Chapter 9 #2
“See you there,” she said then turned to the elevator.
She headed down to the first floor and stashed her lab coat in her locker and grabbed her personal bag.
Her pulse was ticking as she made her way out of the hospital.
She knew they would not have long to talk before needed to get back to the hospital, so she hoped nothing would hold Elizabeth up.
She went across the street to the pub, being early in the day it was much quieter, a couple of other patrons sat at the booths and the bartender gestured for her to take a seat wherever.
Within a few minutes, a server came t o get her drink order.
She ordered two glasses of water and let the server know that Elizabeth would be joining her soon, and as though on cue, Elizabeth walked through the door.
She was wearing a sharp blue suit that accentuated her curves, despite the masculine cut of the outfit, she looked all woman.
Ava’s breath caught as she watched her cross the room.
Even the way she walked exuded confidence and power, and the way her eyes lit up when she spotted Ava made her pulse spike again.
Elizabeth slid into the booth opposite Ava, and suddenly Ava found that she was fumbling for words. She opened her mouth and tried to speak, but nothing would form. She closed and opened it again, quickly becoming frustrated at her lack of tact.
“Come on, out with it,” Elizabeth said, though she picked at the coaster and fidgeted with the straw.
“Doctor Mars approached me this morning,” Ava finally managed to blurt. “About us.”
“Us?” Elizabeth’s eyebrows lifted in surprise .
“Yes, apparently people have been talking,” Ava said, heat blossoming in her cheeks.
“Talking,” Elizabeth echoed, her voice flat.
“Drawback of the Phoenix Ridge community, I guess,” Ava said with a slight wince. “Doctor Mars is worried about the PR, since this case has become public knowledge.”
“Has something happened?” Elizabeth asked. At that moment, the server came up to the table with their waters.
Ava shook her head, but they paused the conversation to order a light lunch of salads with chicken, and once the server left, Elizabeth’s eyes locked on Ava’s again.
“So, has something happened?” Elizabeth repeated.
Ava shook her head again before speaking. “No, nothing detrimental anyway, Doctor Mars just wants us to decide if we are official or…” Ava trailed off.
“Or?” Elizabeth lifted an eyebrow.
“Now you’re messing with me,” Ava said with a sigh and leaned onto her hand.
“I’m not messing with you,” Elizabeth said w ith a slight smile. “I guess I’m trying to feel out what you’re thinking.”
“Well, we were supposed to talk about this yesterday,” Ava said with a shrug.
“I suppose so,” Elizabeth answered.
“Well, have you thought about it?” Ava asked, her pulse pounding.
“You go first,” Elizabeth said.
Ava opened and closed her mouth before answering. “I don’t think I can.”
“Well, what are you feeling?” Elizabeth asked. Ava narrowed her eyes at the woman. She seemed completely at ease, which Ava found intriguing. She itched to bounce the question back at Elizabeth but decided against it.
“I like you, I really like you. Obviously I’m attracted to you and I’m terrified that this conversation will mean the end of us,” Ava finally said.
“Why would you be afraid of that?” Elizabeth asked. Ava noticed that she was in her analytical mode, perhaps that was where Elizabeth was the most comfortable, even when discussing personal feelings.
“Well, because I have no idea what the future could hold for us,” Ava said .
Elizabeth nodded as though she was absorbing all the information.
“What about you, how are you feeling about all this?” Ava finally asked.
Elizabeth furrowed her brows in thought. “You are different than anyone I have ever met, Ava,” she said. Ava felt her cheeks flush. “You’re beautiful, you’re intelligent, you are interesting in all the best ways. I don’t want to end our relationship.”
“I don’t want to end our relationship either,” Ava blurted, relief washing through her. She felt elated. On some level, she knew that Elizabeth shared her feelings, but there was an acute joy at hearing it spoken aloud. “I find you so fascinating, Elizabeth,” Ava gushed.
“I feel the same,” Elizabeth said, her smile growing. Her light eyes sparkled with happiness. “I don’t know what the future will hold, Ava, but I know that I want you to be in it.”
Ava felt like she could stand up and dance around the table, but instead she reached across the table and stroked Elizabeth’s cheek.
She sat up and leaned over to press her lips to Elizabeth’s for a quick kiss before settling back in her seat.
The server came over with their salads and a slight smirk on her face.
“I’m not sure what we’re talking about over here, but I feel like I should say congratulations,” the server said with a slight chuckle.
“Thank you,” Ava responded, her cheeks flushing.
Elizabeth laughed slightly and picked up her fork and started picking at her salad. Ava did the same, but neither of them could bring themselves to eat.
“We have a lot to talk about,” Elizabeth finally said, and Ava’s pulse picked up again.
“We do, but we will figure it out,” Ava said, finally taking a bite of her meal. After chewing thoughtfully and swallowing she continued, “When we get back to the hospital, though, we need to meet with Doctor Mars and let her know what we’ve decided, apparently there’s some paperwork involved.”
Elizabeth nodded. “That’s usually the policy at a hospital,” she smiled. “I guess it’s part of who we are.”
Ava’s grin couldn’t be contained. She took anothe r bite of her salad.
Knowing they needed to get back to the hospital, they finished their meal quickly, moving the conversation to the case at hand.
Ava made sure to text Dr. Mars and let her know that they would be coming in after they finished their lunch.
In a rash decision, Ava took Elizabeth’s hand as they walked back across the street to the hospital, and her mood only grew higher at the slight smile Elizabeth gave her at the soft touch.
They went straight to Dr. Mars’ office, she was on the phone as usual, so they took their seats in front of the desk. Ava could see that Dr. Mars looked relieved that they were coming in together, though she couldn’t completely figure out why.
“So?” Doctor Mars asked when she finally hung up the phone.
“We are declaring our relationship,” Ava said, fighting to keep the grin off her face. She needed to maintain her professionalism, but it was difficult. She glanced over at Elizabeth, who seemed to be fighting the same battle.
“This is not going to cause problems for the ca se or the hospital?” Doctor Mars asked with a lift of her eyebrows.
“Of course not, Doctor Mars,” Elizabeth answered, lifting her chin. “We are both dedicated professionals, and I believe that our personal relationship will only lead to our solving this case faster and more efficiently.”
“Well, that is good to hear,” Doctor Mars said and pulled a form from a drawer. She handed one to each of them. It was the basic contract that they were engaging in a relationship and that it would not interfere with their professional relationship.
“Thank you,” Ava said as she took the form, she signed her name and dated the bottom before passing the form back to Dr. Mars. Elizabeth took a little more time skimming over the contents but added her name to the bottom and dated it.
“I didn’t doubt it,” she said as she took the forms from the two women. They looked at each other and smiled and Dr. Mars rolled her eyes. “It’s nice to see you with someone who is on your level,” Doctor Mars said, directing the comment toward Ava.
Elizabeth’s brows furrowed, but she gave a slight smirk. Ava’s cheeks warmed, but Elizab eth knew she was a great match for Ava, that was never a question.
“Thank you?” Ava said with a slight shake of her head.
“Off the record, I think you are wonderful for each other and I wish you all the best. I know I shouldn’t put my nose in anyone’s personal lives, but Ava, I know you deserve someone great and I believe that Elizabeth is easily that person.”
Ava beamed, but Elizabeth looked a bit self-conscious.
“I appreciate your support,” Elizabeth said, her cheeks slightly pink.
“Hopefully, it means we will get to see more of you around here,” Doctor Mars continued. “Though I will support whatever choices you both make for your futures.”
“Thank you, Doctor Mars,” Ava said, trying to hedge the conversation quickly. She and Elizabeth still had a lot to figure out where their future was concerned.
“Alright,” Doctor Mars said, putting her hands on the desk and standing up. “Go save some lives.”
Ava’s lips curled into a determined smile.
She felt amazing; there was nothing that could stop them now.
With Elizabeth by her side, they could conquer the world.
Ava couldn’t remember a time when she felt so happy.
She nodded briskly and looked over at Elizabeth who shared her expression.
They both stood and left the office heading for the elevator.
When the doors closed in front of them, Ava turned to Elizabeth and pulled her close, pressing her lips against Elizabeth’s.
Heat flooded through her body, but Elizabeth responded, probing Ava’s lips with her tongue.
The ride to the third floor was painfully quick and they barely managed to pull away from each other before the doors opened again.
Ava smiled slightly looking at the color on Elizabeth’s lips after their quick kiss.
She knew that they needed to focus, but waiting to put her hands, her lips, on Elizabeth’s body until tonight was going to be hard.
As they walk into the lab, Lindsey greeted them with flushed cheeks and dark circles underneath her eyes.
“Have you slept at all?” Ava asked, putting her hand on Lindsey’s shoulder .
“Um, I don’t know,” Lindsey said, “but we have a problem.”
Ava’s elation crashed through the floor.
“What is it?” Elizabeth asked.
“It’s Heather,” Lindsey said, her eyes becoming worried and watery. “Her heart is failing; we can’t keep her under much longer, and her sister suddenly isn’t doing much better.”
Ava’s eyes widened and she turned to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth’s nostrils flared as an expression of deep determination shadowed her face. “Then we need to get to work.”
Ava nodded, noticing a slight twinge in her neck. She reached up to massage it and Elizabeth looked at her, narrowing her eyes.
“What’s wrong,” Elizabeth demanded.
“Nothing,” Ava said, shaking her head. “I think I slept wrong, that’s all.” Elizabeth clenched her teeth, but thankfully didn’t say anything else. Ava prayed that was all it was.