I knew the reporter look; I could spot it from a mile away. I always could from way back when, when I used to get followed with my teammates.
I leaned forward and smiled. “We have reporters who’ve spotted us having lunch together.”
Jada followed my gaze and saw the couple. She then looked a little uneasy. I wasn’t sure if it was because she wasn’t ready to be seen with me just yet.
It reminded me that she wasn’t mine.
If she were, then we wouldn’t have to contemplate whether or not it would be okay to look like we were dating.
“I think I’ve seen them before. They’re from The Chronicle. Maybe I should back up some, or look like we’re having a friendly lunch. Wouldn’t want to ruin the eligible single bachelor image you have going on.”
My lips parted, and my heart stilled. Did she really think I wanted to keep that image up?
“Jada… what? You think I want to look like I’m single, or even eligible?”
She shrugged and started trying to explain but stopped. “I didn’t know. I just… I didn’t want to assume. Plus, I didn’t know if you’d want people to see us in this capacity since we’re competing against each other.”
I had to laugh. “I think I’ve always made it clear that I don’t care about business. This is us, and I didn’t ask you to be mine so I could hide you away or date in secret.”
She started looking less tense, which gave me hope. “Really?”
“I’m not doing that, Jada. I’ll be damned if I’m going to keep you a secret.”
As I looked at her, I knew why she thought that. I just realized that the reason why she thought I’d want that maybe had to do with what happened to her in college.
No, not probably. It was.
In my research of her, often times people would only hear about her dating someone after they’d called it quits. That seemed to happen a lot, and the ones who weren’t like that weren’t exactly anything special.
“Me too,” she suddenly said. “I mean, I never wanted you to be. I was just being mindful that you might. It’s um… different… Different with you.”
“Come here, baby.” I reached for her and pulled her into my lap. She slid over with a bright smile on her face. “I think we should give them something to talk about.”
She bent down and gave me a sweet kiss I savored.
There was a flash from a camera somewhere, but we continued kissing, not caring.
She didn’t care, and I had hope that I was reaching that part of her I wanted to own.
Chapter 27
Ivan
* * *
“Feels like forever since we did this, bro.” Patterson chuckled.
He tossed me the case with the screwdrivers. We were working on an old Harley we bought together in an auction just for this purpose. This morning, we took the engine apart to modify a few things to make it run a bit smoother. The parts were all over my worktop. We used to do this sort of stuff when we were in high school.
This was a classic old bike that I was certain Patterson would end up making more use of than me.
Like my Kawasaki.
“I know. I didn’t expect to be so busy.”
Patterson smirked. “Man, it’s not that you’re busy. You’re all loved up.”
“Loved up?” I asked, even though I knew exactly what he meant.
“Don’t even try to deny it.” He pointed at me.
“I’m not, man. I wasn’t going to.”
He laughed and took a sip of the lemonade Jada had brought down for us.
Homemade lemonade and cookies. Chocolate chip cookies. The kind with the gooey center that made you melt. I didn’t like sugar or anything sweet because I took too much care of my body to spoil it that way, but damn, if Jada fed me those for the rest of my life, I would take it.
Actually, if she fed me anything for the rest of my life, I’d have it.
This was us seven weeks after the restaurant, where the papers had a field day with our very public display of affection.
The headline the next day was The Love Doctors in Times of Peace. We like it…
Viewings for the show were already sky high, but after those articles, the viewings and ratings went so far beyond that. The other part of that was in terms of votes, Jada and I were still tying. It was weird. After all that, all that people saw, they still liked both of us.
I had to admit, though, that my initial thoughts on the Bells were correct. I did get the easier couple. Jada, on the other hand, had it rough. She’d had a hard time with Bob and Cynthia, and they were no better off than when they’d first came on the show. We had one week left on the show. A week. This week. Live filming would stop on Friday, and next week Friday, the results would be in.
Jada and I had known each other now for just over two months and every day was amazing.
Patterson was right. I was completely loved up. Things were going well, and I still had hope.
I was still cautious as well, though, because I knew that while I was ready to keep going, Jada was still treading softly.
Still watching the ground she walked on, still loosening up to me.
I got it, though, and I would be selfish if I didn’t try to understand her, or understand that she needed time.
After all, look how long it took me. Catherine died eight years ago, and Jada was the first person in that whole time to make me feel…
To make me feel the way I never thought I’d feel again. And yet different.
When you get something good, or you fall in love with someone, there’s always that tendency to believe that nothing will ever compare to it.
The truth was nothing would, because everyone was different. You’d have a different relationship with everyone you meet. So, I’d always treasure what I had with Catherine. She would always be my good person. The person who changed things up for me.
Being with Jada took me to… She just took me somewhere else. Somewhere I never imagined or bargained on happening when I first started my crazy obsession with her.
“You’re zoning out on me again.” Patterson smirked.
I didn’t realize that I was staring off into space. Just looking through the garage window at the little pond in my back garden.
“Just thinking.”
“I can see that. You’ve come far, Ivan. Some people stay the same in life, but I’ve seen you be and do many things. You’re the one in this friendship who keeps us interesting.”
I smiled at that. “And you provide the excitement.”
“Just a little, but even I’ll admit that it seems like we really are growing up.” Patterson raised his brows.
“Yes, we’re a long way from the boys who loaded Uncle Burt’s Jaguar with rotten fish.” I remembered that so well. We must have been sixteen.
“Yeah, and the time when we stole the football mascot for East Grange High.”
That was my idea. Their mascot was a big old rooster. Of course, I never planned on us losing the damn thing. It escaped, and we never found it. My personal thoughts were, someone found it, and cooked it. Our parents went apeshit when they found out, and the worst thing was, we were laughing.
I chuckled now. “Times have changed.”
“And are still changing for you. Never can tell what’ll happen next week. You may win.”
“Or she might,” I pointed out. “I want her to. It would be something good for her.”
I did want her to because I knew how important it was to her.
Besides, my priorities had changed somewhat and drifted toward her.
At the start of this show, I’d wanted her. Now, I just wanted her more.
“It would be good for you too. I’m just saying. But right now, it looks like you care more about her than the show.”
I nodded. Patterson was the kind of friend who I could always tell my true feelings to. No point pussyfooting around a guy like that, because having someone to talk to was always good.
“Is that crazy? I went thro
ugh so much to be on this show. I love being on it, and I can see myself actually doing the job, but I want her more.” I leaned down on to the worktop.
“I think if you feel that way, there’s no way it’s crazy. Why would it be? It’s good for you, and I’m glad it’s going well. Haven’t seen you like this in years. It was a good look for you then and even better now.” Patterson nodded. “I wished I’d placed some kind of bet on you two getting together. I would have won.”
“Patterson, you and your bets.”
He smiled. “Can’t blame a guy for wanting to make an extra buck on the side.”
“You’re a billionaire.”
“And I want to keep it that way.”
I just shook my head at him. Footsteps sounded on the drive, and we both looked up to see Jada coming in. The wind picked up her hair and blew it around her shoulders.
The sight of her always lifted my heart. It had gotten beyond my control now. It just happened automatically, beyond me.
“I just came to find out if you boys needed anything else before I go.” She smiled looking at the both of us.
“I’m good.” Patterson returned her smile.
I wasn’t good. I needed a kiss at the very least if she was going to leave me so early.
I moved to her and swooped her up, throwing her over my shoulder cave-man style.
She giggled and started to protest, but I knew she loved me doing that.
She was wearing those short shorts and a tank top that showed her off like an exotic dish.
I took her into the sitting room and kissed her. “Stay. Don’t go.”
“Like last night, and the night before, and the night before?” She brushed her nose against mine.
“Yes, just stay with me.”
It was Sunday, and the last few weekends had seen us exactly like this. It was getting harder though. Harder to be away from her when she was at her place and I was at mine.
Too fast, too soon.
Who made up these rules on what we should and shouldn’t do?
I knew how I felt.
“Stay with me, Jada,” I said again, and she cupped my face and nodded.
“I will,” she breathed, and the sparkle in her eyes took me right back to that time in my life when hope truly came back to me.
Hope and happiness.
* * *
Nine years ago….
Today was the day.
I would show her today.
I still couldn’t believe this was me, but it was. I’d invested a hundred and ninety percent into accomplishing this goal, and I did it. Last week, I did it.
At the end of last year, when I was able to move my left leg, we started more intense physio. That day, when I actually moved my leg, would always be embedded in my mind. Catherine hit me with that damn hammer and instead of the usual nothingness, my leg moved, and it hurt like hell.
All the exercises we’d been doing seemed to have triggered something in the muscle, and that’s what happened. After that, my recovery took off in a big way. It was like that part had to happen first.
Two years of me fighting. Fighting and winning because I decided I wanted to win.
Six months ago, I started walking with the assistance of rails I held on to. That was hard because it was testing my upper body and all in effort to get my strength back there too. I messed up on the first few times, but after that, and with all my determination, I did it.
We did it.
We did. Two weeks ago, when she started leaving slightly early to see a new patient she’d taken on, I arranged more practice with another therapist. There was something I felt in my muscle memory that was coming back to me.
Learning to walk all over again was exactly what I was doing, and last week, I did it. I took four steps all by myself without the assistance of the rails.
She didn’t know yet.
She didn’t know, but tonight I planned to show her.
Along with asking her something I’d been dying to ask for the last two years.
When a knock sounded on my door, I knew it was her.
“Come in,” I called out and activated the brakes on my wheelchair.
Catherine came in with a bright smile on her face.
“Hey, hot stuff. You look like you’re up to something.” She chuckled.
“I am.”
“Dr. Parks said you have something to tell me. Of course, I practically ran back here with my fingers crossed.”
“Why’d you need to cross your fingers?”
“For luck. My luck. It sounded like good news, but I didn’t want it to be the kind where you wanted to introduce me to your girlfriend or someone like that.”
I laughed. I’d always loved her humor. It was what kept me going. Always.
“Nope. It’s better than that.”
“What? You’re supposed to say ‘Don’t be so crazy, Catherine, you know I only have eyes for you, Catherine. In fact, I’m going to call you Queen Catherine, Catherine.’” She hadn’t stopped doing that either. Showing that she liked me.
This, what I was about to do, was something I had to do first before I showed her I felt the same.
She moved to come closer, but I held up my hand, and she stopped midstride.
“Stay there. I actually have something to show you.”
She folded her arms and regarded me with an eager stare.
When I stood up by myself, she dropped her arms to her side. Normally, I’d need help to get up and get stable, and usually, it was right beside those rails that had helped me jump over this last hurdle.
“Ivan, what are you doing?” she asked.
“I’m doing what you saw me do when you said I had a thirty-percent chance of walking.”
She gasped as I took that first step. It was a little shaky, but I did it. I counted ten steps to her. I’d gotten used to counting how many steps would get me somewhere. It was five steps from my bed to the desk. Fifteen to the en-suite bathroom.
Ten to the door where she stood.
I waited for my back to feel stronger and give me that center of confidence. When it came, I walked right up to her.
I didn’t know if it was because she was here and this moment meant so much to me, but I didn’t even count the steps. I just walked like I used to, and I felt like me.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked at me. Tears shimmering with joy.
“Oh my God, Ivan. You’re walking. You’re actually walking. Oh my God.” She brought her hands up to her cheeks.
“Thank you, for believing in this.” I stopped just in front of her. “Thank you.”
She shook her head. “It was you. I could have believed in this until it killed me, but you had to as well.”
“Maybe so, but you never allowed me to give up what I wanted most. You helped me to have that open mind to the possibility of this happening and take the risk. I’ll never forget it, and I love you for that.” That was it in a nutshell. I did love her for that.
She looked up at me and smiled. “You are more than welcome. I have to hug you.”
She hugged me, and as I held her, it felt like I’d been given new purpose.
“Oh my gosh, you can’t be my patient anymore.” She winced and started crying more.
“I was kind of hoping I could be something else. Will you go out with me?”
She laughed and nodded. “Yes. Are you kidding? Of course, I will. You beat me to asking.”
“Really, hot stuff?”
She laughed, and when she slipped her arms around me again, I knew everything was changing again.
Things were going to be different.
I knew I’d never play football again, not the way I used to, but it didn’t hurt anymore.
My mind was open to what I could do next, and I got the feeling Catherine was going to play a big role in that.
Chapter 28
Jada
* * *
My God, I never thought I’d get to this day when I was on this show and cou
nting down the days for it to end. One week of actual work. My last attempt to save Bob and Cynthia.
Hell, I didn’t even have a whole week. There was the live office setting, which we were doing now, same thing tomorrow, and then a checkpoint show on Wednesday. Then Friday, where we’d all get together like we did on stage with Andy on the first show, and the couples would talk about what they’d decided to do. So, realistically, I just had until Thursday, although honestly, I thought I’d know by Wednesday night’s checkpoint show which way this was going to go
Earlier, I’d heard something about Ivan’s couple deciding against their divorce. However, mine were still fighting against each other.
It was like that first meeting when everything was so raw.
If this had happened in my consultancy, I would have terminated the meetings weeks ago. At least after the first month because it was one session of arguing and name-calling after another.
It got to a point where it was draining me. I’d pulled out all my best ideas and everything else out of my hat that I could think of to get them to be cordial with each other.
It wasn’t happening, though, and it made the show a sort of bad experience for me.
We were here again. With these attempts. Today, I’d decided to push a little harder. Only because I took some comfort in knowing Ivan was part of the studio audience. His filming was an hour ago. The schedule had changed from last week to accommodate the outdoor activities we’d done with our couples.
While Ivan had taken his couple to a restaurant, I’d opted not to do that today. Last week was horrible when I took the Donovans out to a Japanese restaurant, and the fact that we were in public made it so much worse. I wasn’t into that this week. Or even today.
Today, I was going to ask questions that pushed them toward the decision, whatever that may be. Even if they didn’t decide today, the hope was to plant the seed in their minds and get a result over the next few days.
Cynthia wore black, and her eyes were red and blotchy, like she’d been crying. Bob looked similar. Dressed in gray, he carried the same somber expression as his wife.
The Love Doctors Page 20