CHAPTER 9
RILA
— Where's your costume? — Rila's eyebrows shot up as she looked Blake from head to toe in disbelief.
Underneath the white coat, the blonde wore white tailored pants with a lavender turtleneck sweater that made her blonde hair stand out even more. God, this way she looked like Doctor Barbie herself.
— I didn't think you were serious about this — she frowned and looked around, taking in the emergency room decorated for Halloween.
Cutouts of bats and pumpkins were glued all over the counter, and a witch's cauldron-shaped pot full of lollipops was placed on the edge of it. In addition, each bed received an orange balloon with different pumpkin faces drawn on it with black marker.
Pippa loved this holiday, and every year she made a point of arriving at five in the morning to put up the decorations. And Rila had to admit that it was cool to see the team use their creativity to make costumes that didn't disrupt service but still had the Halloween spirit.
— Okay, come here — the emergency doctor pulled her friend behind the counter and opened some drawers to find the tools needed to do what she was thinking about.
Two minutes later, she had cut out a tiny piece of paper in the shape of a star, folded some tape on one side, and taped the art to Blake's forehead.
— There, if anyone asks, just start singing Salva-me.
— Really? — she laughed, her blue eyes full of amusement — Mia Colucci?
— If you don't like it, I can write “late period” on a paper sheet and stick it on your back. That would definitely be a scary fantasy.
— Thanks, you just decided on my costume for next year — Jessie appeared on the other side of the counter and rested her elbows on the surface, evaluating Rila with her brown eyes — Queen of Hearts, I liked it.
She bought a crown made from hearts from a deck of cards and drew two small red hearts in the outer corner of her left eye, near the end of her eyebrow. The red scrub and loose black hair complemented the look perfectly.
— Thank you. And what are you supposed to be? — Rila cocked her head to the side, trying to decipher Jessie's costume, who wore navy blue surgical pajamas and a red sweatshirt over it.
Her friend raised her index finger, asking her to wait a second, and then pulled the hood of her coat, covering her head and leaving only the two brown braids showing in front of her breasts.
— Wanna come with me to my grandma's house?
A costume that took virtually no effort, just like her Statue of Liberty tiara last year. Meanwhile, Rila had used spray to dye half of her hair white and appeared in a white coat with black polka dots to represent Cruella de Vil.
— It depends, will a big bad wolf come and eat me? Because otherwise I'll pass — the emergency doctor joked.
— Hm, I don't know about a wolf, but there's someone else who would like to devour you — Blake chuckled softly and Jessie pursed her lips to hold back a smile when Rila rolled her eyes — Speaking of people wanting you, there's a player in the VIP section who wants to see you.
Her heart skipped a beat at the sentence and she had to hold back a growl of irritation in her throat.
— I think I'll stick with the wolf, thank you very much — she grumbled.
— You know, this is a great day to get rid of the ghosts of the past — Jessie suggested.
— Or kiss one — the blonde added, shrugging when she received an exasperated look from Rila — Anyway, he said he won't leave until he sees you, and believe me, I tried to get rid of him. Not even the threat of an enema made him consider it.
Great. Just great. That was really what she needed after last night's disastrous dinner and having one of the worst nights of sleep in months because she kept seeing a pair of crystal blue eyes in her dreams.
— Shit. Fine, I’ll go — puffed and took the VIP area access card from Blake — I'll be back in five.
Her two friends exchanged an ironic look that made her eyes roll.
She was going to kill Kieran. He couldn't keep showing up at her workplace and asking about her. The last time was enough for some nurses to look at her with raised eyebrows when she left the trauma room. She didn't even want to think about the gossip that might start if he continued these visits.
But when Rila entered the room, it wasn't piercing blue eyes and straight brown strands that were there. Instead, a man with golden skin, brown curls, and eyes of the same color was sprawled unassumingly on the bed.
Immediately, her feet began to move quickly to the edge of the bed and she had to hold back a squeal of happiness. He had a cocky smile on his lips, and his eyes sparkled with joy when he saw her.
— Adrian — a genuine smile spread across Rila's face before she bent over and wrapped her arms around the player's neck — My God, what are you doing here?
— Hey, Rila. It's good to see you too — his body shook with a laugh as he hugged her back.
Adrian Garcia was Kieran’s best friend, but he was also one of her closest and dearest friends.
They met in her third year in Vancouver when Kieran took him to practice hockey moves on the lake because she wasn't much help with that.
From then on, Adrian started joining them for a few days during her stays, and the three of them had even more fun.
While Kieran was all serious and few words, their friend loved to make jokes and chatted away. Come to think of it, he and Lucas, Jessie's brother, had very similar personalities. Except Adrian was a self-confessed playboy and loved being surrounded by women.
— Are you hurt? What happened? — she stepped back to look him up and down, looking for possible injuries, but he seemed to be in excellent health — When Blake told me that a player was asking for me, I thought it was Kieran.
— She was kind of right — he moved his chin to something behind her, making her turn around and find Kieran leaning against the doorstep, staring at them silently — So, my queen, what are the chances of you giving me Dr. Barbie's number?
— None — Rila quickly turned her attention to Adrian and narrowed her eyes — Stay away from her.
— I can't promise anything — he raised his hands in a sign of surrender, still wearing his smug smile.
— What are you guys doing here? — she took a step back, standing next to the bed and facing Kieran.
Just like their friend, he was wearing black sweatpants and a long-sleeved shirt of the same color. The fabrics clung in all the right places, and Rila could see how extremely fit he was. Maybe the words she was looking for were: stupidly hot.
Damn it.
— I heard you're giving my boy a hard time here — Adrian pointed to where Kieran was standing — So I said I was seeing everything double when I woke up and got a place for you two to talk. And also, I missed you.
The last sentence made the corners of Rila's mouth rise.
— I missed you too.
— Great, now stop being stubborn and listen to what he has to say so things can go back to the way they were before — Adrian jumped out of bed and left a kiss on her head before walking towards the door — I need someone to help me get under his skin every now and then, and everyone knows you're the best person for that.
He winked at her, patted Kieran on the back twice, and left the room, leaving them alone. And in silence. Total and profound silence.
Rila remained standing next to the bed, her back straight, her chin raised and her arms crossed while a pair of blue irises analyzed her intensely. Her traitorous body wanted to squirm under his gaze, but her brain managed to control it. She wouldn't move or speak first. No way.
— You cut your hair — his deep voice came out almost like a growl.
Was that what he was going to start with?
Rila had to cut it because she couldn't bear to remember the way he wrapped the strands around his fist when he put her on all fours in bed. She knew how much he liked them long, so she cut them a foot below her shoulders two days after she left Canada and has kept them that length ever since.
— I hurt you and you have every right to be mad at me because of that — he slowly walked towards her, stopping a step away before starting to speak again — I don't want to invalidate your feelings, but I want to get you to forgive me.
Forgiveness. Could she give him that? Could she forget how she felt that night and every day after that? The memories, as much as she was trying to ignore them, still felt fresh in her mind. Her heart still writhed at the slightest reminder of whom she became after him.
— I'm here to offer you a deal — Rila raised her eyebrows, his words taking her by surprise — Go on three dates with me, and if after that you still hate me, I'll stop looking for you.
And then they were silent again.
— Really? That easy?
She could survive three dates with him. Totally. All she had to do was keep the memory of the months that followed the breakup fresh, and she would be fine. She wouldn't fall in love with him again because of three dates.
Rila wasn't against falling in love again, that even happened a few years ago and she was happy. But she was against falling in love with Kieran again. And considering how confused and vulnerable he made her, she had to admit that she was a little afraid of making this mistake without realizing it.
Because that's what happened years ago, the feelings were growing silently and when she saw it, they had already consumed her completely. Blinded her.
And that couldn't happen again, she couldn't lose sight of herself.
— Believe me, I won't make it easy for you — she blinked a few times, absorbing his proposal and thinking of something else.
— With one condition — the corner of his mouth turned up in an almost smile, as if he'd been expecting it. Of course he was, he knew her well enough to know that she wouldn't give in without resisting a little — You're not allowed to talk about the past unless I start the subject.