“We say we’re working through the ethics requirements and maintaining appropriate boundaries,” Evie said. “Which is true. We don’t volunteer anything else.”
“Okay.”
“Third: We check in every night. Even if it’s just a text. Even if we’ve had a hard day and don’t want to talk. We stay connected.”
“I can do that,” Maggie said.
“And fourth—” Evie set down her plate, her expression serious now. “If it gets too hard, if the distance becomes too much, if either of us starts to feel like we’re losing each other—we say something. We don’t just suffer in silence hoping it’ll get better.”
Maggie reached for her hand. “Deal.”
“I’m serious, Maggie. Six months is a long time. People are going to talk. It’s going to be hard watching you at the hospital and not being able to touch you. Not being able to stand next to you during rounds or grab coffee after a tough case.”
“I know,” Maggie said quietly. “It’s going to be hard for me too. Seeing you excel under Doctor Patel. Watching you handle difficult cases without me. Knowing I can’t mentor you or support you the way I want to.”
“But we can do it,” Evie said. “Right? We can make it six months?”
Maggie pulled her closer, until Evie was nestled against her side, head on her shoulder.
“We can do it,” Maggie said. “Because at the end of six months, we get to decide how we want to move forward. Together. Openly, if we want.”
“You’d want that? To be public about us?”
“Yes,” Maggie said without hesitation. “Once the restriction lifts, once we’ve proven we can maintain boundaries, I wantpeople to know. I’m tired of hiding. I’m tired of acting like the best thing in my life is something to be ashamed of.”
Evie tilted her head up to look at her. “You mean that.”
“I do. But we need to survive the six months first.”
“Morrison’s going to be insufferable,” Evie said.
“Let him be. He’s not important.”
“What about Doctor Patel? She’s been good to me, but she’s going to notice if I’m distracted.”
“Then don’t be distracted,” Maggie said. “Focus on your work. Let that speak for itself. And trust that six months will pass faster than we think.”
Later, as they lay in bed, Evie’s fingers tracing patterns on Maggie’s stomach. It made her breath quicken as it always did.
“When you touch me, it feels like electricity,” Maggie whispered.
“I know, I feel it too,” Evie replied.
“I’m so fed up with all this doom, gloom and anxiety. I can think of so many other ways to to spend my time.”
Evie shuffled closer to her in bed, her eyes twinkling. “Oh really? Care to elaborate?”
“How about I show you?”
Evie bit her lip and nodded.
Maggie moved on top of her, spreading her legs apart with her thighs. Her head leaned down to kiss her. Softly, deeply, slowly. She felt her heart beating harder. She craved her so badly.
Without saying anything, she removed Evie’s panties and tossed them off the bed. Her mouth traced down her thighs and back up to her heated core. She could feel the wetness building up already.
“You turn me on like crazy,” Evie whispered.
“Likewise. Now, no more talking. Let me make you feel good,” Maggie ordered as she began kissing towards her clit.
