Chapter Two
Reid
‘What the actual fuck is she doing here?’ I think to myself but am rendered speechless as I stare down, not believing my eyes.
Caroline fucking Baker. Never did I think I would run into her again after all these years.
Nor did I think she would step foot back in this town to be honest. She made her opinions on it very clear when she drove out of here ten years ago without so much as a backward glance in the rearview.
But like the tornado that she is, those long honey locks whip around in a blur, impossible to mistake.
“I’m so sor– … R-reid?” she finally musters out. It takes a minute for her deep brown eyes to meet mine and register that it’s me. But I knew the second that I glanced down and I saw that tiny frame, that it was her. So I’ve had at least half a second longer to process this encounter.
“Last I checked, that’s still my name.” I’m usually on my best mannered behavior, but the sarcasm comes out as instinct before I can correct myself. Surprisingly, I don’t give a damn. Please don’t tell my mother.
“Well good to see you haven’t changed a bit.” Her tone quickly changes to match mine.
“Some of us don’t need to change,” I snap back and turn to grab my to-go cup off the counter. I’m already running late to the clinic and this was definitely not in the plans for my morning.
Do I feel a little bad about turning around and waltzing right out of there leaving her hanging? Yes and no. But then again, the encounter caught me so off guard that I haven’t even had time to make sense of it.
Ten whole years. It’s been an entire decade since our paths have crossed and I can’t even wrap my head around the fact that she looks the exact same.
Yet completely different, all at the same time.
Sure, I’ve obviously seen her and her rich husband’s family all over the news outlets.
Updates about their evergrowing line of fancy hotels and her big city life are kind of hard to miss.
Not to mention how difficult it was to avoid the articles of the “Wedding of the Year” when she married that wealthy hospitality investor.
Ever since I met Caroline, she couldn’t wait to get out of here.
She always thought she was too good for this small town and ran off as soon as she graduated to join all of the other stuck up girls in Chicago.
I thought I could prove to her that it was worth staying in Melwood.
I ultimately had to let her go so she could run off and date her boss instead.
Seems to be working out well for her, I suppose.
I can’t worry about that right now. I’ve got patients to see and a job to do. I snap back to reality when noticing that Martha is seemingly repeating whatever she asked me.
“Earth to doctor Dr. Dolittle, are you with us?” My assistant, Martha, chimes.
“Sorry, sorry, chihuahua with glaucoma in exam room two. Got it,” I repeat back, as I grab the folder and head back past the front desk.
“Room four!” Martha yells back. “You’re lucky you’re the boss around here.”