“Sounds good.”
I followed Rowan up to his office, still chuckling to myself.
“Shut up,” he sighed with a defeated laugh. “I wasn’t thinking about how that would come across.”
“No shit.” I grinned. “For what it’s worth, you’re the best I’ve ever had, too. By that I mean the best boss, naturally.”
“Oh, of course.” Rowan shot me a knowing look, his eyes twinkling.
“Any last-minute fantasies you want to get out of the way whilst we’ve got the chance? You think that desk would hold both of our weight?” I said, fighting to keep my tone nonchalant.
“Max,” Rowan chided.
“Alright, alright. Let’s keep it professional for one last time, hm? Because we’ve done a stellar job of that so far, haven’t we?”
Rowan shrugged and grinned.
The day passed by just as all of them did. A filling there, a crown here, in and out of the room for x-rays… business as usual. Lunch came around, complete with a card signed by the surgery and a plate of cake. Before I knew it, Rowan and I were shutting the office down together for the last time.
“It’s going to be weird not coming here every day with you,” I said, packing away some equipment.
“I know. It feels like yesterday that I was saying goodbye to Mandy, and now she’s back and you’re going…”
I looked up and caught Rowan’s eye. “A lot has changed over this last year, hasn’t it?”
“You’re telling me.” A strange expression crossed Rowan’s face. “I’m not going to miss you, though.”
I laughed aloud. “Charming!”
“I know how that sounds, but what I mean is I’m not going to miss ‘work Max’, because I’d trade him in any day to have ‘home Max’ instead.”
I smiled. “Yeah, I know how you feel.” I closed the distance between us and pressed a kiss to Rowan’s mouth. He pulled me in closer, returning it.
“Hey, are you pair ready to— Oh!” Becca squeaked at the doorway. “Sorry, I should have knocked first. I’ll just—”
Rowan shook his head. “It’s alright, Becca.” He glanced at his wristwatch. “Max officially stopped being my employee fifteen minutes ago.”
To my surprise, he kissed me again, though chastely, before striding away to lock the office door. I turned to Becca and scowled at her.
“You can get that look off your face,” I hissed.
“What? It’s hot. Don’t yuck my yum, Max.”
I rolled my eyes and grabbed my bag, heading out into the hallway and down the stairs.
“So, this is it,” Trisha sighed as we all filed out into the summer sun. “Don’t be a stranger, Max.” She gave me a hug.
“Oh, I won’t.”
John shook my hand and wished me well before heading off to his car. It was Becca’s turn to pull me into a hug.
“You won’t forget about me now you’re going to a new surgery, will you?”
“Forget? About you? Is that even possible?” I teased, earning myself a playful slap on the arm.
“Rowan, tell him. He’s being a shit again.”
“Max, stop being a shit.” He grinned at me.
