***
"Hey!" Olivia walked up as I made my way down the baggage claim. She pulled me into a tight hug and squeezed. "I missed you so much. Why can't you just call for once and ask me to bring a U-haul?"
"Would you?" I moved back and pulled my phone out, holding it up. "Do you have a charger?"
"Um, that's like three upgrades ago, Dana. We need to get you a new phone."
"Right. Charger?" I smiled and moved to grab my bag off the turnstile.
"No, but we can get you one. Let's go up to St. Mark's and do a small tour. I talked to one of the doctors that Luke is friends with up there. He's going to get us in to see Dr. Crawford."
"What? No. We don't have to do that. Dr. Lewis hasn't even set anything up yet. I told you all about this just to get it off my chest." I grabbed my bag and gave her an exasperated look.
"Give me that and hush. You're my best friend and like a sister to me. I'm going to do everything I can to get your ass up here when you graduate." She looped her arm into mine. "Luke tells me that Dr. Crawford is big shit up here at St. Marks."
"Dr. Lewis seemed to think highly of him, but the guy is his step brother."
"Ohhh... that's a great hookup. Let's go up there for a quick tour and meeting and then we'll grab lunch and coffee at one of my favorite places in all of New York."
"De Luca?" I smiled, knowing her better than she knew herself.
"Yes! So delicious." She slipped her hand into mine. "So... have you talked to Kendal since you half-cut your finger off to get away from him?"
The humor in her voice was less than appreciated. "No. I was ignoring his calls and texts and then when I decided I was being an asshole about everything, my damn phone died."
"I'm thinking that's fate telling you that this isn't the guy for you." She pulled out her key fob and hit it a few times. "I hate looking for this car. I should have gotten something besides white!"
"You think fate's telling me that I shouldn't be with Kendal?" I snorted. "I think the fates have been slapping you in the face for the last three years. You don't belong with Luke. He's a jerk and you're not happy."
"We're focusing on your problems for the duration of this trip. You're the one that needed to get away, remember? I'm not running from Luke."
"Right. You're dying on the vine right next to him." I put my hand on my hip as she loaded the suitcase in the back of her car. "Look at me and tell me you love him."
"How's love working out for you, Dana? Something you'd like me to experience too?" She closed the trunk and pursed her lips.
I let out a long sigh and moved toward her, leaning into the warmth she offered. "I'm sorry. I just want the best for you."
"I know. I just don't know what the best is right now. I can't keep living in a childhood fantasy. Cade isn't coming back to be a part of anything in my life now, you know?"
"I know. You're right. I'll leave it be." I moved back and reached up to smooth down her hair. "Thank you for letting me come crash your life."
"Thank you for giving me something other than my life to think about." She snorted. "Come on. People are going to think we're lesbians if we keep hugging and petting each other."
"And?" I laughed and walked to my side of the car, getting in.
"And my face is printed on the side of a billboard downtown. All I need is a client to call up Luke and tell him I'm cheating on him... with a woman! He'd beg me for a month to just sit back and watch the show."
"Too far." I rolled my eyes and buckled up. "Speaking of Luke-"
"He's at a convention for the next few days. It's just us."
"Nice. I need to get a charger after this tour so I can bring my phone back to life. I misjudged everything Kendal's been up to lately. I need to apologize and tell him that we can talk when I get back home." I glanced out the window as we drove away from the airport. "That is if he still wants to talk to me."
"He's in love with you. I know he is. I just want to make sure he's the right guy."
"He is. I love his kindness, his sexiness, the way he watches me when we're together. He's mind-blowing in bed and has this aggressive alpha male persona that comes out and makes me want to be so naughty for him." I glanced back over at her as warmth coated my cheeks and chest.
She laughed. "Please, don't stop. I love seeing you get all hot and bothered over a guy. That's usually my part in the school play."
I snorted. "I love you. I'm glad you're free for a few days. Did you have to clear your calendar?"
"Yep, but it's no big deal. I just told them it was a family emergency." She pointed out her window. "There are some great apartments right here by the hospital that we can rent for you when you get here."
"They're beautiful." I studied them and couldn't help but wonder what Kendal would think. I wasn't sure if he was still willing to be a part of my future, but if he was, and if New York was part of the deal, then I didn't give a shit where we lived. As long as we were together.
"Okay. Let's get this over with." She smiled and pulled into the parking lot. "You want me to leave you alone with Dr. Crawford or come into the meeting?"
"You can come. No worries." I got out and walked toward the large glass door entrance. The hospital was beautiful and insanely busy. We stopped by the receptionist desk and checked in, got Dr. Crawford's office number and made our way to the elevator.
I couldn't help but look for Parks. Jackie would die to know that I was in the same hospital as him. Or maybe not. I wasn't sure if the two of them were on the up or not.
"This way," Olivia whispered as we got out of the elevator and walked down the hallway toward a hallway of offices. "You want me to wait here?"
She didn't want to go in for some reason. She asked twice already. That was code for 'don't make me do it' from our childhood. I decided to honor it.
"No. I'm good. Be right back." I walked down the hall and stopped outside the door with Dr. Aiden Crawford on it. Knocking softly, I leaned in.
"Dr. Crawford?"
"Come on in," a deep voice called from the other side.
I pushed the door open and walked in, a little taken aback by how handsome the guy was. Dark brown hair played along his forehead and blue eyes the color of the ocean searched my face.
"You must be Dana Young. Please, come in." He stood behind his desk, his hand out as if offering me a seat. "I only have about ten minutes but all ten of them are yours." He smiled and I almost felt sorry for him. There was no way he wasn't getting hit on a million times a day. Being sexy was almost a curse in a place like a hospital. Depravity and lust were abundant because of the long shifts and the need for someone to understand you. Was he married? I didn't see a ring. Maybe Jackie should try for him instead of Parks.
I sat down and cupped my hands in my lap. "I appreciate you seeing me on such short notice. I'm working now as an intern under Dr. Nate Lewis in Dallas."
"Nate!" His smile grew wide. "He's my brother."
"He told me that you guys were related. He's supposed to reach out in the spring to talk with you about me maybe coming on then as a resident or a nursing assistant or-"
"What a small world. I got a call from Luke Taylor about you. He's a patron here at the hospital. Him and his brother." He leaned back and cupped his hands over his stomach. "And you're working for my brother. Well, stepbrother. I was adopted by his family when I lost mine."
"I'm sorry." My heart contracted. Lost his family? Like all of them?
"It was a long time ago. The Lewis family was really good to me." He tapped the desk, his eyes filled with what appeared to be excitement. "Let's get you to fill out some paperwork for me and we'll work on scholarships if you need them and seeing what the interview process might look like for you next spring. My right-hand guy can get all of that for you. I'll buzz him and ask him to meet you by the exit in the ER with a packet."
"Sounds great." I stood up. "I shouldn't keep you."
He stood and extended his hand. "Thank you for coming by. I wish I had time. I'd take you to lunch. Do tell my brother I said hello."
I nodded and released his hand before walking to the door. I opened it and paused, glancing back. "Who am I looking for downstairs?"
"Parks."
"Okay. Thanks." I walked out to find Olivia waiting. Of course I'd get to run into Parks.
"It go okay?"
"Perfectly. I have to grab a packet from one of his doctors before we go. Just some pre-interview paperwork."
"That sounds promising!" She slipped her arm into mine as we walked toward the elevator.
"I think so. As long as Kendal is willing to come up here... I'll be set."
"And if he isn't?" She moved into the elevator and held the door for me.
"I don't know. I'm in love with him, and I think if we could come to some type of mutual understanding of what we were each going to let go of-"
"Or give."
"Right, or give to the relationship, then I would be willing to move forward." I rubbed my chest. "I can't imagine life without him. That's for sure."
"Then you shouldn't have to. We'll grab a phone charger on the way to De Luca." She walked out of the elevator and I spotted Parks from across the room.
Three nurses were gathered around him, none of them seeming to care much that the other two were flirting outright with the playboy.
"Parks?" I walked up and thought he might recognize me, but no luck.
"Hey there. You must be Dana." He extended his hand. "I'm Parks. I was actually down in Dallas a while back. Great hospital. Good staff and kick ass BBQ down the street."
I laughed, quickly realizing his charm was just being who he was and nothing more. "My friend Jackie talks about you a lot."
"Oh yea?" He handed me the packet. "Not sure I remember a Jackie, but you'd be surprised how many girls don't give their real names." He shrugged and his smile faded a little.
"That's her real name. We came up and she visited you a couple weeks ago."
He lifted his eyebrows. "Oh yeah. I think I remember her. Brown hair? Green eyes? Really tall?"
That wasn't Jackie at all.
"Um, yeah. Alright. Thanks for this." I lifted the packet and turned around to join Olivia. Did he really not remember Jackie?
What an asshole. And I was worried about Kendal not being great. He was a million times better than the jack-wagon behind me.
Why anyone would give him the time of day was beyond me. I had to tell Jackie - stat.