Page 65 of The Fall

“This is how you say goodbye to me?” I implored with watery eyes, my voice cracking.

He turned in the doorway, his towel still wrapped around him as I admired his chiseled chest—it was impossible not to. “What do you want to hear, Dallas? Oh, I know what you want. ‘We can be friends.’ No, I don’t want to be your fucking friend. I don’t want to talk a few months down the road as if I never loved you—was never inside you. I’m not that guy.”

At least we agreed on that because I wasn’t that girl, either.

“I understand,” I said with a nod. I looked up at him, seeing the twist in his features that tore a piece of me in half. “I do love you—”

“Don’t you fucking dare,” he hissed before walking into the bathroom and slamming the door.

I understood that too…all too well. I left with everything I’d ever brought to his place.

My heart plummeted as I walked out of his apartment for the last time. The death of our friendship would have me grieving for a lifetime. I’d just lost him.

Josh.

Dallas

One Month Later

“Dr. Whitaker, what do you see?” Dr. Nichols asked as I studied the recent scan results. “Looks like a cardiac sarcoma stemming from the right aortic valve at least a half inch in diameter.”

“Very good,” he answered.

“I read they were a rarity. What course of treatment would you suggest?” I asked.

“I’ll take this particular case, Dr. Whitaker. We can discuss all of the options and make them together once I get a current health assessment. I’m impressed. Most would have diagnosed differently. It is, in fact, a rarity.”

“Thank you,” I said half-heartedly. I had to remind myself that just because I’d elected to be a doctor of specialty—I was no specialist yet. He had every right to take this case into his skilled hands. It would all come with time and practice. On the other hand, I’d been able to diagnose and treat several cases with the help and governance of several others in the oncology wing. Dr. Nichols gave me a smile before retreating down the hall, and I froze when I saw Dean waiting for me. He was insanely beautiful as he spoke to Beatrice. I had begged her and the hospital to keep her on my service. She had reluctantly agreed after twenty years on her floor. I hadn’t seen Dean since Rose’s party over a month ago and assumed he was trying to give me some space. As I approached, I smiled at him, and he returned it.

“Dallas, do you have a minute?”

“Of course,” I said, giving Beatrice a wink. I led Dean into my office, connecting my tablet to the charger, and then taking a seat behind my desk.

He shut the door behind him and stood there with his hands behind his back. He was not dressed for work and looked more than appetizing in freshly starched jeans and a button-down shirt that matched his eyes. His hair was freshly cut, and I noticed his skin had grown considerably darker.

“I called to apologize to you more than once,” he said dryly, his voice filled with gravel.

“I’ve been busy helping Rose plan her wedding and trying to fit in here. I did get your messages.” I shifted uncomfortably under his stare. He was less than pleased with my excuse.

“I’ve just come from my mom’s.”

“Oh, how is she? I wanted to call and ask you—” I cut myself off, knowing he’d caught on to the fact that I’d been purposefully avoiding him.

“Well, she’s fantastic, actually, thanks to you,” he said, cornering my desk and taking a seat on it in front of me. “Dallas, what you did for her…for me.”

“It was nothing but a favor from my dad. I couldn’t stand the thought of you missing out on your time with her to repair that house. You might have been punishing yourself, spending every spare minute repairing it, but you were missing out on precious time with her. I didn’t do anything, really. My dad—”

“Was absolutely amazing. He not only repaired the house, he had the best landscape architect come in and get the garden back to what it was. Dallas …” He pulled me from my chair and wrapped his arms around me. “Thank you.” I hugged him back tightly, pulling away before I was forced to inhale his scent.

“So, she’s happy?” I asked, excited about the thought of her seeing her garden restored. I would make it a point to go and visit her in the next week. I smiled at Dean as he kept me in his embrace.

“I’m really glad,” I said awkwardly.

“I can’t let you pay for that,” he said, letting me go.

“My dad made some calls and got all the materials donated. He was happy to do the work, and my mom was happy to have him out of the house. It was a win-win. Don’t insult him by trying to pay him back. He wouldn’t hear of it. You are like a son to him, Dean.”

He shook his head. “I’ve already tried, and he said the same thing. I’m lucky to know your family, and you’re right. I don’t deserve their loyalty.”

---