Chapter 61
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
Leena
“Today is going to be amazing,” I cry as we walk up the covered employee walkway.
Julian usually lets me start my morning in companionable silence while I fully wake up, content just being able to touch or hold me. Today, however, my excitement can’t be contained. I chatted Julian’s ear off the entire drive to work—one of the perks of going public with our relationship.
Instead of being annoyed, he smiles fondly and kisses my forehead, affectionately tolerating my fangirling graciously. Because today he is repairing Elijah Mitchell’s knee.
Later that morning, Julian chuckles when I enter Elijah’s pre-op bay.
“Pretty girl,” he drolls, “what a surprise.”
Did I assign myself to Sarina’s break on purpose? Yes, of course I did. I totally took advantage of the opportunity to meet one of the best basketball players in Red Howler history and part of their most successful team era, then went on to have a highly successful professional career I followed.
“Pretty girl?” Elijah asks from the bed. “Is this the one who finally turned your head?”
“It most definitely is.” Holding his hand out to me, I place mine in his. Julian tugs, pulling me to his side. “Elijah, this is Leena. My girlfriend.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I say while shaking his hand, reining in my excitement. “I’m giving your nurse a break before you go back.”
“Nice to meet you, too, Leena. I wish it was under different circumstances,” he says self-deprecatingly.
My heart aches for this man. Though he’s smiling and joking with Julian and being friendly with me, I can see the sadness in his eyes he can’t completely hide. I couldn’t imagine losing something I have spent my entire life loving in one fell swoop.
“Knock, knock,” someone calls from behind the curtain before it is pulled back.
Jake, a pre-op nurse, enters with someone behind him.
She looks timid and nervous. “Hello, everyone. Leena, I saw you come in and wanted to introduce you all to Marissa, a student nurse. Mr. Mitchell, if it’s alright with you, Marissa will be following you through your perioperative journey today. ”
Turning back to Elijah to gauge his response, I’m shocked at what I see. No longer slumped back in the bed with hollow eyes, he’s sitting up, vibrating with a renewed energy, his gaze intensely focused on the student nurse.
With a small jerk of his head, speaking directly to the woman captivating his attention, he answers Jake. “Yeah, that’s completely okay with me.”
Marissa smiles shyly back at Elijah.
Suppressing my smile, I proceed with my pre-op interview.
Stepping out of the patient bay with Julian on my heels, I find Sarina leaning against the wall. “Oh, hey. Did you take your whole break?”
“Sure did. I was even able to count with Charlie. I was going to come in with Jake, but decided to just let you have your moment with your dude. I listened to the interview from out here.”
“Sweet, then you know you’ll have a student in the OR with you. I’ll chart my interview, and you can take him back whenever y’all are ready.”
“Thanks, Leena.”
“Are you kidding? Thank you for letting me hijack your patient. My day has been made.”
She looks back and forth between Julian and me, pursing her lips in an attempt to stifle a laugh, then she nods and ducks into Elijah’s bay.
Turning to Julian, I grab his forearm and bounce on my toes. “I got to meet Elijah Mitchell. Oh my god!”
Scowling, he hooks his other arm around my neck, pulling me into his chest. He whispers against my ear, “Pretty girl, I said I was okay with you meeting him, but seeing you so enthusiastic over him, I’m realizing I am definitely not okay with it.”
Smirking at him, I take his hand and lead him out of pre-op and down the hall. Using my masterkey, I look around as I let us into one of the OR staff on-call rooms. Spinning around, I place my hands on his chest and push him against the door.
Winding my arms around him, I hold on. Tight.
“What are you doing?”
“Reminding you how much I love you. More than anything. Or anyone,” I say softly.
Rubbing my hands up and down his back, I rest my chin on his chest. Looking up into his downturned face, I go up on my tippy-toes to kiss his full lips, slipping my tongue against the seam of his lips. When he parts, I slick my tongue slowly against his.
He moans and I kiss him harder, getting lost in a bruising kiss before slowing my tongue. Changing my pace to slow and gentle, just savoring this man who owns my heart.
A contented sigh floats between us. Mine or his, it’s indistinguishable. I press my lips to his chest, right over his heart. Looking up at him, my arms squeeze just a little tighter.
Julian never pulls away first. It doesn’t matter what kind of embrace we are sharing or what’s going on around us, he will hold me until I pull back. I’ve tested it on multiple occasions. I don’t even think he realizes he does it. And every time, I fall deeper and deeper in love with him.
My heart is so full, everything I could have ever wished for and more, wrapped up right here in my arms. Life feels perfectly right. Looking up into his eyes, I see those emotions reflected back at me.
I see our future so clearly ahead of us—blissfully happy and full. One I cannot wait for.