m chosen. I’m cherished.