CHAPTER 59
Nina stood on the rooftop of the clinic, letting the cool night breeze brush against her face. A full, round moon hung over the city so bright and unreal it felt like she could reach out and touch it.
She was waiting for Jasper. He was in surgery again. And again—late into the night. She had already lost count of how many times they’d met like this: she came up to the roof while he was still scrubbed in. But for some reason, she felt calm here.
Maybe because she knew he’d be up the moment he was free.
The door clicked open. She smiled. She could tell it was him by the sound of his steps alone.
“I’m done for the night,” Jasper said quietly as he walked toward her.
She turned to him.
“It’s ten p.m. Took you long enough.”
He looked exhausted, still in his clinic scrubs.
She reached for the second cup sitting on the ledge.
“I brought you one too. The coffee here is awful, but… we don’t exactly have options.”
Jasper took the cup, his fingers brushing hers for the briefest second.
“Thanks,” he said, voice low and rough. “You’re too good to me.”
For a moment, they simply stood there, looking at each other. Neither moved.
Then he stepped closer. Slowly. Almost uncertainly. His eyes looked darker in the moonlight, and when he spoke again, his voice softened.
“You know… every time I open that door, I’m half afraid you won’t be here.”
She smiled again. Their strange little rooftop evenings had become a habit—almost a ritual.
For a month now, they had been meeting here nearly every night.
Sometimes they brought takeout, sometimes just tea or coffee.
Jasper’s schedule was brutal, and next week he would be gone for a three-day conference.
“It’s beautiful here,” she said, “but we should start considering other date spots. The staff is beginning to notice things.”
Jasper huffed a laugh, then leaned in and kissed her—a quick, soft brush of lips, like he was testing the taste of her.
When he pulled back, she still stood with her eyes closed, unsure if she was breathing at all.
Their relationship wasn’t racing forward; neither of them really knew how to navigate any of this. They were both cautious. Both wounded. Both afraid of what their pasts still held over them.
“Sorry,” he murmured. “I just… couldn’t not kiss you.”
She opened her eyes.
“Is it silly if I say I wanted that?”
He shook his head. A warm, shy expression softened his face—Jasper Garth, shy. Who would’ve believed it?
“Then I’m not apologizing.”
He took a sip of the coffee, winced, and smirked.
“Still terrible.”
She turned away so he wouldn’t see her smile. Then, gathering her courage, she asked:
“Jasper… is this real? Everything that’s happening between us?”
He looked at her steadily. Then he reached out and tilted her chin up so she had to meet his eyes.
“It’s real, Nina. You’re my reality. A little chaotic, maybe… but real.”
And he kissed her again, this time slower, deeper, tasting of bad coffee and hope. His hand slid to the back of her neck, fingers brushing her skin. She could hear his breathing—steady, deep, as if he still didn’t quite believe any of this was happening.
“Ah! There you are!”
They both jumped apart like teenagers caught breaking curfew. Nina nearly spilled her coffee. Jasper turned sharply.
“Lynn?..” He blinked. “How did you even? How did you know we were up here?”
Lynn snorted, rolling her eyes as she walked closer.
“Dad, seriously? The whole clinic knows where to find you every night.”
Heat rushed to Nina’s cheeks. Jasper glanced at her, then back at his daughter.
“So you all… knew?” he asked in disbelief.
“Of course,” she said with a shrug. “It’s practically in the schedule. If you’re not in the resident lounge, you’re on the roof. It’s not rocket science.”
Jasper covered his face with one hand.
“Perfect. Absolutely perfect.”
Lynn giggled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Don’t worry. Everyone’s happy for you two. Well… almost everyone. Mrs. Collins downstairs hasn’t given up on marrying you off to her daughter.”
Jasper and Nina exchanged a look. He smirked; she ducked her head to hide the blush.
He cleared his throat.
“So… what did you need?”
“Oh! Right.” Lynn tapped her forehead. “Nolan just called. Something urgent at work, he can’t pick me up. I’m without a car today. Can you drive me home?”
Jasper nodded.
“Of course. Meet me downstairs in ten minutes.”
Lynn smiled and vanished through the door.
Jasper turned back to Nina, his voice softer.
“Come on. I’ll change and walk you out.”
They went downstairs together. On the second floor he slipped into the attending lounge to change; she waited in the quiet hallway, leaning against the wall.
She watched the empty chairs, the peaceful stillness, and felt—for the first time in years—settled. Grounded. Alive.
A few minutes later Jasper returned in jeans and a gray T-shirt, impossibly handsome in his simplicity. They walked to the entrance together.
Lynn was already there, scrolling through her phone. She looked up when she saw them and smiled.
Nina glanced at Lynn, at Jasper… and something warm bloomed in her chest. Peace. Affection. Happiness. It felt like balance—like she was finally standing exactly where she needed to be.
Lynn slipped her phone into her pocket and said casually, with the unmistakable glow of someone deeply happy:
“By the way, we had the ultrasound today. We’re having a girl.”
Jasper pulled his daughter into a tight embrace, then turned and winked at Nina.
And in that moment, she understood:
everything she had survived—every wound, every fear—had led her here. To them. To herself. To a life she had once been afraid of… and now finally felt safe in.