Page 88 of Scrubbing In
“Sweet, then you know you’ll have a student in the OR with you. I’ll chart my interview, and you can take him back whenever y’all are ready.”
“Thanks, Leena.”
“Are you kidding? Thank you for letting me hijack your patient. My day has been made.”
She looks back and forth between Julian and me, pursing her lips in an attempt to stifle a laugh, then she nods and ducks into Elijah’s bay.
Turning to Julian, I grab his forearm and bounce on my toes. “I got to meet Elijah Mitchell. Oh my god!”
Scowling, he hooks his other arm around my neck, pulling me into his chest. He whispers against my ear, “Pretty girl, I said I was okay with you meeting him, but seeing you soenthusiasticover him, I’m realizing I am definitelynotokay with it.”
Smirking at him, I take his hand and lead him out of pre-op and down the hall. Using my masterkey, I look around as I let us into one of the OR staff on-call rooms. Spinning around, I place my hands on his chest and push him against the door.
Winding my arms around him, I hold on. Tight.
“What are you doing?”
“Reminding you how much I love you. More than anything. Or anyone,” I say softly.
Rubbing my hands up and down his back, I rest my chin on his chest. Looking up into his downturned face, I go up on my tippy-toes to kiss his full lips, slipping my tongue against the seam of his lips. When he parts, I slick my tongue slowly against his.
He moans and I kiss him harder, getting lost in a bruising kiss before slowing my tongue. Changing my pace to slow and gentle, just savoring this man who owns my heart.
A contented sigh floats between us. Mine or his, it’s indistinguishable. I press my lips to his chest, right over his heart. Looking up at him, my arms squeeze just a little tighter.
Julian never pulls away first. It doesn’t matter what kind of embrace we are sharing or what’s going on around us, he will hold me until I pull back. I’ve tested it on multiple occasions. I don’t even think he realizes he does it. And every time, I fall deeper and deeper in love with him.
My heart is so full, everything I could have ever wished for and more, wrapped up right here in my arms. Life feels perfectly right. Looking up into his eyes, I see those emotions reflected back at me.
I see our future so clearly ahead of us—blissfully happy and full. One I cannot wait for.
Epilogue
EIGHT YEARS LATER
Julian
Click-clackingsounds pull me from sleep. Opening my eyes to the sun trying to sneak in between a small gap in the drapes, I follow the sound to see my daughter stretched out on her stomach like a cat sunbathing in the warm stream of light. Watching her absentmindedly kicking her feet while playing with her magnetic tiles and her messy curls hanging around her face brings a smile to my face.
A gurgling coo from Leena’s side of the bed has me whipping my head that way. Through the mesh net siding of the bedside sleeper, I spy my wide-eyed son looking at me with a gummy smile.
There are definitely worse ways to wake up.
Stretching and swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I whisper to Taylor, “Morning, baby girl.”
Taylor looks at me over her shoulder, adorable face scrunched up in a pout to rival her momma’s. Thank god she has not learned to cry on demand like my wife.Yet.When she does, I’m afraid I’ll react the way Charlie still does—with tears of my own.
“I’m not a baby anymore, Daddy.” Climbing to her knees, she points to Leena. “I want to be your pretty girl like Momma.”
Trying to contain my laugh, I solemnly tell her, “You are a very, very pretty girl, sweetheart. No matter how old you get, you will always bemybaby girl, my special girl. And you deserve your own nickname.”
She intently watches me as she decides if she finds this acceptable. With a shrug of her shoulders, her mouth pulls into a grin. “Okay!”
Another gurgle and rustling from Nathan. I reach out to ruffle Taylor’s curls. “Come on. Let’s get your brother and let Momma sleep a little longer.”
Hopping to her feet, she grabs my hand and holds it under her chin as she asks, “Can I help make the coffee?”
“Definitely. You know Momma likes the way you make it.” I tap her button nose.
