Marin

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My damn car wouldn’t start. Of all times for this to happen. Why now? Appeared to be a dead battery, or so Dad thought. Then when I went to text Grey, my stupid phone also had a dead battery.

“Ugh!”

“What’s wrong?” Mom asked.

“My phone’s dead and I was supposed to meet Grey at seven fifteen. He’s going to think I stood him up.”

“Use mine.”

I grabbed Mom’s phone but then realized I didn’t know his number and the damn thing was stored on my phone.

“Shit, shit. I don’t know his number. Who even knows anyone’s numbers these days.”

“Come on. Get in the car. I’ll drive you,” Dad said.

“I’m still going to be late.”

“Don’t worry. He’ll wait. If he’s not there, I’ll take you to his place. And you can explain.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

I leaped out of the car but asked my dad to wait, just in case Grey had already left. The hostess walked me back and I saw Grey was paying the bill.

“I’m sorry. Don’t leave. My car wouldn’t start and I couldn’t call because my phone was dead. Clearly, not my day. Let me run outside and tell my dad he can leave.” Grey’s expression was priceless. His mouth hung open and I casually said, “What? Did you actually think I would stand you up? Please.” I rolled my eyes, all the time I snickered to myself.

I hurried outside to tell Dad he could leave, then rushed back in. “Woo, I’m exhausted from all that. Can I have some of that wine?” I asked. “Or did you drink it all because I’m so late?”

He finally broke a smile. “I actually did think you stood me up.”

“I’m sorry. Dad thinks my battery is dead. The damn thing wouldn’t even make a sound. And well, it was a mess. And that car never lets me down. I went to call you on Mom’s phone but … I didn’t know your number.”

I barely got that last word out before he grabbed my hand and pulled me over. His lips were on mine and he was hungrily kissing me, as in devouring me. All my talk about staying strong and not succumbing to his sexual advances if he made any, went flying out the window. I was gone. Dead. Completely fucked.

He released me and I said, “Well, I’m glad we got that settled. So, what did you want to discuss?”

The man rumbled with laughter and did I ever miss that sound.

“Pink, huh?”

“Guilty as charged. My room at home is still that color. Love it. Look at this hair. Don’t you see it?”

“I should’ve known. And sunrises. That surprised me since I had to wake you up on your first day of work.”

I twirled a piece of my hair. “Uh, that was when I was coming down off of my old lifestyle. I love the mornings.”

“Pride and Prejudice.”

“I’ve watched that movie maybe fifty times.”

“Why?” he asked.

“I adore Mr. Darcy. He was such an ass at first, but then he was such a softie. And he truly wasn’t an ass. He was just … shy. And Elizabeth was plain. But so perfectly beautiful on the inside and out.”

“Exactly like you.”

“What did you say?”

“You’re beautiful on the inside and out. You’re not flashy. You’re not heavily made up. You’re absolutely perfect. Just like Elizabeth Bennett.”

“You’ve seen the movie?” I asked.

“Never, but I’ve read the book.”

“And?”

“It’s a classic. I didn’t care much for it at the time, but I was an ignorant kid. I reread it when I was in medical school and loved it.”

I leaned back and appreciated the glow in his eyes. “Why?”

“Because it was about a man who people perceived completely wrong. That happens a lot with the way doctors are regarded.”

“So, in other words, you’re not proud.”

He leaned closer and steepled his fingers. “Not at all. I’m humbled by my patients when they are so appreciative of what I can do for them. I won’t pretend to think I’m not good at what I do because I’m damned good. I’m thorough and don’t take anything for granted when it comes to my patients. But I’m not proud. And I don’t wear the white coat like a badge of honor either.”

“Why not? Is it not an honor?”

“In some ways, yes. But the way I see it, it’s my duty. I took the Hippocratic oath and as long as I practice, I will live up to that oath to the best of my ability.”

I was seeing him in a new light, a revealing light, and it was frightening.

“Why am I here, Grey?” I thought I’d get that out of the way.

“I would’ve thought that was rather obvious.”

“I need to hear your version. Before you tell me, you have to know that I can’t go through anything like we did again. It was excruciating. I crawled home twice with my tail between my legs. A third time is not an option.”

“There won’t be a third time, Marin.” His silver-gray eyes locked onto mine and he began. “After Susannah, I swore there wouldn’t be any other women in my life. My heart was so brittle, it didn’t have the capability to feel, let alone beat. And to be honest, it wasn’t because we had some sort of undying love, because we didn’t. I just refused to put myself or my family through anything like that again. But you walked through the door with that hair, those piercings, and tattoos, I didn’t know what to think. I couldn’t get over the way you spoke to me for one. You really just didn’t give a shit. And then Kinsley calling you Marnie. I would watch the two of you interact while I was at work. Susannah was never so hands-on with the kids. You both laughed all the time. You even made me laugh. When I was home, I would eavesdrop on your conversations and they were downright hilarious. And the way you handled Aaron, and how fast you bonded with him, had me stepping back and examining my own feelings concerning him. I would go into his room at night and question why I had to know about his parentage so much … why it even mattered. But then one day, I saw you in a different light altogether. It was right when I showed up at Kinsley’s school program. You made fun of my goofy hat. But it was more. Much more. After the office picnic, I knew it. I tried to push my feelings away, tried to resist, but the night I came to the hospital, it was hopeless. I told myself it was just sex, only I knew that wasn’t true. Even Hudson gave me shit about it. But when everything happened with the kit, it crashed down around me and all I focused on was Susannah’s betrayal. I couldn’t get it through my thick skull that you were different. We were different. Blame it on my stubbornness, my stupidity. I accept total responsibility for it.” He slashes his hand through the air as though he was angry. “When you walked out of those catacombs, all I wanted to do was hold you forever. But it was so chaotic with Kinsley screaming and you fainting. Then you were rushed away and we went to a different hospital. I was a fucking mess, Marin, crazy with worry. Kinsley had to be sedated in order for her to settle down, and I had Aaron to deal with. But I was so out of my head over the two of you. Shit. I didn’t know if I was up or down. I couldn’t even call to check on you. But my colleague did and found out you were okay. I’m sorry I’m rambling, but there is so much I needed to tell you because I never got that chance in Vienna. Then I struck out at you and I have absolutely no excuse whatsoever for that. I should’ve been pulling you into my arms and kissing you instead. I was just crazy that day.” He let out a long huff. “Anyway, the whole point of this is I love you, have loved you, probably since the day you knocked on my door. Only this obtuse idiot didn’t recognize it. When you left Vienna, there was no use staying. I packed up the kids and left too.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything.” He laughed awkwardly, then said, “I just word vomited all over you.”

“That was an awful lot, I won’t lie.”

He glanced away then back at me. “May I ask you one thing?”

“What?”

“Don’t give up on us yet? Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s that when you see something you want, don’t ever give up. I’m not ever going to give up on us, Marin.”