“Wanda! Tell me you found her! Please, tell me we can get to her before she moves again.”
My heart twists as a wave of panic washes over me. I have been living with such longing and regret for the last few years that I think I’m going crazy. Why didn’t I just tell Katie when we were at the university together that I liked her? No, I love her.
I fell in love with her almost instantly. Her deep dimples are just so adorable, and the way she gets so grumpy at me always sends my heart fluttering, but I’ve messed it all up. I didn’t tell her how I truly felt, and I know she was given a chance of a lifetime to do her internship and residency at a prestigious hospital on the other side of the country. I have wanted to tell her so many times, but she always acts like she didn’t like me. Then I was stupid and let my fear of her rejecting me take control. There is no way I could handle it if things between us became awkward since our friends were dating each other, and we are always together with them.
It wasn’t until her going away party when I finally found out how she actually feels about me. To say I’m shocked is an understatement. Even now, years later, I’m totally blown away and still can’t believe it. Katie has liked me the whole time, and she actually has fallen in love with me, too. I used to pretend to be drunk because it always would make her feel a little more comfortable around me, and now I know why. She is secretly in love with me while I’m secretly in love with her, too.
The rest of that evening is the best night of my life. That is, until the morning came, and I wake up alone in my bedroom. Katie is nowhere in sight and has snuck out of my bedroom. I rush to her place to see if I can talk to her before she leaves, but I’m too late. I even run to the airport, but once again, I’m too late.
To think back to that night, I was so close to getting what I want and to have it ripped away from me was just not fair. I had waited for years to have her be mine and that last night together, even though she thought I was drunk and wouldn’t remember, she finally gave herself to me. All of her, and now she is mine. I want her back so badly. My heart aches every time I think about not having her close to me.
I will never forget when she told me she loves me. I was so happy, and it made me even more aroused. I had another passionate round with her while I kept telling her I loved her, too. She may have thought it was the alcohol, but it wasn’t. I was telling her my honest feelings. I just wish she didn’t think I was drunk. Come on, what drunk man, who is supposedly so drunk he can’t remember anything, can make love for hours? Round after round, I never slowed down. I just couldn’t get enough of her. It tasted so good. One taste just wasn’t enough. I can still remember the whole evening like it happened yesterday, and it has been six years. Six long, agonizing years. I haven’t been able to see or talk to her.
In the back of my mind, I’m afraid she has found someone new. Someone to replace me and who she can actually tell her true feelings to.
Wanda flashes me a brilliant smile and nods her head. “I’m positive we have found her and, for once, she hasn’t moved. Previously, she has been staying in a place for only a few months, but this time she has been in the same spot for about six months. Are you sure you really want to do this?”
I nearly jump across her living room at her as I shout, “YES!! I’m going to go get my Katie back!”
Wanda flashes me a smile and chirps, “Good. I have the plane tickets bought and we are all leaving in a couple of hours. Go get some stuff packed and I’ll be by your place to pick you up shortly.”
I immediately dash over to her and give her a big hug. I can’t wait to finally see my Katie after so long. I wonder if she has changed at all. I’m sure she is just as cute and beautiful as she was before.
***
I stare at my dresser and then at my closet. I don’t know what to pack, but I know one thing I’m taking. I can’t forget the engagement ring I had bought shortly after our blissful night. My plan back then was to ask Katie to start dating when she got back, and then, after several months, I would propose. I wanted to marry her so badly that I was almost tempted to just propose to her when she got back, but Wanda talked me out of it. She said I need to date Katie first before going straight into marriage.
To me, though, I already knew Katie was the one. I didn’t have any question about it, and I was just hoping she felt the same way too.
I finally pack my bags and am ready to go. As I dash out of my bedroom, I nearly forget to grab my passport, but I remembered and stop before I rush back and get it.
My stomach flutters at the thought of getting to see Katie soon.
***
My foot bounces while my fingers fiddle with each other. I glance to the seat beside me at my friends as my stomach twists and fear nips at me.
Wanda gives me a sympathetic look and softly says, “Mark, calm down. This will be the time we find her. She isn’t going to get away from us. Okay.”
From the other side of Wanda, Evan tears his focus off his phone and looks over at me as he quickly adds, “Mark, I’m sure we are going to find her. I know we have messed up in the past, and we didn’t get there before she moved again, but I have a feeling we will get there before it is too late. Don’t worry.”
Izzy pops up from behind and peers over the airplane seats at us and chirps, “We are all just as anxious as you are to find Katie, so please calm down.”
Without thinking, I whip my head around and hiss, “It wasn’t you who found out she loved you the night before she left for his internship, and it wasn’t you who confessed to her that you love her, too. It also wasn’t you who spent hours making love to the woman of your dreams to only wake up the next morning and find yourself alone in the bed without a note or any sign she was even there. It was the best night of my life, but it is starting to feel like only a dream. I want her back, and I want to marry the love of my life.”
Wanda stares at me. Confusion clouds her vision as she hesitantly asks, “Mark, when Katie took you home that night from the bar, are you saying you had sex with her? How? You were so drunk.”
I suddenly realize what I just said and wish I could take it back, but I can’t. I slowly turn my attention at her and confess. “I always act drunk when I’m drinking with Katie. She always seemed to be more comfortable and would actually talk to me. That last night, I was acting, but I wasn’t drunk at all. I remember everything and when she confessed to me she had been in love with me for years, we both couldn’t stop ourselves. We gave ourselves to each other, and we eventually fell asleep in each other’s arms. But I woke up alone. I have been waiting for her ever since.”
Izzy leans over the seats further and softly confesses, “Katie didn’t even tell us she liked you. Evan and I both had our doubts, though. She was always following you with her eyes whenever you were close, and she acted like she didn’t want to hear about you, but she often would hide a smile when we were talking about you, especially when we would talk about you rejecting people who confessed about liking you or who wanted to go out on a date with you.”
I might as well tell them everything. “I wasn’t going to date anyone while I was in love with Katie. That is why I haven’t dated anyone since the first moment I saw her. I know it sounds crazy, but I just can’t try to date someone else when my heart is already taken by her.”
Wanda pats my shoulder. “Mark, we all understand. We have all done that. Shoot, Izzy and Frank surprised everyone when they suddenly stopped being players and hooking up with people. Everyone noticed. Did you forget? It was only later when we found out they had fallen for each other and that was why they changed.”
I remember, but it doesn’t really help me right now. How long is this flight going to be? I want to get there and find Katie fast. I just hope she still loves me like she used to. I don’t know if I could take it if she doesn’t.
Please, Katie. Please, still love me and be waiting for me. I’m coming for you, my love.
“Hey, I knew I would find you down here. Most of the staff go to either the rooftop garden or the park just outside the hospital, but you always come to the daycare. I guess watching children has a way of calming you down.” Dr. Smith pats me on my shoulder. Without looking away from the kids, I mumble, “Something like that.” He nudges me. “Come on, our department has a meeting in five minutes. You have to go back upstairs.” Reluctantly, I tear my eyes off the kids and, while remaining silent, I turn and walk back up to my department. It is days like this that have me practically running to the daycare. There is the one face which always manages to calm me down without having to do anything. The only difference from what I remember is the precious boy has dimples, too. When I get back upstairs, I can’t even face the grief-stricken parents. They are still sitting in the waiting area, and they are still crying. I can’t image receiving the news your child is sick and may e
UGH!! This is taking forever. I want to get out of here and get my Katie, but I’m still stuck at the airport.As we stand by the luggage claim area, Wanda lightly taps my arm. “Mark, stop worrying. Everything is going to be all right. We will find Katie and then hopefully we can get her talked into coming back home with us.”Dragging a few bags, Frank steps up beside me and huffs, “Mark, you are making everyone nervous with your constant fidgeting and pacing. Knock it off.”I just ignore him. It is easy for him to say that, but he has no clue what I’m going through right now. I’m so close, but yet so far away. The good thing is we know where she is working, so if for some reason, she has moved again, we will just go to the hospital. I’m going to find her one way or another.After what seems like years, we finally have our luggage and get through the airport. I hurry over to the rental car counter, and in record time, I get all the paperwork handled and get the rental car ke
I can’t believe this. I’m a father. I still can’t believe it, but this adorable little boy is my son. He has the same black hair and dark brown eyes as me, including the slight glimmer of mischief. I just can’t take my eyes off him. As we leave the daycare with Casper in my arms, my little man suddenly shouts, “Uncle Shane! Look daddy came!! Mommy is going to be so happy!”I rip my focus away from my son and look at the tall man in front of us. His mouth is gaping wide open, and he stares at me. He looks about the same age as us but is frozen in place. His ID hanging around his neck shows he works at the hospital. His short blonde hair is slightly messy and frames his tired face and blue eyes. I’m not the only one who has had a rough day.Casper claps his tiny hands, while his eyes sparkle with excitement. “Uncle Shane. I want to tell mommy. Let’s go tell mommy.”Shane shakes his head and turns his attention back to my son. “Sorry, Cass, but mommy has an emergency surg
I walk out into the living room with Casper in my arms, along with the memory stick and the photo album, just as my friends enter the house. “Wand, did you bring your laptop?”She glances across the room at me but doesn’t say anything and walks to the kitchen with Izzy. The two set their grocery bags down on the counters and then come back out to the living room while my other friends take more bags into the kitchen behind them. She stops in the middle of the room. Her eyebrows knot together as her light brown eyes fill with confusion. “Yeah. Why? Do you need me to go get it out of the van?”Before I can answer, Casper frantically nods his head and chimes, “Yes. Mommy has stuff for daddy.”I smile at my son and add, “Katie has some files Cass says are for me on this memory stick. Can I use your laptop to look at them?”Wand’s eye light up and she flashes me a brilliant smile. “Sure. I’ll be right back.”As she turns to dash out to the van, Izzy quickly snatches the photo al
Katie POVI press my lips together as I look at the opening in my young patient’s abdomen. This should have been a simple procedure, but a long one. Unfortunately, nothing has been easy tonight. It is almost like the world is out to get me after the rough day I previously had. I don’t want to lose another patient this week. I don’t know if I can bear two in one week. My nose itches behind the mask. My lip instantly twitches, trying to get relief. My hands stop in midair as the itching gets worse. Is someone talking about me? Or is the saying someone is thinking about you? Whatever it is, I hope this itching stops soon. A child’s life hangs in the balance right now, and I need to keep my focus on him.From the other side of the operating table, a nurse looks at me. Confusion circles around in her eyes as she asks, “Katie, are you alright? Is something wrong?”I quickly shake my head and proceed with what I was doing. “No. Nothing is wrong. My nose is itching, nothing e
Katie POVI breathe a sigh of relief as I step away from the operating table, and my gaze goes to the newly stitched incision. Luckily, things have ended up going well, and the surgery is a success. This is something I really needed right now. The only thing better than this would be if Mark suddenly appeared in front of me with his arms opened wide and the playful smirk I love. A faint smile dances across my lips as his handsome face pops into my head. Images from our last and only night together come flooding back to me. He looked even more handsome than normal, or it was just me and I didn’t want to leave him. But I didn’t have much choice. My goal has always been to become a doctor, and I wasn’t going to put it on hold, even for him. His dark brown eyes seemed to be darker and sexier than usual that night, and his muscular body looked amazing in his tight shirt, which accented every line on his toned body. He looked the best, though, without the shirt on. Ah, is it gett
Exhaustion washes over me as I walk down the hallway towards the hospital’s staff locker rooms. The smell of disinfecting chemicals hangs in the air, while a lingering smell of blood is stuck in my nose. My legs wobble when I realize I still have to go home and fix supper for everyone. This is one of those times when I wish Shane knew how to cook. My mind wonders to the park near the house and my occasional little escapes. I wish I could go there tonight, but I can’t. It is already late and by the time I fix supper, it will be past Casper’s bedtime. Ugh… I drag my feet down the empty hall and into the locker room. As my mind goes through the list of things I need to do, I only feel energetic enough to fix a meal tonight, and it might push me beyond my limits. I slowly change before walking through the hospital towards the parking lot and my car. My feet drag the entire way as if I have bricks tied to them. Oh, I hope Shane didn’t have any problems with Casper tonight. M
I smile at Casper and then look at Mark as warmth fills my chest. “I’m very happy. Happier than you can even imagine.”Evan, Frank, Wanda, and Izzy all scurry towards us and huddle around while Wanda chimes, “We came, too. We have all missed you. When are you coming home?”With tears in her eyes, Izzy adds, “Yes, we want you to come back with us and I don’t think Mark is going to leave without you and Cass. Plus, we have promised to teach him how to cook so he can make a meal for his grandparents.”Frank sternly continues, “We all know your secret now, so there isn’t anything to hide. I believe Mark has proven himself that he is planning on staying with you. You better not try to stay behind or avoid him. If you try to, then we will just take Cass with us.”What? I shake my head and shout, “No, you can’t! Cass stays with me.”Mark tightens his hold on me and whispers, “You and Cass stay with me.”Heat rushes across my face at his words. I don’t know why. I have desperately