Lives Collide (Collide #1)

by Kristina Beck

  I don’t care if we don’t get married right away. I just want her to be mine forever and ask her to move in with me. It seems to be the natural next step in our relationship. We spend most of our time at my apartment anyway. We have more privacy there. And it would let us save money for when it’s time to get married.

  I look at the time. I have only five minutes left of my break. I guess Jessica couldn’t get away from the ward. I finish my bagel and leave the table.

  This Saturday she’s throwing a party to celebrate the end of her residency and obtaining her license. She’s invited her parents, my family, our friends, and other residency doctors. I plan to ask her to marry me at her party, in front of everyone. I asked her parents for their blessing. They said they would be proud to have me as their son-in-law.

  When I sought their blessing, Jessica’s mother, Mrs. Flynn, showed me Jessica’s grandmother’s engagement ring. Her grandmother passed away a couple of years before I met her. Mrs. Flynn asked if I would like to give it to Jessica and ranted about how much her daughter loves this ring. I had planned to buy her a ring, but this seems more romantic and part of her heritage. Since she’s the only child, it’s the only chance to pass it down to the next generation. And we can pass it down to one of our kids someday.

  I know I’m crazy, but I just can’t wait. She doesn’t suspect a thing. I’m confident she’ll say yes. She told me she wants to be surprised when I propose. I think she will be floored. Only Jessica’s parents know I plan to propose at the party. Not even my parents, Alexa, or my best friend, Matt, knows. It was so hard not to tell them.

  I’m anxious and excited. I know exactly what I will say to her.

  Chapter 7

  Lisa

  Don’t I have Tylenol or Advil? I knock over a bottle of hand disinfectant into the bathroom sink. How can there be nothing in the bathroom cabinet? Maybe I have some in my handbag. I head toward the kitchen to search my bag. I wish Emily still lived here. She always had this apartment stocked with painkillers. She moved into her boyfriend’s apartment about a month ago. I don’t mind living alone at this point in my life. Especially when I’m sick.

  Ha! I find a travel bottle of Advil in my handbag. I drag myself to the sink to fetch a glass of water.

  I woke up with the chills and a headache this morning. Why do I have to be sick today? Ugh! I’m supposed to go to a party with Bryant tonight. His fellow resident, Jessica, is having a party because she finished her residency and received her license. She lives in an apartment far down the hallway from mine but I have never met her. Our paths have never physically crossed.

  I’ve been looking forward all week to going to an actual party rather than staying home having sex. I like the sex, but there has to be more to a relationship. Right? Well, it’s only morning. Maybe I will feel better later. Now that I’ve taken some medicine, I’ll try to sleep it off.

  Wishful thinking. I’m lying on the couch in complete misery. It is 7:00 p.m., and I still feel horrible. My fever and headache have returned. My stomach feels nauseated. Even if I take medicine again, I won’t be well enough to go to the party. I hope he won’t be angry. He should be here any minute. I’m pissed off because I really wanted and needed to have some fun tonight. Bryant as well. We’ve been working so hard these last weeks, which is probably why I’m sick. We need a break, even if it’s only for a couple of hours.

  I hear a knock at the door but don’t move off the couch. Bryant walks in and notices right away I’m sick. His facial expression reflects sympathy but also disappointment. He walks toward me, but I put my hand out to stop him.

  “Don’t come near me. I don’t want to get you sick.”

  He stops immediately.

  “I’m sorry. I can’t go to the party when I feel this sick. You know how excited I was about tonight. I shouldn’t expose other people to what I have. Please understand. You need to go without me. I didn’t call you because I hoped I’d feel better by now.”

  “Are you sure? I can stay here with you,” he says, not too convincingly.

  “No. Please don’t worry about me. I’m just down the hall. Go for as long as you want. I have no desire to be around anyone. All I want is a cup of tea, a hot water bottle, and to lie in my warm bed. I’ve taken medicine, but this fever doesn’t want to go away.”

  He moves forward again, but I don’t have the strength to stop him this time. It’s his fault if he gets sick. He puts the bottle of champagne on the coffee table he told me he bought Jessica yesterday.

  He presses his hand against my forehead. “Yes, you definitely have a fever. Put a cool compress on your head. See if that helps. I’ll go to the party for a couple of hours and then come back and check up on you later.”

  The chills are worse now. I sit up and pull a big blanket over my shoulders. “You can, but I have no idea if I’ll be awake. It’s probably better if you aren’t around me, since you have to be at the hospital tomorrow. Granted, you are exposed to bacteria and viruses every day. Please have a good time and don’t worry about me. Tell Jessica I’m sorry for not attending her party.” Not like she’ll care, since she doesn’t even know me.

  I wrap the blanket tighter around me and walk him to the door. Before he can say anything, I practically push him across the threshold and close it.

  I can hardly stand at this point. I need to make myself tea and a hot water bottle before I go to bed. He didn’t sound too disappointed I’m sick. Maybe he didn’t want me to go with him. He has been a little distant lately. Now I’m being paranoid.

  Tina asks me why I stay with him. I ask myself the same question more than I should. If I truly loved him, I should have every reason to stay with him. But I don’t.

  Chapter 8

  James

  My palms are sticky, and my forehead has beads of sweat forming. I check for the hundredth time that the ring is in my pocket. My eyes search the crowded apartment for Jessica, and I finally see her. She stands in a circle of her resident friends, laughing about something. Every movement she makes releases all the tension from the last few years out of her body.

  There is nothing to be nervous about. However, I never thought I would be proposing in front of so many guests.

  She sees me and waves me over. Her smile relaxes me as I approach. She kisses me softly on my lips and slips her arm around mine. Her rose perfume encompasses me.

  “Hi there, handsome. What took you so long to get here?” She puts her hand on my cheek. “Are you feeling okay? You’re sweating. Did your old Honda break down again so you had to walk here?” She pokes me in the ribs.

  “Maybe I’m getting a cold. I don’t know. We’re exposed to so many things at the hospital. Anything can happen.” I jiggle the ring in my pocket.

  She looks toward the apartment door. “Hey, another resident just arrived who I want to introduce you to.” She waves him over.

  He waves and walks up to us. “Hi Jessica. Congratulations on finally being free.” He hands her a bottle. “Here’s a bottle of champagne from me and my girlfriend, Lisa.”

  “Thank you so much. I will definitely enjoy this. It’s such a relief to be done.” She cradles the bottle in one arm.

  “Where’s your girlfriend? I have yet to meet her and we live in the same apartment complex. Granted I’m hardly ever here.” She laughs.

  “She sends her regards. She really wanted to come tonight but she’s sick.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  He shrugs his shoulders. “It happens.”

  I extend my hand out to him. “Hi. I’m Jessica’s boyfriend, James.”

  She giggles. “Sorry James. This is Bryant.”

  We shake hands. “Nice to meet you, James. You work in the ER. Right?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Sorry guys.” Jessica interrupts. “But I need to go help my parents. I see them trying to take something out of the oven.” I take the champagne bottle from her.

  “Bryant, go get something to drink and mingle. Enj
oy the party,” she says happily.

  “Thanks. Talk to you both later.” He wanders off into the group of guests.

  Her hand flutters against my arm. “Want to come with me?”

  I shrug. “Sure.”

  As I walk away, I space out after hearing the name Lisa. I haven’t thought about my Lisa in a long time.

  Jessica pulls me aside. “James, are you sure you’re okay? You’re acting funny.”

  “Everything is fine. I think I need a glass of water, or maybe a beer would be better.” I’d like a shot, but I should stick to beer.

  “I thought you said you were getting sick,” she remarks in confusion.

  She got me there.

  “Maybe, but I need something cold right now. A cold beer sounds pretty good.”

  “Do me a favor. Please put the champagne in the refrigerator. Then get yourself a beer.” She kisses me on the cheek and walks away.

  She has no idea. I love it!

  I open a beer and walk into the living room.

  Jessica’s father approaches me. “Are you ready, James?” he whispers.

  “I’m more than ready, Mr. Flynn,” I say with a nervous smile.

  “No more Mr. Flynn. After tonight, please call me Dad.” He pats me on the back and walks away.

  Interesting. For the last year, I have called him Mr. Flynn. I always thought it was too formal, but I wanted to be respectful. Now he wants me to call him Dad. That’s a big jump.

  More people arrive. I think the entire group of residents are here. This apartment is small, so it’s packed. Maybe I should rethink this. I shouldn’t care, because I’ll only be looking at her when I propose.

  I check my watch for the fifteenth time. I’m going to explode if I wait any longer.

  It’s showtime.

  I stand in the middle of the living room. “Jessica, where are you?” I say it loud enough that her guests turn in my direction.

  She comes around the corner. “I’m right here. What’s going on?” She looks at me and then to her guests.

  “Come stand by me, please,” I say as I stretch out my arm for her to grab my hand.

  I check to make sure our families are watching. I’ve gone over this moment in my head several times, but now I’m lost. I take her hands in mine and stare directly into her eyes. I calm down immediately.

  “The moment you walked into my life at Clarion’s orientation, you turned it upside down in the most wonderful ways. I knew my life would change for the better. All my friends and family know I’ve had my life planned out for the next ten to twenty years. Even though you were not a part of the plan, you easily fit in. Becoming a doctor was my number one priority since I was seventeen years old. After you entered my life, it became the second. You will always be my top priority.”

  Her grip on my hands increases, and her eyes glisten.

  “The night we met at Kerry’s Pub, when I arrived, you didn’t see me right away. I stood there and observed you. I told myself how lucky I was to be there with you. I learned how passionate you are about being a doctor. We share the same passion. We want to truly help others.

  “You are smart, beautiful, patient, and most of all, you are mine. I never knew my life was lacking something until you appeared. From the first time I saw your face, I knew it would lead me to this moment. The first time we kissed, my heart whispered you were my soul mate. I can’t wait to build a future with you. I’ll support you in every way I can, in all aspects of your life. When you fall, I promise I will pick you up. I hope one day you will be the mother of my children. I promise to show you how much I love you, every day for the rest of our lives. I know we agreed we would wait to get married. However, I can’t wait any longer to ask you to be my wife.”

  I kneel on one knee and take out the ring box. “Jessica, I love you. Will you marry me?”

  Tears form in my eyes. My hands shake as I take the ring out of the box. I take her trembling hand and slide the ring on her finger. I almost lose my balance when she screams, “Yes, yes, yes! I love you so much.” I straighten, and she jumps into my arms and kisses me as if we are the only ones in the room. There’s an uproar of congratulations and clapping.

  “This is my grandmother’s ring,” she cries. We hold on to each other for a while, until we remember we are in the middle of all the guests. I’ll always remember this moment. I’m truly the luckiest man in the world.

  “Mr. Flynn—I mean, Dad—where’s the champagne?” I yell cheerfully.

  Alexa runs to me, squealing. “Congratulations, you sly dog. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me. Not even Mom and Dad. We are all happily surprised. I love that Jessica will be my sister-in-law. I love having a sister. No offense, James, but you are a guy. It’s different.”

  “Thanks, Alexa. You can calm down now. I don’t think we’ll be getting married anytime soon. Go have some champagne and give Jessica a hug.”

  Dad clamps a hand on my shoulder. “We can’t believe you didn’t tell us,” he says as Mom hugs me.

  She wipes a tear from her eyes. “What a beautiful proposal! We’re so happy for you both. I love that we were all surprised. We thought you were going to wait to get married.”

  “We’ll wait to get married, but I really wanted to propose. This was the next best step to get us closer to that.”

  I watch while Jessica shows off her ring. I know she loves it was her grandmother’s. That’s why I love her so much. She doesn’t need a huge diamond on her hand to prove I love her. She doesn’t need money and fancy things to be happy. Unfortunately, her parents feel differently.

  Her parents think money is essential. It puts pressure on me. She’s the only child and has been doted on by her parents since she was born. I don’t know how she’s the type of person she is today. Money is not a driver in her life. However, once I start making money, I’ll spoil her with anything she wants.

  Chapter 9

  Lisa

  I’m dead asleep in my bed when I feel a hand on my arm, shaking me gently. I open my eyes and see Bryant came back anyway.

  “How are you feeling?” he asks.

  “I still feel like crap, but at least I was able to sleep for a couple of hours.” I’m not leaving this bed. I’m annoyed he woke me up.

  “I’m sorry I woke you up. I wanted to see if you need anything.”

  Okay, maybe I’m being bitchy.

  I sit up, regretting it immediately. My head is pounding. I try to put a smile on my face. “So how was the party? Were there a lot of people there?” I say, faking interest.

  “The party was actually a lot of fun. There were more people there than I expected. I knew a bunch of them from the hospital. I finally met her boyfriend. He seems like a nice guy.”

  “She must be ecstatic to be finished. Now she can practice anywhere she wants. I still have so much school ahead of me,” I say as I fall onto the pillow a little too hard.

  “Her boyfriend proposed to her in the middle of the party.”

  That got my attention.

  “It seems everyone was quite shocked, including her. She jumped up and down and of course cried ‘yes’ like a total girl. He was on the verge of tears during his proposal, and then they were both crying. You could see how they truly love each other. They’re like, the perfect couple. It was a true Hallmark moment.” He ridicules.

  “Why do you say it like that? Is it so hard to believe two people can be so in love?” I sound defensive, and I don’t even know them.

  Bryant only shrugs and stands up.

  I guess I’m right then. Red flag 5,000!

  “What’s her fiancée’s name?” I ask as I massage my temples.

  “His name is James.”

  Instantly my stomach turns. It makes me think of James from the ski accident in Killington. I haven’t thought of him or that experience in a while.

  “Are you feeling worse, Lisa? You’re making a weird face.

  “I’m fine. The name James reminds me of the ski accident I told you abou
t. His name was James. I’ve told you that story before, haven’t I?

  “It rings a bell.” Bryant replies completely disinterested. Does he care about anything personal to me?

  Now I’m just irritated. “Bryant, can you please leave? I’m not good company when I’m sick. I sleep better alone. Sorry you can’t stay the night. Since it’s not too late, why don’t you go out with your friends?”

  “Really?” He acts like a dog that was just asked if he wants a bone. He bolts to the kitchen to call his friends, with too much enthusiasm.

  He ambles back into the bedroom. “I’m going to meet up with some of the guys at the Burning Tavern. Are you sure you don’t mind?”

  “As a matter of fact, I don’t mind at all.” Please get out of my apartment!

  “Okay. Thanks! Feel better, and I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” He exits the bedroom like his pants are on fire.

  When I hear the door close, I sigh in relief. I don’t want him here tonight. The way he told the story about the proposal was like he was mocking them. As if it was so stupid to be that much in love with someone. What does it say about us? We definitely don’t act like that, even though we supposedly love each other.

  I can’t think about Bryant anymore. It makes my head hurt worse. I need to focus on school and stop wondering how he feels about me. Our relationship works for the time being.

  My thoughts wander to James. I wonder whatever happened to my James. Hopefully he wasn’t seriously injured. I haven’t gone skiing since I started medical school. That’s probably why I haven’t thought about him in so long. Would I recognize him if I saw him on the street? Probably not. I didn’t see his face clearly. He had a helmet and goggles on most of the time. When the goggles were off, his eyes were closed. Even if I did meet him, he could be a total jerk. The one thing I do remember is when he held my hand and said thank you with such tenderness and sincerity.