I nodded, swallowing against the tightness in my throat. “It woke me up in more ways than one. I realized I wasn’t cut out for an intensive program.”
He brushed his thumb across my cheek and pressed his forehead to mine. “You were exhausted, pidge. You could still be a great doctor if you wanted.”
I wanted…to be good again. Everything seemed a little more possible with him. But…
“My advisor suggested I drop the program,” I mumbled, nuzzling my hot cheeks into his palm.
He raised my face to meet his gaze. “Why the hell would they do that?”
I shrugged, trying to laugh it off, even though my eyes stung from shame. “I don’t know. I’d managed work/life balance in high school and undergrad, nursing and pre-med. But I crashed out, in the end. Crashed a car. I was almost put on academic probation.”
“So was half our class,” he said, gesturing so wildly his muscles flexed. “Those first few courses are meant to kick our asses. What kind of idiot would discourage a sweet, smart person from pursuing a career in medical care instead of helping them manage the stress? Think of all the people you could help—the lives you could save. And they want you to throw that away over one stupid accident?”
My heart swelled, but I gripped the edge of the tub and strained to smile. “I guess so. Lingerie sales is a safer occupation. There’s less chance of lethal accidents due to sleep deprivation.”
He cupped my face, and his stormy gaze pierced my soul. “Tori, whatever you want is worth working toward. It’s worth waiting for. Always.”
His passionate entreaty was like a warm compress on my soul. How long had we been working toward this moment?
I’d been so stressed in class with any of his attentions that I hadn’t noticed how caring and attentive he was, how he’d make an excellent doctor, a doting partner, and a passionate lover. He cared for the messiest parts of me.
I slid into the water for a clumsy, full-body hug.
“I wish I’d had a friend like you back then,” I said.
He squeezed me tighter. “Lucky for us, now, I get to be your boyfriend.”
I giggled, pressing kisses all over his face. “Oh, boyfriend? I like the sound of that.”
Maybe wewerelucky.
If I hadn’t dropped out, I wouldn’t have been in The Closette and forced to interact with him. I wouldn’t have seen him at The Cake Warehouse, and we might never have connected on a deeper level like this.
Bubbles tickled my thighs, and butterflies fluttered through my chest.
The future was still a bit uncertain. But right now, I knew my heart’s desire, and he was looking right at me.
Chapter fourteen
McSteamy
Being with Angel was so easy.
We drifted through the water, teasing each other, kissing and snuggling amid the steam. All the stress from the past few months melted away in his embrace.
I love you.
It was all I could feel. All I could think.
He believed in me. That meant everything.
I tightened my arms around him.
He lazily guided us around the hot tub, his grip loose on my thighs. “Do you want to try out these jets? They’re good for relieving tension.”
“I’m not tense,” I said. I just didn’t want to let go of him.
He helped me into place and lingered in a crouch before me. “Trust me.”
