Eliza
“What? No.” I scoff. “I just… we haven’t told our friends yet, or our families. I want them to find out from us, not via the seedy grapevine.”
He narrows his eyes, unimpressed with my answer. He throws the suitcases into the trunk and we get into the car. He pulls out, and we drive through the parking lot with his jaw ticking in anger.
My eyes flick between him and the road. “Nathan, you can’t seriously be angry about that.”
He stares at the road as he grips the steering wheel with both hands.
“I just want to tell our friends first.”
“And when will that be, Eliza?” He snaps. “I would have thought you would have called them from Majorca to do it, seeing how you all know when each other fucking fart.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re being dramatic.”
“Dramatic? Did you speak to April or your friends while we were in Majorca, Eliza?”
“I did but I want to tell them in person.”
His eyes flick between me and the road. “Are you sure that’s the reason?”
“Of course, it’s the reason,” I fire back, but it’s not. Not even close. The truth is that I’m not sure how they are going to take it, and I don’t want them to rain on my parade. I know April will be all for it, but last time we spoke about Nathan and me, I was telling her all about Stephanie. I didn’t want it to seem like Nathan railroaded me into going on vacation.
“I’ll tell them tomorrow.” I cross my arms in a huff. “You sure do know how to ruin my post-holiday glow.”
He screws up his face in disgust. “Oh, it’s all about you, isn’t it?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He wobbles his head around, all righteous like. “And I quote, I don’t want anyone to know we’re together.” He hits the steering wheel. “You want to talk about ruining someone’s post-holiday glow, let’s fucking talk about that sentence, shall we?”
I roll my eyes. “You took it out of context, Nathan, and you know you did. I simply want to tell our friends and family first out of respect for them. Stop carrying on about this. You’re beginning to piss me off.”
His eyes bulge from the sockets as they flick between the road and me. “Well, I’m already pissed off, Eliza. Don’t fucking talk to me.”
“Good!” I fire back. “I won’t. Don’t talk to me.”
“Don’t worry, I’m not.”
I cross my arms, and he takes a corner fast.
“Slow down!” I snap as I hold on. “You’re driving like a maniac.”
“Don’t tell me how to fucking drive.” He growls.
“Well, I can’t tell the girls about us tomorrow if I’m dead, now, can I?”
He screws up his face, and I can see he’s muttering something to himself.
“What?” I say.
He stays silent as he glares at the road.
“Go on, say it.”
“I’m just wondering if you think our relationship is all about you.”
“What?” I screw my face up, fuck he’s still on that, what’s he going on about now?
“I’ve already told Alex that we’re together. I called him, all excited from our vacation. I have nothing to be ashamed of. You spoke to your friends and purposely didn’t tell them.”
I roll my eyes and I snuggle back into the seat. “Shut up, you’re supposed to not be talking to me. Do it.”
“Watch it,” he warns.
“You’re just looking for a fight and you’re not getting one. I told you the reason, now drop it. I’ve just been in transit for fifteen hours, Nathan, and the last thing I want to deal with is your dramatics.”
He narrows his eyes as he watches the road.
I bite my lip to stifle my smile. There he is… my cranky Nathan. I wondered how long he would take to show up.
Goodbye, holiday love bubble. Welcome back to reality, Eliza.
* * *
I wake to the sound of the shower on, and I stretch out wide. Oh man… the gym.
I glance at the clock and see it’s 5:30 a. m.
I don’t want to go back to routine.
Nathan didn’t talk to me at all last night, and we slept with our backs to each other.
Two weeks joined at the hip have taken their toll.
I smile sleepily at the ceiling. Reality bites.
I hear the shower turn off, and moments later, he walks in with a towel around his waist. When he gets his suit from the wardrobe, his eyes glance to me.
“Hi.” I smile.
“Good morning, Eliza,” he says coolly.
“Still hate me?” I ask playfully.
“I do, actually.” He unzips his suit bag and takes the suit out before he walks out into the living area.
Great, he’s going to make me grovel. I lie for a moment, listening to him move around as he dresses, and then I hear the coffee machine switch on. That’s it. I’m up. I walk out into the living room naked to see Dr. Mercer in all his glory, wearing perfect-fit navy suit, a crisp white shirt, and a striped tie, as well as his usual expensive shoes and designer chunky watch. His hair has a bit of a curl to it and is messed to perfection. He smells delicious. The aftershave Nathan wears to work must hypnotise all his female patients. Who am I kidding? It would hypnotise everyone who came into contact with him.
I slide my hands around under his suit as I cuddle up to him. “Nathe, I’m sorry about last night.”
He stares down at me but doesn’t put his arms around me.
“I didn’t mean for that to sound the way it did. It came out wrong.” I go up onto my tippy toes and kiss his big, beautiful lips. “I love you.”
“I didn’t like it.”
I kiss him again as I run my fingers through his stubble and stare into his big blue eyes. “I’m sorry. I realize how it must have sounded. I’m going to tell everyone about us today. I can’t wait to see them.”
He gives me a lopsided smile, and his hands slide around to my behind and he bends and kisses me, our lips linger over each other’s. “Okay.”
I straighten his tie and dust off his shoulders. “I’m going to make it up to you tonight.”
“How are you going to do that?”
I put my lips to his ear. “I’m going to suck your dick so fucking good,” I breathe.
He smirks as his eyes darken. His hand slides up my body and cups my breast. He tweaks my nipple hard, and he grabs my face and turns it to the side. Then he bites my ear. Goosebumps scatter up my arms. “I look forward to it.”
He kisses me aggressively. His tongue is full of power, and want, and oh… let’s go back to bed.
“Goodbye, Eliza.” He picks up his briefcase, and without another word, he walks out. The door clicks shut behind him. I stand and stare at the back of it for a moment with a goofy smile on my face.
I love that man.
* * *
I walk into the hospital at 7:00 a. m.. Henry is in surgery today so I work out of his office here at the private hospital. I take the lift up to my level and make my way down to the office. Henry is sitting at his desk with his laptop open.
“Hey, there she is.” He smiles happily. “Thank fuck you’re back.”
“Hi.” I laugh at his excited reaction.
“How was the trip?”
“Oh, so good. Majorca is beautiful. You should go one day.”
He turns back to his laptop and types something. “I think it’s more of a romantic getaway, isn’t it?”
“No, singles, too.” I frown. Hang on, the girls mentioned he has a girlfriend, “Aren’t you with your girlfriend anymore?”
“No.” He twists his lips, as if frustrated. “While you were on the other side of the world being a love bird, I was back here breaking up with my girlfriend of four years. It’s been a rough two weeks.”
“Oh, no.” I slump into the seat beside him. “What happened?”
“Well.” He shrugs. “She was pressuring me to get married and I figured that if getting married to someone feels so wrong, maybe she isn’t the right one.”
“That sucks. I’m sorry.”
He smiles sadly. “That’s okay. Shit happens, right?”
“It does.” I look through the surgery sheet for the day.
“Well, at least you get to break someone’s nose today.” I smile.
He chuckles. “This is true, I do. It’s going to feel good to smash that fucker.”
I laugh. “Do you want a coffee from the cafeteria?”
“Only if you’re getting yourself one. But go to the café downstairs, though. The one on this level is shit.”
“I know, I remember from last time. Why didn’t you warn me? Back in a minute.”
I make my way down to level one and through to the cafeteria. I order our coffees and stand and wait. I glance up and see Nathan with his four interns walking down the corridor. He’s talking as they all listen and hang on his every word. I smile as I watch him. He’s explaining something in great depth, using animated hand gestures as he talks. He directs them into a room and they all file in. He catches sight of someone in the hall and then stops.