“Yes, Riven?”
“I love you. I really needed you to hear those words.” His voice was very low. “I wanted to say it without any complications. I love you.”
The words were simple and direct, which was exactly like him. Hearing them meant everything to me.
“I love you, too,” I said. “Even when you're being difficult.”
“Especially then,” he teased.
We walked out of the closet together. We weren't trying to hide, but we weren't trying to make a scene either. We were just two people who found each other and decided to stay together.
Riven took my hand as we walked down the hallway. I didn't pull away.
We walked past all kinds of people in the hospital. Some people stared and others whispered, but I didn't care. I saw the recognition in their eyes as they looked at the new CEO and the nurse.
A few nurses at the station looked up as we went by. One of them, Jessica, gave me a real smile. It wasn't the fake kind I had been seeing lately.
"Great work today, Mireya," she called.
“Thank you,” I said, surprised by how easy the interaction felt.
Riven squeezed my hand. "See? Not everyone's against you."
"I know that now." Today's surgery had proven something words never could. "But even if they were, it wouldn't change how I feel."
"No?"
"No." I looked at him. "I know who I am and what I can do. That's enough for me."
We reached the elevator and saw Dr. Bree walking out of a meeting room nearby. She saw us holding hands and a knowing look crossed her face.
“Dr. Cross,” she said, nodding to Riven. Then she looked at me. “Excellent work in the OR today, Mireya. I meant what I said about your sharp instincts.”
“Thank you, Dr. Bree,” I replied.
"I'm scheduling next month's cases. I want you on my team for a complex valve repair." She looked between us. "Assuming there are no conflicts of interest."
Riven spoke up before I could say a word. “There are no conflicts. Mireya’s schedule is based on her skills and what the department needs. That’s the only thing that matters.”
Dr. Bree looked satisfied. "Good. I'll send details later." She walked away, and my shoulders dropped—tension I hadn't realized I'd been holding finally releasing.
The elevator arrived and we stepped inside. As the doors closed, Riven pulled me close.
"Thank you," I said against his chest.
"For what?"
“For being brave enough to love me.”
His arms tightened. “Thank you for being brave enough to let me in.”
The elevator moved down, taking us away from the surgical floor. I didn't know exactly what the future would look like for us. I knew there would be challenges with dating while working at the same hospital, navigating professional boundaries, dealing with ongoing gossip.
But I knew we would face those things together. That was the only thing that mattered to me.
When we reached the ground floor, we walked out into the bright lobby. There were people everywhere, all busy with their own lives and problems. Riven kept a firm grip on my hand as we walked toward the exit.
"So," he said casually. "Tell me about the surgery. The part where you saved the day."
