“You don’t have time.” He ran his hand over his beard.
“What if I drove out to you when I get off?”
“It’ll be late. I’m not sure when we’ll make it back home. Supposed to hang out in L.A with the fam.”
“I can call now and see if I can be late or not come in at all?”
“No need. I have plans already.” His tone remained neutral. Unyielding.
“Shit, Carter,” I yelled. “You’re not even trying. Bishop means nothing to me.”
His eyes narrowed, though he replied, “It’s bad timing. You have work, and I have my family. We’ll talk at some point.” He took my hand and pulled me out of bed. “You need to shower. We fucked a lot last night.”
I clung to him. “Take a shower with me.”
“I already did. And we don’t have time.” Carter gently extracted himself. “I have an hour drive. Your scrubs are over there on the arm of the sofa.” He’d laid out my scrubs for me to wear. Tears threatened to fall. He really did take care of me. It was who he was.
“Can you wait until I finish? I won’t take long.” Before he could protest, I added, “I love you, and I don’t want you to leave with this distance between us.”
He sighed, “Okay.”
I jumped into the shower, trying not to cry. The shower could hide the streaks, not the redness. Timing was everything, andwhat did it mean that my past crashed into my present? Carter didn’t want to be here anymore. Whether it was temporary or permanent, he didn’t want to be here.
With me.
When I stepped out of my bedroom, I smelled bacon. I walked to my kitchen. He’d prepared pancakes and bacon, and a plate waited for me on the table. “Already made the batter when I couldn’t sleep.”
“Thank you.”
He kissed my temple. “I’ll call you later. Will eat brunch with my mother.”
“Carter...” I held his wrist.
“Brooklyn, now isn’t the time, okay?” he pushed my plate to me. “Eat.”
“I don’t care about eating.”
He picked up the fork and pressed it into my hand. “You have a long day. Eat.”
I reluctantly took a bite and clamped my eyes shut. “Damn it. These are delicious.”
Carter chuckled. “All this cursing in the morning.”
“Are we good?” I opened my eyes.
He nodded, though I could still sense his uncertainty.
For now, his nod would have to be enough. “Alright, get out of here, and I’ll text you later, see how your day is going.”
“Okay.” He tapped the counter and walked away without a hug or another kiss. The door closed behind him.
Appetite officially destroyed. I ate a couple more bites and threw the rest in the garbage disposal. I rushed to my bedroom to grab my cell and jacket. On my way to the front door, a vibrant green gift bag caught my eye underneath my tree. We’d opened gifts on Christmas Eve. I’d given him every Madden game ever released, which he loved, and he’d given me an open ticket for two to Aruba. He said Aruba could be a gift for mymother and me while he and I planned our own getaway to anywhere in the world. I’d been touched by his thoughtfulness and understanding of how much my mother meant to me.
I didn’t know he’d brought me another gift. He’d already given me earrings and a bracelet that I wore to the gala. I bent by the tree, opened the gift, and pulled out a flat, gold box. I held my breath as I opened it.
A diamond-encrusted stethoscope charm nestled in the red cotton. I slowly removed the platinum necklace that sparkled in the sunlight. He’d left a note.
To the brilliant doctor who takes care of the world, while all I want to do is take care of you.
