—I’m right in the middle of this event, but we need to discuss this.—
—No, we don’t. I’m sorry.—
After shutting her phone off, she set her processors in the case. It reminded her of the charger Blake had bought for his place. Hopefully, he could get his money back. What did it matter, though? He had plenty. Just another example of how different their worlds were.
Mercedes looked up at her with a question in her eyes.
“I need to go to sleep. I’ll talk to you in the morning.”
A long hug came from her friend first, causing her to almost lose it. Finally, she made it to her room. She peeled off the beautiful dress, jewelry, and shoes. A long t-shirt was shrugged on, then she snuggled under her covers. As she adjusted in bed, her hand came in contact with soft material. It was Blake’s flannel shirt, hidden under her pillow.
Pulling it close to her face, she held it tight and cried.
What in the world had happened?
Blake finished up with his last patient of the day and headed to his office. His mind should be on work, his patients, following up on the donations that had been promised two nights ago, but he couldn’t stop thinking about Carli and the hospital benefit.
She’d gone off later in the night to what he assumed was the ladies’ room. When a half hour had passed and she hadn’t returned, he’d started peeking around the room to see if she was chatting with someone else. After another fifteen minutes, he’d begun to ask around and have Annie check if she was sick in the bathroom. Finally, he’d thought to text her.
Her response? She’d gone home. Okay, she’d said her CIs were bothering her. He knew that happened often enough in large crowds, but to not even tell him or give him the chance to take her home? He didn’t understand. And then the last few things she’d said about not seeing him again. What had brought that on? Unfortunately, he had an idea.
His mother.
Of course, when he’d asked his mom if she’d said anything to Carli, she only said they’d discussed the decorations of the event and how much went into it. Yeah, he had a feeling a bit more was said. All in a polite, informative way, but direct and to the point.
He’d thought Carli was stronger than that, figured she’d be able to deal with his mother and her snobby ways. Now, what did he do? He’d been texting since Saturday night with no response. On Sunday, he’d actually driven past her house. More than once. Past her parents’ house as well. Pathetic, but he was desperate. Her rental car was nowhere to be seen. If it hadn’t been for a child in the ICU he’d needed to check on, he would have sat outside her house all night until she came home.
At lunch, he’d gone down to radiology to see if she was available to talk. She’d been sitting at her desk and hadn’t looked up. Well, she’d gotten a glimpse of him all right, but had chosen not to acknowledge his presence. With Joy nearby, the last thing he wanted to do was start a conversation about them breaking up, which he did not want to accept they’d done. The thought alone made him feel like retching.
The stack of reports on his desk called to him, but he couldn’t focus. Carli meant everything to him. The car accident almost a month ago had given him lots to think about regarding his emotions and their relationship. He couldn’t see his life without her in it. The thought she might have been hurt, or worse, had carved him open inside. It had made him see that what he felt for her was love. He loved her. Wanted her with him for the long run. Why hadn’t he said anything to her then? Because he was afraid it was too early and would scare her off. Stupid. She needed to know, and now it was probably too late.
It couldn’t be. She cared for him, too. It was apparent in everything she did and how she treated him. Looked at him. Responded to his touch. This was not the end.
The clock kept calling to him, and when it was a few minutes before four, he pushed aside his paperwork and headed to radiology. After peeking in and establishing that she hadn’t already left, he waited out in the atrium, knowing she had to walk past him to go home. It wasn’t long before she strolled out of the office and headed in his direction. When she saw him, she paused and frowned.
What had he done to make her respond this way?
“Carli, we need to talk.”
Her eyes, so sad, killed him with their pleading. “Please, Blake, there’s nothing to say.”
He pointed to a small alcove and signed,Please. I need to know why.
A sigh escaped. She gave a tiny nod, then followed him. When he turned, her arms were wrapped around herself in protection mode.
Making sure to face her, he asked, “What happened Saturday night? Was it my mother? Did she say something to you?”
As she shook her head, her lips trembled. “She didn’t say anything she hadn’t said before. I guess I finally realized she understood better than I did.”
“And you didn’t think to let me know what she said? Or to even tell me you were leaving?”
“I tried. You told me to go ahead.”
His mind raced back to that night. To the last time he’d spoken with her. Hadn’t she said she was going to the ladies’ room? He’d been so close to getting Franco Rodrigues to write a check. Had he really misinterpreted what she was going to say?
“I’m sorry, Carli. I didn’t realize. I was trying…it doesn’t matter. I’m sorry. Let’s talk about this.”
“It’s nothing you did, Blake. I’m not mad at you, so there’s nothing to discuss. It just won’t work between us.”
