Page 59 of One Night

"I never said you couldn't call me."

"You didn't? I thought you did." He shrugs. "Well, anyway, I wouldn't have had time to call. I had to write a paper yesterday."

"You could've told Austin. He would've told me." I keep my voice low because two doctors just walked up beside me.

"I didn't talk to Austin yesterday. He was with Kira all day. Oh, but I did get your letter. It was much better than the last one." He turns to me and smiles. "So my eyes are beguiling? Interesting choice of words."

The two doctors glance over at us and I step closer to Dylan and whisper, "Not here. Not now."

The elevator doors open and Dylan and I get in, moving to the back to leave room for the two doctors. When the doors close, I feel Dylan's hand wrap around mine. I look up and see that gorgeous smile of his and those beguiling eyes. Why did I write that? It's so embarrassing. Maybe we should stop writing letters. I'm not sure I want all my innermost thoughts preserved on paper forever, or for as long as Dylan keeps my letters. I'm guessing he'll keep them for a long time. He seems like the sentimental type.

The elevator doors open again and Dylan lets go of my hand as we move past the doctors and get off.

"It's to the left," he says as I start to go right.

"How do you know?" I ask.

"I've been here before. My dad had heart problems a few years ago. He was in the hospital a lot."

"What kind of heart problems?"

"He had a heart attack. Ended up having to have surgery and then he had to have another surgery a year later."

"Is he okay now?"

"He seems to be. But if he wasn't, he wouldn't tell me. My parents try to keep that stuff hidden from my brother and me. They don't want us to worry." He stops and motions me into the large office. "This is it."

We walk inside and a girl who looks like she just got out of college greets us. "Dylan and Amber?"

"That's us." Dylan gives her his signature smile and she smiles back, in a flirtatious way.

"Do I know you from somewhere?" she asks him.

"I don't think so," he says.

She keeps her eyes on him, then smiles even wider. "Vandyl! You're the lead singer, right?"

He nods. "That's me."

"You're working here now?" She's breathless, almost nervous, like she just met her teen idol.

"Just as an intern," he says. "A few hours a week."

"I can't believe we have a celebrity working here! Would you sign something for me?"

"Sure." He glances at me, then back at her.

Celebrity? He's not really a celebrity.

She hurries behind one of the desks and grabs a notebook and a pen. "Make it out to Julie."

He eyes her as he takes the pen. "Is that you?"

"What? Oh, um, yeah. Sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Julie Swanson. I handle all the new hires."

Dylan signs the notebook and hands it back to her with the pen.

She remains there, staring at Dylan, so I say, "We should probably get the paperwork done."

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