A Love Like This (24 page)

My stomach made another angry grumble. The
leftovers that Julia packed should have been enough for both lunch
and dinner, but I couldn’t say no when Jane asked to share the
delicious steak sandwiches. When she sat with cafeteria lasagna in
front of her and looked longingly at the pile of deliciousness in
front of me, I couldn’t refuse. It was self-preservation as well, I
told myself, as I carried Jane’s meal to the trash before getting a
clean plate and filling it with half of my food. That lasagna
smelled like shit, which could ruin my enjoyment of my lunch.
However, when dinner rolled around, I was left with nothing more
than a bag of Oreos from the vending machine. I needed to work out
badly and had every intention of spending thirty minutes at the
building gym before showering and falling into bed. If only I
wasn’t so fucking exhausted, and my shoulder didn’t ache so
much.

I was glad to get Julia’s call that Jenna
was in town and thankful she would have company over dinner. Truth
be told, I missed Jenna’s smartass remarks and Aaron’s presence at
work. Caleb, Kari and Jane were my friends, but it wasn’t the same
as Aaron and Jenna. The time in Boston when Julia was recovering
brought us all even closer, and I missed having them around.

The apartment was dark, except for the glow
from the TV. Jenna’s head popped up from where she was lying on the
coach. I was surprised to see her awake when Julia wasn’t.

“Hey, pretty boy.”

I smiled tiredly and went to hug her after
throwing my keys and stethoscope on the entryway table. “Hey, you
snarky bitch,” I answered as my arms went around her. Jenna’s
laugher joined my own. “Is Jules in bed?”

My stomach rumbled again.

“Yes. I dragged her ass all over Manhattan
today. I think I wore her out. You look like shit.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled, retreating into the
kitchen to begin my forage.

“Jules mentioned your all-nighter.”

I ignored her comment and went to dig
through the refrigerator. “The hours are killing me. I’m sure Aaron
is suffering from it, too.”

“Yes, but Dr. Brighton is easy to work with.
How’s it going for you here?”

“I’m doing well. If I didn’t know better,
I’m getting much more responsibility than most first year
residents.”

“You always were a rock star.”

“Don’t you mean, I work my ass off?” I
pulled a Styrofoam takeout container from the refrigerator and
looked inside, sniffing the contents. It was filled with some sort
of chicken dish with a mushroom sauce and linguine that smelled
divine. “Julia didn’t eat much dinner, huh? Where’d you guys
go?”

“Some Italian joint. I can’t remember the
name. That’s not her dinner; she ordered that for you, dipshit.”
Jenna plopped down at the table with a grin and pointed to a brown
bag on the counter. “Breadsticks?”

My lips lifted slightly at the jab as I
opened the microwave and set the box inside to warm up the pasta.
“Did you snarf all of the cheesecake, Miss Piggy?” I teased, taking
the bag and pulling out the bread and, not bothering to heat it, I
took a huge bite. My eyes danced with laughter. I’d seen half of
the cake still sitting on the shelf in the refrigerator, but I had
to give her shit anyway.

“What was that? I can’t understand you with
your mouth full, porky,” she mocked.

I laughed quietly, sitting down next to her
with the bag of bread and the now steaming pasta. I loaded my fork.
“I’m starving.”

“Julia said that was for you to take
tomorrow. Didn’t you eat tonight?”

“No. I shared my lunch with a co-worker, so
didn’t have anything left for tonight.”

Jenna eyed me skeptically, like she knew
something I didn’t. “Hmmm…” was all she said as she watched me eat.
The expression on her face had me ready to ask what she was
thinking, but we were interrupted when a sleepy Julia padded down
the hall wrapped in her fuzzy white robe. She looked all soft and
beautifully rumpled, and I longed to pull her down on my lap and
kiss her senseless. She leaned down to place a soft, lingering kiss
on my temple.

“Hi, babe,” she murmured, pushing the hair
back from my forehead and bending to place another brief kiss; this
time on my mouth. “Missed you today.”

I wrapped my left arm around her waist,
drawing her closer to my side while her fingers scratched my scalp
gently. It felt so good to have her next to me. “You didn’t need to
get up.”

“I wanted to.” She left me to get a bottle
of water, took a drink and then set it down in front of me. “Can I
get you anything, Jen?”

“I’m good. I just wanted to wait up long
enough to say hello to this butthead, but I think I’m off to bed.”
She shoved my shoulder with her fingertips and then rose from the
table.

“Can you stay a few days?” I asked. I
wouldn’t be around much, but it would be nice for Julia to have
Jena around.

She shook her head. “I wish I could, but I
have to work the day after tomorrow. I just wanted to check up on
you two. Slow down a little. It’s okay to be number two, Ryan.”

“Pfft!” I dismissed. “That’s the life of a
resident.” I finished the pasta, and Julia took the empty box and
disposed of it, setting the fork in the sink. “It makes it hard to
play newlyweds, right?”

“For sure. No rest for any of us wicked.
Aaron worked a 12-hour day on Thanksgiving.”

“Isn’t it weird how time flies and drags at
the same time? I can’t believe Christmas is less than two weeks
away.” Julia said, tiredly. She yawned, her French manicured
fingers covering her mouth. “Sorry, I can’t seem to keep my eyes
open.”

“Go back to bed, honey. I’m going to eat,
rinse off and then I’ll join you.”

“Are you hurting? Do you need me to rub
something on your shoulder?”

Jenna disappeared quietly into the small
spare room next to ours. “No, I’m okay, but I am beat.” I grabbed
the front of the robe, deliberately pulling it slightly loose so it
gaped, and I could run my finger along the inside edge of one
breast. She was warm and softly swelling against my fingertips. I
pulled her down toward me with the other hand and kissed her lips,
dragging my mouth down her neck to her collarbone. “I missed you
today, too.”

Her hand slid up the side of my face,
pulling me in for another brief kiss.

“I’ll see you in bed.” Her voice was low and
soft; always so seductive when it was laced with sleep. When she
left me to wander back down the hall, I followed; quickly pulling
the shirt to my scrubs off before I’d even hit the doorway to the
bedroom. A small sliver of light infiltrated the room from the
cracked door to the bathroom. Julia dropped the robe and crawled
into bed, lying on her side, away from me, and my eyes couldn’t
help but trace the curve of her waist and hip on my way past, the
comforter doing little to disguise her shape.

I missed her so fucking much. The scent of
her shampoo and perfume lingered lightly in the air, my body
stirred, and despite my exhaustion and her steady breathing, I was
still aroused. With no intent to make love to her, I was still
moved to it. I smiled and shut the bathroom door as quietly as I
could, quickly jumping into water colder than I wanted it to be. It
had the desired effect, and I turned it to hot and let it beat down
on my injured shoulder, my fingers tracing over the ugly red scar
now marring the smooth skin. I began kneading the muscles, hoping
some of the stiffness would be relieved. I rotated the joint a few
times before shampooing my hair and soaping down in record time. It
must be almost one and I’d be out the door at six again; only
tomorrow, I was done no later than seven. I couldn’t wait. I dried
off quickly and briskly rubbed my hair. No doubt it would be a mess
in the morning, but I didn’t give it more than a quick comb with my
fingers.

I switched off the light and felt my way to
the bed in the pitch darkness, looking forward to feeling Julia’s
warm skin against mine. I’d find her naked beneath the sheets, and
we’d wind around each other, as always. I pulled back the covers
and slid in beside her, wrapping my arm around her and pulling her
close. She sighed, her legs—smooth as silk—slid between mine, her
fingers locking around my wrist and pulling my arm tight against
her breasts. I hesitated, inhaling her and then left a soft, hot
blaze of kisses over her shoulder that ended with my lips buried in
the curve of her neck, hungry for her mouth. I rubbed the stubble
on my chin gently against her skin. “I’ll make it up to you for
yesterday. Tomorrow night is all us. I’m off at seven.”

“Really?” She half turned and I kissed the
corner of her mouth, knowing if I did more than that it would be at
least an hour before we slept.

“Yeah,” I whispered. “I love you.”

Her fingers tightened and then laced through
mine. She kissed my knuckles. “Love you, more,” she said, her lips
moving against my hand and her breath rushing hotly. I smiled and
pulled her back, flush against me, until very inch of skin was
touching. It felt amazing.

This was it. All that mattered was right
here. My heart was full as I closed my eyes, knowing that tomorrow
night we had precious hours of just the two of us. The warmth of
our bodies seeped into the blankets and love wrapped us up in each
other. I was content.

*****

“Ryan!” Jane called after me. I was on my way
down to the lounge and glanced at the cheap watch on my wrist. It
was the one my dad bought me before med school because I needed the
second hand. He’d given Aaron one, too. The clasp was wearing out
and the crystal was badly scratched. I was already twenty minutes
past when I should have left. “Ryan!”

I stopped and quickly turned, irritated at
another delay. “Yeah, Jane?” I worked to hide my impatience.

“What are your orders for Mrs.
Williams?”

“Caleb has the chart. He’ll answer your
questions. Have a great night.” I turned and started back down the
hallway.

“Where are you going?” I ignored the anxious
tone in her voice. I was just thankful I was leaving, and she was
just arriving.

“I gotta get home!” I called over my
shoulder.

“I thought you were working swing?”

“Traded with Caleb. See ya!”

I disappeared into the lounge without giving
her another chance to speak to me. I rushed to change out of my
scrubs and into dark jeans and a burgundy button down, leaving the
scrubs, along with my hospital shoes, in a pile on the bottom of my
locker. I had vague memories of how Julia told me to leave my
stinky clothes and scrubs at school after Gross Anatomy. I ran my
hand roughly through my hair and then over the rough surface of
stubble on my jaw. There was nothing for it; I didn’t have the time
to shave. Julia liked the scruff anyway. I only wished it was
twelve hours older so it would be softer against her skin.

I felt giddy and ridiculous because I had a
date with my wife! A big ass grin split my face, and I almost
laughed out loud. We weren’t even going out, but she was making Pad
Thai, we were decorating the tree, and if I had my way, we’d have a
long talk and then round out the evening with a little game of
Truth or Dare. Hell, it’d probably be morning by then.

I was still smiling as I climbed into my old
CRV and the engine roared to life. I hated the New York traffic,
and it wasn’t often I drove to work, but I wanted to stop and pick
up the Christmas gift I planned to give Julia. We agreed nothing
extravagant, and I’d been struggling with what I could get her. I
noticed her perfume was getting low last night before I jumped in
the shower, and I wasn’t sure if I was getting it for her or me. I
gave her a bottle of that perfume for her birthday the first year
we knew each other, and it was still her favorite; and mine. I
couldn’t exactly describe it, but it was like spring and sex; Julia
and familiar.

My fingers banged out a text before I threw
the phone on the seat and slammed the truck into gear.

Running a little late. Be home soon. I’ll
help with dinner. Do we need wine?

I needed a good excuse to be later still. My
phone vibrated and I grabbed it.

No. Come home. I’m hungry. Are you
hungry?


I chuckled and changed my plan. Hell, yes! I
was starving and for more than curried rice noodles. The perfume
would have to wait. The cab drivers cutting me off had me slamming
on my brakes and cursing every couple of blocks. It was crazy the
way they didn’t stay in lanes, pushing their way ahead while laying
on their horns, often with mere millimeters to spare. It was a
solid metal river on practically every street, the cars separated
by mere inches and five rows of cars crowed into four lanes. It was
a miracle that they weren’t rubbing together. “This is why I take
the subway,” I grumbled, impatiently tapping on the steering wheel
with my thumb.

My phone vibrated. Either Julia was as
impatient as I was, or she’d forgotten an ingredient she needed me
to pick up. I glanced at the screen, but it wasn’t a number I
recognized. I threw it back on the seat as another horn blared
loudly followed by a squealing of brakes. “Jesus Christ! Fucking
nightmare!” The person on the phone could call back or leave a
message. I refused to risk an accident or another delay.

Forty minutes later, boxes of Christmas
ornaments were strewn about the living room, and I was getting bark
and pine needles all over the living room carpet as I put the base
on the tree. The branches and needles dug into my bare forearms as
I pushed it into an upright position. “Babe, bring in the water,” I
called. Julia was cleaning up the remnants of dinner while I worked
on the tree. There was Christmas music softly filling the air, and
I had the fireplace blazing. Even Mother Nature was cooperating as
large, white snowflakes drifted past the window, glistening in the
glow of Manhattan. It was unlikely they’d stick, but the thought of
it snowing while it was so cozy in the apartment was wonderful. The
scent of pine wafted together with the burning wood.