Chapter 17

Kendal

I made a quick stop by the flower market on the way downtown to see her. My heart was racing, my palms sweaty. It felt like I was going on my first date again. A joyous laugh bubbled up in me.

I was free. No more letting my job rule my life. Never again. I'd be Dana's whatever for as long as she'd have me. We could build the house of her dreams and start working on making babies.

A growl lodged in my throat as my body woke up. My first act after apologizing and smothering her in kisses was to find a way to get her home and in my bed. I needed to spend the next few days worshiping her. I'd fucked up.

Why couldn't I see that before?

Too much on my plate. A laugh bubbled up and poured from my lips as I tore into the parking lot at the hospital and parked. Clarity was mine, and with it, I could make things right.

I jogged toward the hospital entrance, ignoring the odd looks I received. Most people ran toward the hospital, but not with a big ass smile on their faces. Unless they were having a little one.

A baby.

My heart swelled in my chest. Never before had I had such a clear cut path to where I was going and how to make it happen. All I needed was for Dana to forgive me. To comply. My jog slowed to a fast walk. Was there a better way to do this?

Was rushing into the hospital with flowers enough? I stopped just outside the door and let my thoughts overwhelm me.

She wasn't just any girl. She was the woman I wanted to wear my ring and own my last name.

"Kendal?"

"Nate. Hey man." I extended my hand and smiled. "How are you?"

He pulled me into a quick hug and stepped back. "I'm okay. I asked Dana about you and she said you would be calling."

"Sorry. It's been crazy at the school." I ran my fingers through my hair and looked past him. "I'm coming to dinner as soon as you invite me. It's alright that I bring her with me?"

He glanced over his shoulder and back at me, chuckling. "You okay? Looking for her?"

"Yes. I messed up bad with her." I let out a long sigh and lifted the flowers. "I suck at this relationship stuff."

"I always did too, son." He smiled and slipped his hands into his white coat. "You just need to be yourself. You're a good man. She'll recognize that."

"Thank you." I glanced down at the ground and back up at him. "Is she here? Do you know?"

"She's actually not, but I don't know where she is. Her best friend is Jackie. Blond nurse on the second floor."

"Oh yeah. I know Jackie. We went to New York with her a while back."

"I'm not going to ask why." He tilted his head to the side and smiled, seemingly knowing far too much for his own good. "How about dinner Saturday night? Denise and I will tell the poor girl how incredible you are."

I laughed. "I might need the help. Sounds good. We'll be there. Six good?"

"Perfect." He reached out and squeezed my shoulder. "Good luck with the girl. I'm sure you've got everything inside of you to convince her that you're the one. Just lean on that."

"Thanks, Nate." I moved past him as someone called out to him from down the hallway.

"Dr. Lewis. We need you in room four."

I glanced back to see him jogging that way. He took the time to lift his hand in the air and wave. I responded in kind. Where I was depressed that Dana wasn't at the hospital, it felt good to see Nate. He was a good man, and from what Dana said, he was losing his wife.

I moved into the elevator and pressed my back against the far wall. My heart hurt for him. Loving Dana for the rest of my life would be bliss, but to lose her after the kids were gone and it was finally our time to enjoy life alone together?

Impossibly painful.

The elevator opened, and I moved out, looking for a blond with a name tag I could recognize.

"Mr. Tarrington?" One of the other nurses stood up from behind a desk. I'd seen her a few times during Mandy's stay up there, but couldn't remember her name. If her name badge had been anywhere but her tit, I'd have glanced down at it.

"Yeah. I was, um, looking for my girlfriend, but she seems to have taken the day off." I glanced around, feeling a little out of sorts.

"Who is your girlfriend?" The scorn in the girl's voice was a little surprising.

"Dana Young." I turned and pinned her with a hard stare. "She's a nurse here. She helped with my sister's passing."

"Kendal." Jackie walked toward me.

"Hey." I let out a sigh of relief and walked toward her. "Is Dana here? Nate said she wasn't, but he wasn't sure where she was. I need to find her. I have to apologize for being an idiot."

She smiled and glanced down at the flowers. "Who's Nate?"

"Dr. Lewis, idiot," the other nurse called from behind me.

Jackie flipped her off, smiling so big all of her teeth showed.

I chuckled and glanced over my shoulder. "Make sure I get her name. Nate should know how unpleasant she is."

"Done," Jackie mumbled. "Dana is in New York."

I jerked around to face her again. "New York? What the hell?"

"She's upset. She thinks this thing between the two of you is a mistake, so she ran. She's tired and the poor girl has never been in a good relationship. Never."

"Dammit." I growled and pulled out my phone, texting her. "I wish she would pick up the phone. She misunderstood everything I said last night."

"Or maybe you simply didn't say it right. Or maybe you didn't say the right things." She reached out and brushed something off of my shoulder, forcing me to return my attention to her. "She's completely in love with you. I'd never be willing to transfer my internship and degree plan to another school for someone else, but that's what she's been talking about for a few weeks now. We all think she's crazy."

"She is crazy." I smiled, unable to help myself. "She's not going to have to make any changes. I turned in my resignation today. I'm done with the university. I came to tell her. To apologize."

"Then go to New York." She shrugged and reached for the flowers. "You want me to put these into water? They're not going to last on a plane."

I smirked. "Just keep them for yourself for helping me."

"Really?" Her smile lifted. She was a pretty girl with rough edges. I couldn't help but wonder if she was in a good relationship. By the dark circles under her eyes, I'd think she was as bad off as Dana had been lately. Thanks to me. Fuck. I had so much to make up to my beautiful girl.

"Absolutely. Thank you, Jackie." I turned and jogged back to the elevator.

"Are you going after her?"

"I don't know. I think so."

"You should! It's so romantic."

I slipped into the elevator and closed my eyes. It was romantic, but would she accept me if I showed up unannounced? She was with Olivia. She had to be.

Walking to the car, I realized that I was out of options. She was the only thing I wanted in my life. She gets all of me, one-hundred percent. Now to find out if that's what she still wants.

I got in the car and hit Damon's number.

"What's up buddy? How did it go with the girl?"

"It didn't," I mumbled and pulled out of the parking lot. "She ran to New York to get away from me."

"Damn... that's pretty powerful stuff." He laughed.

"Fuck you too. Can you get Linda to find me a flight? I need something now and fast."

"Sure can. I'll even spot you for first class. You've had a bitch of a day. Let me help make it better."

"Why am I worried that you're going to come a'callin’ soon for your paybacks?"

"Me?" He sounded so innocent. Sickeningly so. "Never. I just like giving away my time, money and cunningness."

"Alright, man. What do you want from me?" I put on my blinker and glanced over my shoulder as I pulled onto the freeway. I didn't have clothes or bathroom stuff or anything.

"For you to be happy, Kendal. You know that."

"And what does that mean to you?"

"Get the girl back, love on her some and then call me. You're going to need a job and money. You're a high-dollar guy. You'll cut through your savings in no time."

"Thank you, Dad." I smirked.

"You have a job waiting for you here."

"And if I decide to move to New York next spring with Dana?"

"Then you can work from an office there or from your house. Your choice. It's me you're talking to. I don't care what the fucking arrangement is. I want you happy and taken care of."

"I feel like a trust-fund baby." I pressed my foot down on the gas. "Get me the ticket and text me the info please. Let's start with that and we'll see what happens when I get back from New York."

"Done. Be safe, brother." He dropped the call and relief flooded my system.

I wasn't usually a fly by the seat of my pants type of guy, but it felt good to do something crazy. Flying across the US to tell a woman that I was in love with her felt very adventurous. I prayed she would see the depths of my heart when I stood before her.

She had to. I wasn't leaving until she did.