Chapter 21
21
JARED
I sat at the luncheon, picking at my food, my mind elsewhere.
The morning had been a blur of conferences and panels, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Amelia.
I’d had to leave the warmth of her this morning and that sucked.
It had taken all my self-control to get out of that bed.
But I couldn’t miss the conference.
And staying in bed with her would have been a fatal mistake.
I had a feeling it would have led to more sex and that would lead to regrets.
She was across the room, talking to a group of people, her laughter carrying over the many conversations between us.
She looked radiant. I couldn’t stop thinking about last night.
It was on a continuous loop in my mind.
Every touch, gasp, and the way she kept calling my name rocked me to my core.
I’d woken up this morning with her warm and soft beside me, her hair fanned out across the pillow, her breathing steady and calm.
For a moment, I’d just lain there, watching her, feeling something I hadn’t felt in a long time.
Something I didn’t want to name.
But then reality had set in.
Reality that came in the form of panic.
I slipped out of bed, heading to the gym to clear my head.
After working up a sweat, I thought I knew what I wanted.
I had rushed back up to my room hoping to talk to her, but she was gone.
Hours later we’d been in the same room, but we still hadn’t talked.
I could only imagine what she was thinking when she saw I was gone this morning.
I didn’t want her to think I used her.
The luncheon was wrapping up.
I was going to snag Amelia and pull her somewhere private for a serious conversation.
I wanted to have the awkward conversation now before we got back on the jet.
I saw Amelia still deep in conversation with one of the doctors attending the conference.
I knew him. He was from New York.
One of the older guys that was trying to keep up with the changing times.
Gemma appeared, sliding into the seat beside me.
She was the last person I wanted to see right now.
Her presence was like a dark cloud.
“Jared,” she said, her voice dripping with sweetness.
“I was hoping I’d run into you.”
I forced a smile because we were surrounded by colleagues.
Almost everyone knew something happened between us, but they didn’t know what.
Although some people guessed right.
Most people assumed I was the one who cheated on her.
“Gemma. What can I do for you?”
She leaned in, her hand brushing against my arm.
“I was thinking… I might be spending more time at the lab in the coming weeks. I have some free time, and I thought I could lend a hand with some of your cases.”
Gemma was a great surgeon, and I did have cases that could use her expertise.
But the thought of having her around more often…
it didn’t sit well with me.
Still, I couldn’t deny that she could be an asset.
“We’ll talk about it,” I said, my tone noncommittal.
She smiled, her eyes lighting up.
“Great. How about dinner tonight? We can discuss it then.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could say anything, she stood up, her hand lingering on my shoulder.
“I’ll see you at eight.”
I didn’t remember agreeing to dinner, but Gemma had a way of twisting things to her advantage.
I glanced back to where Amelia had been chatting with people.
She was reaching into her purse, excusing herself from the group and stepping out into the hallway.
I followed her with my gaze.
The expression on her face made me think something was wrong.
“You’ve got it bad, don’t you?” Gemma said,
“What are you talking about?” I snapped.
She nodded toward the hallway where Amelia had disappeared.
“Her. I didn’t realize people like that were your type.”
I scowled, my patience snapping.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Gemma shrugged, her expression innocent.
“Nothing. Just, well, she’s not exactly your usual type.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I shot back, keeping my voice low to keep from attracting any attention.
Gemma had a way of pushing buttons I didn’t even know I had.
“Oh, come on, Jared. You’ve always gone for polished. Sophisticated. Amelia’s sweet, sure, but she’s not exactly in our league.”
I clenched my fists.
“Our league? What are you, a high school clique now? Amelia’s brilliant, Gemma. She’s dedicated and passionate about her work—qualities you seem to have forgotten exist.”
Gemma’s smirk faltered for a moment, but she recovered quickly, her tone turning sly.
“Defensive much? Interesting. Didn’t realize you were so enamored with her.”
“Don’t start this crap with me, Gemma. Whatever you’re trying to insinuate, drop it. Amelia’s my colleague and a damn good one at that. That’s all you need to know.”
“Colleague?” she repeated, tilting her head mockingly.
“Is that what we’re calling it now? Because the way you’ve been staring at her all day suggests otherwise. Remember, I know you. You used to look at me like that.”
I stood up, my chair scraping against the floor.
“We all make mistakes.”
I walked away, leaving Gemma behind, and headed for the hallway.
Amelia was there, just ending a phone call.
She looked withdrawn, her shoulders tense.
I stepped in front of her.
She started a little when she saw me.
“Amelia, are you okay?”
She nodded, but her eyes were distant.
“I’m fine. I just… need to step out for a minute. I don’t have anything on my agenda until later.”
I frowned, taking a step closer.
“What’s wrong?”
She shook her head.
“Nothing. I just… I need some air. I’ll see you later.”
I reached for her, but she stepped back, her expression guarded.
“I’m sorry about last night,” she said, her words tumbling out in a rush.
“I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I’m still trying to get into a normal sleep schedule. I’ll see you later.”
Before I could say anything, she turned and hurried down the hallway, leaving me standing there.
I wanted to go after her, to tell her that last night had been more than just a hookup for me.
But before I could, some colleagues called for me from the luncheon, and I had to go back inside.
I walked back into the luncheon, forcing a neutral expression as I approached the group of doctors who had called for me.
“Jared,” Dr. Patel said, clapping me on the shoulder.
“We were just discussing your latest study in stroke recovery. Brilliant work, truly. I’d love to hear more about your methods.”
“I bet you would,” I said, nodding, though my mind was still half out in the hallway with Amelia.
“It’s light years ahead of your work.”
Dr. Kim leaned in, her brow furrowed in thought.
“I’ve read your papers, but I’m curious—have you considered the long-term implications of the treatment?”
“Obviously,” I replied, my tone sharp.
I hated to be second-guessed.
“We’re monitoring patients closely. So far, no adverse effects have been reported, but we’re not rushing into anything. This isn’t just about pushing boundaries—it’s about doing what’s best for the patients.”
She nodded approvingly.
“It’s refreshing to see someone not afraid to take risks.”
I managed a tight smile.
“It’s not a risk when you know what you’re doing.”
That put an end to their fawning questions.
It wasn’t long before we the next panel started.
I was on this one and had to stick around, even if I wanted to go after Amelia.
I was distracted. I kept looking for her.
Unfortunately, Amelia was nowhere to be seen.
I kept glancing at the door, hoping she’d come back, but she didn’t.
By the time the afternoon sessions were over, I was starting to worry.
I saw Gemma talking to a few doctors.
She spotted me. I quickly looked away, wanting to make my escape before she could catch up with me.
I returned to my hotel room to get ready for the dinner that would wrap up the conference, and that’s when I saw the maid cart outside Amelia’s room.
My heart sank as I approached.
I stepped into the room and discovered the bed stripped.
“Excuse me?” I asked the woman wiping down the counter in the bathroom.
“Yes?” she answered.
“The woman who was staying in this room, did she move to another room?”
She shrugged.
“I don’t know. I believe it was an early checkout. No idea where they went after.”
“Thank you.”
I walked into my room feeling like I just got kicked in the stomach.
I didn’t understand what happened.
I called Roger, hoping she would have used him to go to the airport.
“Did Amelia use the car?” I asked as soon as he answered.
“No, sir,” Roger said.
“She hasn’t called for it.”
I hung up, my mind racing.
Where had she gone? I quickly looked up her number in the Welch Labs directory and called.
It went straight to voicemail.
I left a message. “Amelia, it’s Jared. Call me when you get this. I just… I want to make sure you’re okay.”
As I hung up, my phone buzzed with a text from Gemma.
“Still on for dinner tonight?”
I stared at the screen.
I didn’t remember agreeing to dinner, but maybe this was for the best. Amelia had left without a word, without even giving me a chance to explain.
Maybe last night hadn’t meant as much to her as it had to me.
Maybe it was just a hookup.
I felt a flicker of relief at the thought, but it was quickly overshadowed by a deep, aching disappointment.
I didn’t know what I wanted.
Not a relationship. But I wanted her again.
Was there another option?
It felt like more than friends with benefits, but I didn’t want a relationship.
I had a feeling that was not what she wanted either.
That left us in a very weird place.