CHAPTER 33

LIAM

"Everyone, everyone!" Clint shouted. "Shut up! Good. Everyone, I would like to propose a toast."

It was my going away party, and Clint, a few drinks deep at this point, saw it as the perfect time to silence the room and toast to my good name.

My party was being held at a small bar just around the corner from the hospital. The spot was chosen by Sandra, of all people, as she wanted as many people from the hospital to be able to go. And indeed, the bar was packed full of nurses and doctors. Many, who were still working, even had their scrubs on and had just ducked over to say goodbye.

Although I shook hands, hugged friends, and told them all how sad I was that I was leaving, the truth was that I could not be happier. And not just because I was finally leaving the hospital, but because I was doing it with Kate at my side.

The last week had been an unprecedented rush. In those six days, literally everything had been organized and accounted for. Not only was my lease taken over, I had my last shift and managed to find a new spot to set up my brand new practice. On top of all that, I found accommodations for me and Kate. I even managed to find someone to take over her lease and got Liana to give me her blessing.

It had been nothing short of hectic, but at the end of the week, it was all worth it. I still could not believe that it was happening. Not that I was moving, but that it was happening with Kate.

The last week had been as if nothing had ever happened. It was more like she had gone away for a weekend, and now we were finally back together. Sure, I may have gone a little overboard here and there with some of the things I bought her to say sorry, but I just wanted to make sure that she knew that it wasn’t going to happen again and that I truly was sorry. But after five days of gifts, presents, and surprises. I was pretty sure that she got the idea.

And so, I was able to attend my going away party, secure in the knowledge that my life was taking a turn for the better. All my friends were there, and a few who weren't friends, but I knew from the hospital. And even a few that I didn't recognize at all.

In fact, the only person who wasn't at the going away party was Kate. And I had no idea where she was. She was supposed to have turned up hours ago, but she had never shown. And worse, when I tried to call her, she didn't answer. I knew that she had spent the day packing with Liana, so I assumed that the two had gotten into some wine and maybe lost track of time. But even still, I couldn't help but worry.

And even when Clint had begun his speech, I quickly tried calling her again, only for the call to go to voice mail.

“Where to begin," Clint continued as he held his champagne glass in the air. The room was silent and all eyes were either on him or me. "I've known this prick for years. All the way through medical school. All the way through our internship and now, all the way into our residency. Was he the best doctor? Not really. Was he an ace student? Definitely not. Was he the first person you would want in the room with you if something was to go down? I can see at least ten faces right now who I would prefer with me.”

"Come on," I said, laughing along with the rest of the crowd. "Give me something."

"I'm getting there," Clint assured me, hushing the crowd with his hands. "The point I was going to get to was this. He may not be the best at those things. Not even close actually. There was this one time in our third year when these twins came in with sore—"

"I don't think that story is appropriate," I cut in, still laughing. "Save it for my wedding."

"Okay,” Clint continued. "Like I was saying. He may not be the best at a lot that he does. But one thing he is tops at is being a good friend. I have never once had to question this man's friendship. Not for a second. You can take your top doctors. You can take your best diagnoses and ace surgeons. I'll take this guy any day of the week. Because he's my best friend, and I'm going to miss him."

"Here, here!" The room cheered as Clint threw back his glass of champagne, swallowing the whole thing in one go.

"Not bad," I chuckled as Clint saddled up to me. "A little sappy near the end, but overall, an okay speech."

"A little sappy? That's the point. I would be shocked if the nursing staff weren't all in tears. At the very least Sandra will be."

"Clint, that speech was nice," Sandra cut in as she approached me and Clint. Unlike how she usually acted, Sandra hadn't spoken to me all night. She was probably one of the people with whom I was the closest at the hospital, and I was surprised, to say the least. "I was wondering if I could borrow Liam for a moment?"

"Oh, sure thing," Clint said. "My glass is empty, and I won't be happy unless I crawl out of here tonight."

He looked around the room, spotting a table full of champagne glasses and was on them before I had a chance to blink.

"Sandra, I was wondering where you had gotten to," I began. "I thought maybe that—"

"Ah, can we maybe talk over here?" she asked, indicating to a side room just off from where the party was taking place.

"Yeah, sure," I said smiling as I let her lead me to the room. It hadn't really occurred to me, but my leaving had probably affected Sandra more than she was letting on. She had always had a crush on me, that much I knew. And even without the crush, she and I were still good friends.

As we entered the room, I prepared myself for what I assumed was going to be a heartfelt goodbye.

"So," she said.

She held an empty glass in her hand and judging from the way she was standing and the glassy look in her eyes, I had the feeling that she had more than a few drinks under her belt.

"So," I countered.

"This is it. The end of an era." She smiled.

"An era? Would you call is that?" I joked.

"Maybe not an era. Did I ever tell you that you were the first doctor I spoke to on my first day?"

"No, you never did. I do remember speaking to you though."

"You do?" she beamed.

"Of course. I remember your hair was a mess. Like really all over the place. And you had vomit down your top.”

"Oh my god," she said, covering her face with one hand while slapping me lightly on the arm with the other. "Yeah, I had just been thrown up on, and I needed a doctor to check the guy out. And there you were."

"Who would have guessed?" I said, patting her lightly on the arm.

"Guessed?" she asked, looking confused.

"That we would still be friends all these years later. You're probably the only nurse that I talk to, honestly. Outside of asking for an IV drip to be placed."

"Really?" she asked, beaming up at me again. It was just then that I noticed that her eyes were actually a little red and bloodshot. If I had to guess, I would say that she had been crying.

"Of course. Didn't you know?"

"Well, truth be told, I was always a little distracted around you," she said, looking down at her feet.

"Is that right? I can be pretty intimidating." I laughed.

"No, it's not that. I didn't know if you ever knew this, but I always had a bit of a crush on you."

"Ah," I said, trying not to smile but unable to help myself. It was always a nice feeling, being told that you were desirable. I just had to make sure that I treaded lightly from there on out. Sandra was obviously drunk, and I didn't want to do or say anything that might lead her on. "I had my suspicions."

"You did?"

"Yeah, of course. To be honest, you weren't exactly subtle."

"Can I ask you something?" she said. As she did, she reached out and put her hand on my arm. I should have pulled it away, but I didn't want to come off as rude or hurt her feelings. So, I left it, aware that it shouldn't have been there.

"You can ask me anything," I said seriously.

"Why didn't you ever make a move? If you knew? Was I not your type? Am I too ugly?"

"Hey. Trust me, it isn't because you're ugly, okay.” She gave me a warm smile. "It's just that, well, we work together. I didn't think it would ever be appropriate. You know?" The real truth was that I just never saw Sandra in that light. But better to offer her a white lie, especially considering the state she was in.

"Really?" she asked, looking up at me with puppy dog eyes.

"Yeah. Really. Trust me, if we didn't work together then who knows?"

Before I had a chance to keep speaking, or before I had a chance to comprehend the look that she was giving me, Sandra lunged forward, wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me in for a kiss. I was totally caught off guard by the moment, and as our lips touched, I hated to admit that it took me a few seconds to pull myself from her grasp.

But I did. As soon as I got a hold of my senses, I reached for her arms, unwrapped them, and stepped back.

"Sandra. You know that was inappropriate," I said calmly. I didn't want to sound angry or risk making her feel worse. I really had no idea what to say.

"Why?" she asked. As she spoke, she slurred and stumbled slightly, and I suddenly became very aware of how drunk she actually was.

"Because I'm seeing Kate. If I was single, maybe. But I'm not, so there's no chance."

It was at that moment that I looked past Sandra for the first time, toward the open door to the room. And there, standing at the door watching me and Sandra, was Kate.

Our eyes met and for a moment time seemed to freeze. In that moment, I became only too aware of what it was that Kate thought she was walking in on. There was me and Sandra, alone in a room. We had been drinking. It was my going away party, and we were kissing. The kiss lasted for less than a second, but depending on when she walked in, it may have appeared to have been going for a lot longer than that.

I went to call out, but my voice got caught in my throat. Sandra reached out to touch my arm, and I didn't even swat it away. Really, I didn't even notice it. All I noticed were Kate's eyes. They were red and bloodshot as if she had been crying. I'm sure that she was crying.

Before I got a chance to say or do anything, Kate turned and ran away. Gone again. Once more, I realized that I may have ruined everything.