by Elle Wright
“You’re such a baby,” he said, grabbing a tissue and holding it out to her. “Get cleaned up, so we can go play the part of a loving couple for a few minutes.”
Love went to the mirror and grimaced at her raccoon eyes. “How about we just go back up to the room and let them think we snuck away because we’re in newlywed mode? I look like a crazy woman.” She eyed him in the mirror. “Hmm?”
“You’re beautiful.”
He turned her to him and his finger trailed down her nose before he hooked a hand behind her neck and pulled her closer. When his lips touched hers, it felt like a dream. The kiss wasn’t passionate, but achingly sweet. It was soft, warm. Just what she needed in that moment.
He pulled away and grinned. “Whatever you want.” He brushed his thumb back and forth over her earlobe. “You go on up, and I’ll find your mother and tell her that we’re turning in. I’ll also ask her to not tell anyone else, because we want to make our own announcement back in Michigan.”
Love let out a nervous laugh and tried to pretend Drake hadn’t just kissed her knees wobbly. “Let’s hope she listens.”
He wrapped an arm around her and led her out of the bathroom. “I’m praying she will.”
Chapter 6
The warmth of Las Vegas had been replaced with a Michigan snowstorm. In March. Ann Arbor was the sixth largest city in “The Mitten,” as some people called the state. It was home to the Ann Arbor Art Fair, “The Big House,” the annual Hash Bash, Zingerman’s Delicatessen and the University of Michigan.
Love had dreamed of attending “U of M” as a child. Maize and Blue was in her soul, running through her veins. Except she hadn’t expected Ann Arbor to be so cold, wet and humid at times. She had grown up in Las Vegas, after all.
Still, in her time there, she’d come to love the quaint college town, with its parks, many shops and diverse population. And the food...yum. I’m so greedy.
Love walked through the University of Michigan Health System, now known as Michigan Medicine, greeting several people in the halls. There was a flurry of activity as always, with individuals from all walks of life milling around. A musician played on a grand piano in the lobby area and patients readied themselves for appointments. As a medical resident, focused on Obstetrics and Gynecology, Love been assigned to all the many hospitals within the system. Her favorite, of course, was the Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital, attached to the C. S. Mott Children’s Hospital. Considered one of the nation’s leading medical institutions, Michigan Medicine was on the cutting edge in many specialties, and Love was happy to be a part of it.
The elevator doors opened on floor five and Love rushed out, nearly slipping on the linoleum. Gripping the edge of a nearby counter, she stood still for a minute, taking a few deep breaths. It had been a day since she’d awkwardly said goodbye to her husband. They’d successfully finished the reunion weekend without ending up in bed with each other again. Which was a good thing. Well, that’s what she kept telling herself, anyway.
Except for that kiss. One kiss, and she’d felt like her world had titled on its axis. She’d been going back and forth about bringing it up. Sure, they’d had sex and got married, but that night of the reunion dinner he’d kissed her deliberately, while sober. Then he’d acted like nothing extraordinary had happened. She hated him.
They’d agreed to talk before she headed into work this morning, but she’d avoided his many calls. After a night of Drake-filled dreams, talking to the man was the last thing she needed.
“Hello, Dr. Jackson.”
Love stopped in her tracks and turned when she heard his name spoken, and Drake’s low-voiced response. He was grinning, like the flirt he was. And the stupid nurse who’d greeted him was eating it up. There was nothing about the encounter that was abnormal. Drake was well-known and well-liked by the staff, especially the women they worked with. Last week, the overly friendly nurse wouldn’t have bothered her, but this week that damn nurse was talking to her husband.
Closing her eyes tight, Love willed the jealousy away.
“How was your trip?” Nurse Annoying asked Drake.
“Good,” he answered. “How was your weekend?”
Love rolled her eyes when the nurse flipped her hair and giggled like a teenage girl with a crush before relaying the details of her weekend clubbing and drinking with her friends.
“I was wondering if you liked Thai food?” the nurse purred, reaching out to fix Drake’s collar. “There’s a restaurant that just opened up around the corner. I happen to be free for lunch, if you want to join me.”
Tramp.
Drake and the woman turned to face her, and Love realized that she’d spoken out loud.
“Really?” the nurse snapped.
“I’m sorry,” Love mumbled. “That was inappropriate.”
“I called you this morning,” Drake said to her, an arch in his brow. A signature trait that seemed even more endearing today. “We were supposed to talk.”
Love looked at the nurse, then at Drake. “I know.” She fidgeted, squeezing her purse between her palms. “I was busy.”
“Too busy to discuss Vegas?”
Love motioned to the nurse, who was listening intently. “Can we talk about Vegas later?”
“What happened in Vegas?” the nosy woman asked, folding her arms across her chest. “Wait, you went to Vegas with Dr. Jackson?”
“Actually, Drake went to Vegas with me. And shouldn’t you be administering some medication this morning?”
“Rita, I need to take care of something right now,” Drake told the nurse.
She actually had the nerve to pout. “What about lunch?”
Love couldn’t help it; she opened her mouth and it came out. “Drake, don’t you think you should run along and get that infection checked out before it spreads?” She flinched when he pinched her.
“She’s lying,” Drake assured the nurse. Then, after a scalding glare in Love’s direction, he added, “About lunch... I don’t think it’s a good idea. I don’t mix work and pleasure. Sorry.”
“Oh, I—I didn’t mean a date,” she stammered. “I was just asking as a friend.”
“Give me a break,” Love mumbled.
The nurse backed away and stumbled over a wheelchair. “But I understand, Dr. Jackson. I’ll see you around.”
Love covered her smile with her hand, but Drake chuckled out loud. And even though he’d blatantly laughed at her and boldly rebuffed her advances, Love was sure the other woman wouldn’t hesitate to let him take her to bed. That’s just how women were around the handsome, eligible Dr. Drake Jackson.
Love slung her bag over her shoulder and started for the residents’ lounge, with Drake on her heels.
His hand around her arm stopped her. “Love, wait.”
“Drake, I have to get started. I want to talk to Dr. Hastings about my patient.” Since finding out in Vegas about the woman’s death, Love had been rolling her entire history with Mrs. Rodriguez in her mind. Her father had once told her to never get too personal with her patients, but she couldn’t help it. “I have many questions.”
Drake let her go, and ran a hand through his hair. “Love, we can’t deal with this if you keep avoiding me. We have to put on a united front here at the hospital.”
“Why? No one knows anything.”
They’d managed to get her mother to promise not to share the news with anyone else, so Love felt secure in the fact that no one in Michigan would know unless they told them, and they’d decided not to tell anyone.
“Yes, I know. But there is the pesky detail of hiring an attorney to handle the annulment.”
She forgot. Sighing, she scratched her ear. “Okay, you’re right. Come over tonight and we’ll talk about it.”
Drake hesitated, tapped his foot against the floor. Nodding, he pulled his phone ou
t of his jacket. “I’ll be over after five. I have to go.”
He walked away without another word. Love watched him round the corner toward the patient elevators. Nibbling on her finger, she sighed and entered the residents’ lounge.
“Hey, you,” Lana called, approaching her. “What are you doing here? I thought you weren’t coming back for a few days?”
She peered up at Dr. Lana White and smiled. “Hey. No, I was always supposed to be back today.”
It was always good to see Lana. Her cousin was like a breath of fresh air in her life. Love had been a lonely kid. Her mother’s diabetes had prevented her from having more children, so Lana had been a stand-in sister. She was popular and intelligent and had taught Love all about boys and science.
Lana dropped a file on the table and plopped down in a chair. “Girl, it’s been boring as hell without you.”
Love set her bag in her locker and quickly dressed in her scrubs. “I wasn’t gone that long.”
“Did I tell you that my life and my stomach depend on you to be around?” She laughed, rubbing her flat belly.
Lana was a mess in the kitchen, so Love had spent many a night cooking for her. “You’re so greedy.”
“Hey, there is no shame in my game.”
The two shared another laugh. Lana could eat anyone under the table, but looking at her, one would never know that. She was a natural beauty, with perfect skin the color of rich toffee. Her cousin was slender and toned at five feet nine inches tall. For a long time, Love had envied Lana’s long legs, silky hair and confident stride. It had taken years for her to feel comfortable in her own petite frame, especially when around her gorgeous cousin. For all intents and purposes, Lana was the only girlfriend she had. It was a bonus that she was also a close relation.
“I saw Drake zoom past me,” Lana said. “He barely said two words to me.”
Love froze. “Oh? He’s probably going to see El.” She pulled a bag of veggies from her roomy purse, closed her locker, and plopped down next to Lana.
“El, huh?”
Love didn’t miss the interest in her voice. For years, she’d hoped that El and Lana would connect as more than friends. Unfortunately, El hadn’t been interested in dating since he’d broken up with his ex-girlfriend Avery. Poor Lana had been crushing on him for quite some time.
They sat in silence for a moment, before Lana stood. She opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. “I’m hungry. I’m gonna head to the cafeteria. Care to join?” She took a long gulp of water.
“I’m married,” Love blurted.
Water sprayed out of Lana’s mouth onto the floor and the wall. “Damn,” she exclaimed, grabbing a napkin and wiping her face. Then she placed a hand on her hips. “What did you just say?”
Love hurried to wipe up the spilled water before meeting her gaze. “You heard me.”
Lana wrapped an arm around Love’s shoulder and guided her over to a couch on the other side of the room. They both sat. “I heard you, but I don’t understand. The Love I know went to Vegas single, and now you’re standing in front of me telling me that you’re married. Who did you marry?”
Love swallowed, hugging herself. “You have to promise not to tell anybody.”
Lana shrugged. “Who am I going to tell?”
“Promise me.”
“I won’t say anything.”
Love tucked her feet under her bottom and relaxed a bit. “After you called and told me about Mrs. Rodriguez, I was beside myself with grief.”
“I know. I had to convince you not to come back, remember?”
“Drake took me out to distract me.”
Lana bit her lip. “So, what’s different about that? Drake is always there to distract you.”
“I know, right? But this time we woke up the next morning in bed together.”
The blank look on Lana’s face told Love that her cousin still wasn’t following. “So what? I don’t know why, but you two have been known to share a bed. Often. I’ll never understand how that worked between you, but hey. To each her own. Not many women can sleep in bed with a man as fine as Drake and not be tempted to...explore. And vice versa.” Lana took another swig from her bottle of water.
Oh, boy.
Lana rambled on, obviously ignoring what had to be a sick look on Love’s face. Or maybe she just felt sick? “You’re a good catch, too,” her cousin continued. “Any man would want to be with you. You’re gorgeous.” She took another swig of her water.
“Naked.” Love jerked back when water sprayed on her face. “Damn, Lana. Can’t you control your spit reflex?”
“Oh, no. I’m so sorry.” Lana grabbed a handful of tissues from the table and dabbed Love’s face. “You can’t spring something like that on me.”
Snatching the tissue away from her startled cousin, Love muttered a curse. “Anyway, long story short, I couldn’t remember what happened the night before. But there was evidence of sexual activity on the bed.”
Lana frowned. “Evidence? Why do you have to sound like an old episode of Law & Order? So mechanical. What kind of... Oh! And you don’t remember having sex with Drake?”
“Keep up, Lana. I didn’t remember when I woke up next to him naked. I remember now.”
“You had sex with Drake,” she whispered.
“Why are you whispering? There’s no one else in here. Yes, we had sex.”
“Was it good?”
Love gaped at her amused cousin. “Stay focused.”
“Okay. I’m focused. I’m putting on my doctor’s face. Detached and listening Lana here. Answer the question.”
Lana placed a hand over her mouth and let out a squeal of...delight? Then she cleared her throat and straightened in her seat. “Okay, you have my undivided attention.”
Love hesitated before she continued the story. “Then the concierge comes up to the room with a ring.”
“A ring?”
“Yes.” Love took a deep breath. “I married Drake in Vegas.”
Lana’s mouth fell open. “Get out of here.”
“Believe me, I wish I wasn’t telling the truth.”
“You and Drake got busy and married in the same night? After all these years of pure, platonic friendship, you just chucked all the unspoken rules out the window and did it?”
Love hung her head.
“This is too juicy not to share.”
Love shot her a death glare. “If you say one word, I will kick your ass up and down this hospital.”
Lana’s hands went up in surrender. “Okay, okay. I won’t say anything.”
Love pointed at her cousin. “I swear, Lana. Don’t play with me.”
Lana squeezed Love’s knee. “My lips are sealed. Calm down. But you have to admit, this is good tea. Blogworthy. You, Ms. Queen of Control, had sex and got married, while drunk, to your best friend.” She barked out a gleeful laugh. “No one would believe me if I announced it on the loudspeaker during rounds.”
Lana was right. No one would believe it. Love had to admit that, if she hadn’t been there, she wouldn’t have ever thought she was capable of being so reckless. She filled her cousin in on the plans for an annulment. “And there’s one more thing.”
“There’s more?”
“My mother found out.”
“Gloria knows?” Lana asked with wide eyes. “Oh, God. You must be mortified.”
It was no secret that her mother wanted Drake and Love together. She’d just given up on that hope after years spent denying they were anything more than friends.
“And she announced it in the middle of the family reunion.”
“Oh, Jesus. Does Uncle Leon know?”
“No, thank God. I convinced Mom not to say anything to my father. But you know her. She is giddy with excitement. And wh
en she’s excited, she’s crazy.”
Though Lana was her cousin on her father’s side of the family, she knew Gloria well. She still spent her summer vacations in Las Vegas with Love, even after Love’s parents divorced.
“This just gets better,” Lana mused aloud. “How do you feel?”
“How do you think? Drake can barely say the word sex in front of me, and I can’t look him in the eyes. It’s a nightmare.”
“I think you two should definitely talk about it. It’s going to be a huge elephant in the room. Not to mention awkward for everyone else around you. And if you don’t want Uncle Leon to find out about it, you best air this before it starts to affect your friendship.”
It was a truth that Love had been worried about since she’d landed at the Detroit Metro Airport the night before. Drake seemed normal enough, but their situation was anything but.
“How is Drake acting?” Lana asked, concern in her dark brown eyes.
“He’s Drake. Calm under pressure. He doesn’t look at me like we had sex.”
That fact alone made Love feel totally inadequate. Drake had told her he wanted her, but he never said he’d enjoyed their lovemaking. Just that he remembered it. She knew him. Had seen him when he was into a woman, heard him talk to El about women that he found entrancing and unforgettable. Her worst fear, which really shouldn’t even be a fear, was that she was a bland blip on his sex radar. The thought of being one of those forgettable women he never talked about made her feel sick. Especially since everything about that night was memorable for her.
What was more frightening? That he didn’t enjoy it, or that she’d enjoyed it too much?
“Love, it’s going to be all right,” Lana said, as if she sensed the turmoil inside her. “You and Drake will work it out. You have to. Life wouldn’t be the same if you and Drake weren’t...you and Drake.”
Love smiled and leaned into Lana, who hugged her. “Thank you, cousin. Love you.”
Love’s cell phone buzzed in her pocket. Hoping it was Drake, she grimaced at the sight of her father’s number. She unlocked the phone and read the text: In my office in fifteen minutes.