Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Alight bout of dizziness hits as I stand in front of my bathroom mirror, applying makeup to my freshly washed face.
I steady myself with a deep exhale, gripping the sides of the sink for balance.
Preparing for my work’s holiday party has been a whole process as I take things slow so I don’t bring on another head rush.
After dinner and our game last night, my sister waited patiently as I took the world’s longest shower. Then she gave me a blowout, smoothing my wild curls to silky perfection, which I ended up curling with my curling iron for a different look than usual.
My evening starts in fifteen minutes, but I have no problem being fashionably late. Showing up right on time would only make it more obvious I’m showing up alone.
As I swipe the mascara wand against my eyelashes, the glow of my phone catches my eye in the bathroom mirror. Pausing, wand suspended midair, I glance at the screen.
Lincoln called once this morning and texted me earlier this afternoon, both of which I ignored. He wants to talk, and I know it’s a good idea if we do, but I’m also afraid.
My gut tells me his behavior while I was in the hospital was just a moment of vulnerability. A lapse of judgment. He’s probably calling to apologize for flirting, and reaffirm he doesn’t have feelings for me—romantically, or otherwise.
Frankly, I don’t think my heart can take it.
Expelling a shaky breath, I return to the task at hand—applying my makeup and making myself look absolutely phenomenal for this Christmas party.
There’s not a single soul I am interested in impressing other than myself, and after spending time wearing a hospital gown this week, I figure I owe it to myself to get a little dolled up.
Once my makeup is perfected, I strip down to my lacy thong and strapless bra, then grab my dress from where it hangs on the back of the bathroom door.
Layers of chocolate-brown tulle hang in an elegant skirt from a princess cut bodice, stealing my breath away for the hundredth time.
I’m utterly obsessed with the uniqueness of the dress—such a simple design, in a neutral color, yet I’ve never seen anything more beautiful.
Although it doesn’t scream holiday party, the feeling I have when it’s on my body is unmatched.
Sliding the dress on, I maneuver it into place, studying my reflection as the whole look comes together. When I’m satisfied, I turn the bathroom light off and return to my room.
As per usual, Pebbles stretches lazily on my bed, my presence pulling her from another slumber. She takes up more than half of the space on my duvet and seems to be in no hurry to move.
“I’ll be back in a few hours, girl,” I tell her as she yawns. “You stay out of trouble while I’m gone.”
I assume she understood every word because her head plops back onto the mattress before my sentence has even finished.
The click of my heels echoes through my small apartment as I finish shutting off lights and closing the open doors to spaces Pebbles doesn’t need access to. Then, I lock up, ready to meet my rideshare waiting for me downstairs.
Bright lights reflect off the tall buildings that make up San Diego’s downtown, making them appear as though they are twinkling against the night sky. My driver takes me down North Harbor Drive, where I people and boat watch as we pass the bay.
When we pull up to the hotel, I thank the kind man for the ride. The lobby is bustling with activity as I quietly weave through, quickly spotting the elevators. I’m alone as I ride to the top floor.
I’m not sure what I expected this party to be like, but it certainly wasn’t this.
My jaw drops when the elevator doors slide open, revealing a decadent ballroom overlooking all of San Diego’s downtown.
Everywhere I look is draped in shades of silver.
It covers the window treatments, the tables, even the centerpieces.
The soft, low lighting shimmers against it, giving the space a glamorous ambiance.
Deep burgundy accents are scattered throughout, adding a holiday richness.
My coworkers are dressed to the nines in gorgeous dresses and smart suits—a stark contrast to the scrubs and doctor’s coats they’re typically in.
Upbeat music blends with laughter and conversation, and for a moment, I take it all in.
The atmosphere instantly lifts my spirit, and as I step further inside the room, I’m overtaken with a sense of renewed energy. This is exactly what I’ve needed after the last couple of days, and I’m so glad I made the decision to come tonight.
“Genesis.” Lincoln’s low baritone freezes me, wrapping around me like a seductive embrace. A shiver shoots through my body, but it’s met with a rush of heat low in my belly that ignites at the sound of my name on his lips.
Turning slowly, I see him take his final few steps before reaching me, hands in the pockets of his dark gray slacks.
He’s coupled it with a matching gray button-down, with the sleeves rolled up mid-forearm, and a dark, paisley pattern tie.
It’s hard to tell what color it is in this lighting, but he looks good.
Really good.
“I thought you weren’t coming.” My voice sounds far raspier than it should, and I sink my teeth into my bottom lip to keep myself from saying something stupid.
“We need to talk, and you’re avoiding me.”
“How can I be avoiding you when I haven’t seen you?” The jest comes out naturally, but this time, a hint of regret follows.
The look on Lincoln’s face is stoic. “I’ve sent you two text messages and called you, to which you have not acknowledged any of my attempts.” He takes a step closer and picks up one of my curls, playing with it. “This is different,” he murmurs.
My breathing hitches. “Bad different, or good different?”
“Just…different. You always look beautiful, Genesis.”
My heart does a traitorous flip-flop, and the air around us suddenly thickens until it’s hard to breathe. Part of me wants to walk away—to not hear him out—because the impending sting of rejection clings to me.
But the other part, the curious part, hangs on his every word, eager to listen. “What did you want to talk about?”
Lincoln glances around, gaze skimming over the ballroom full of our co-workers. “Can we go somewhere private?”
Every fiber of my being screams that this is a bad idea, but something has shifted between us. I can feel it. The idea of being alone with him is both exhilarating and terrifying. Still, I find myself nodding.
When he offers me the crook of his arm, I take it without hesitation, letting him guide me through the throng of people around us.
Back inside the elevator, he presses the button for the rooftop, taking us up another level.
Cold December air wraps around me as the door slides open. The rooftop is quiet—we’re the only ones up here. The warmth of the heaters radiates, scattered between the abundance of seating, yet we move in silence until we reach the edge of the building.
Leaning against the railing, Lincoln’s forearms rest on the metal as he looks out toward the Coronado Bridge.
“I know I crossed the line with you while you were in the hospital,” he says quietly, not looking in my direction. “As a doctor, I apologize for my inappropriate behavior.”
“Lincoln, it’s fi—” My response slips out immediately, but he cuts me off.
“But as a man, I won’t apologize for showing you the fear I had seeing you get hurt. I’m not sorry for that, Gen. And if I’m being honest, I’m tired of pretending my feelings for you don’t exist.”
For the first time in my life, I’m speechless. Shadows from the night fall over his face, but I still see the glitter in his eye and the bashful smile upturning his lips.
“Are you serious?” I breathe, my heart pounding in disbelief. My nails dig into my palms as I try to steady myself.
The weight of the confession is woven through his words as he promises, “I would never lie to you.”
I take a second, letting his words sink in. My mind’s racing to catch up as this all feels akin to whiplash. For so long, he’s made me believe he hates me, and now…
Now… My eyes squeeze together tightly, staying closed as I whisper, “All this time you’ve acted like I was the bane of your existence—like you absolutely could not stand me.”
Tears threaten to spill through my lashes. I flinch when Lincoln’s palm touches my cheek, turning my face in his direction. Hesitantly, I open my eyes.
“Completely enamored is more accurate,” he confesses softly.
“For the sake of my cousin and his newly developing relationship, I chose to mask my attraction for you with indifference. A poor choice on my part, but one I thought I was making in the best interest of Miller. I couldn’t live with myself if I pursued something with his girlfriend’s best friend and it didn’t work out.
I didn’t want to be responsible for potentially ruining what they had. ”
“So why now? If you’ve been hiding it all this time, why change your mind now?” The words tumble from my lips, unable to hide the frustration laced within them. I’ve spent months trying to be his friend, knowing that would be the best-case scenario.
“Because I realized life is too short.”
With a disbelieving huff, I shake my head. “You’re a doctor, that’s a no-brainer.”
Running his hand through his hair, Lincoln’s jaw tightens before he exhales through his nose. His eyes lock with mine, and he takes a step closer to me, even though we’re practically chest to chest already.