I laugh, stroking my fingers up and down her back.
“Just wait until I have you properly. You will definitely want to sleep for a week.”
“I look forward to it.”
After cleaning up and feeding my hungry girl actual food, we dress quickly and head back to the hospital. I check in with Maya and see thateverything is going well, and then I leave her to prepare her discharge papers. If anyone thought it was strange that Fallon and I turned up together, none of them mentioned it. Honestly, I think that with the amount they all have going on, they would easily miss one of their friends hooking up with some random person. Not that all we’re doing is hooking up, fuck, my heart hurts at the thought of that being all that we are.
I want so much more.
But how do I tell her when she’s so against anything like that? I need to know what she’s scared of. I need to know what it is that has hurt her so badly in the past that it affects everything that could happen in her future. I want to be her future, but I can't be with all these obstacles in the way.
After the past year she’s had, I know I need to not push her, yet. But soon.
“Dr Smyth,” a flirty, feminine voice calls.
I was so preoccupied with the thought of Fallon, I didn’t even see who was right in front of me. I look around, not noticing who it could have come from.
“Here,” the voice says again. Penny. She is leaning against the wall beside me, a bright smile on her face. “You were in a world of your own.”
I smile back, slowing down my stride. “Sorry, I most definitely was. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, I, um, just wanted to say hi,” hercheeks flush as she admits that.
“Well, hi,” I laugh. “Sorry to rush off, I really need to sort something, but I’ll see you around.”
“Yeah, sure. See you soon,” she says as I continue to my office.
That was strange. I barely ever speak to her, now she keeps popping up all the time. I wonder if she has also heard the rumours floating around that Will and Dom were telling me about. She must feel so embarrassed, too. I make a mental note to clear the air with her when I see her next.
Walking into my office, I get to work sorting out the details and papers I need to discharge Maya. I know that more than anything, she wants to get home and to her own bed. Wouldn’t we all, especially her, after not being home for such a long time.
Thirty minutes later, I finally make it back to her room, and I'm greeted by the whole entourage. Tommy introduces everyone to me again, and now that I'm more invested in their group, I try to remember each of their names. Blair, Gracie, Lucy, Max and Jenson.
“You can all call me Luke,” I say once he’s finished. “I have seen Maya so much this year; she feels family.”
“After everything you’ve done for us, you are part of our family now,” Tommy says, before looking back at Maya with so much love in hiseyes. “If you ever need anything, I’ll be there.”
“That’s so kind. Now, Maya, I can finally see you leave and hope to never see you back again,” I smile.
It might sound harsh, but that woman has seen these walls more than she ever should. I don’t mention that I hope I do see her outside of here, with Fallon by my side. I’ll save that for another time.
They’ll all start to filter out of the room, Fallon hanging back with Maya and Tommy.
“Thanks again, Luke,” Tommy says as he shakes my hand.
“Yes, thank you so much for everything,” Maya adds, leaning in to hug me quickly. “Tommy? Please take me home.”
They both laugh as they leave, hand in hand. It takes me a second to register that Fallon hasn’t left with them, but I find it more odd that her friends haven’t realised she hasn’t left with them either. She has a sheepish look on her face as she leans against the end of the bed.
“You have no reason to randomly bump into me anymore,” she says, with a look in her eyes that I can't quite decipher.
“That is true,” I say back.
“So, I don’t know when I’ll see you,” she sounds so glum, but I know she’s trying hard to hide it.
“Ah, is this your way of trying to leave me?” I raise a brow.
“Erm, well, if that’s what you want?” Her face is like a brick wall, but the wobble in her voice betrays her.
“What I want, is to take you back to mine as we planned and spend another evening with my girl,” I say, stepping closer to her.
“You do?” she asks, her voice quieter than usual.
“I do. More than anything.”
