Page 14 of Room One Hundred and Nineteen: Watching Her

Three days of sheer hell.

Three days of waiting. Watching.

Hoping for a moment with her.

Me and my stupid-ass plan.

Rick had found a moment for them to have lunch together. Josh had even figured out how to work a long call with her after she watched him in the shower.The lucky bastard.I didn’t care if she could hardly look him in the eye; he still got some time with her.

Me, on the other hand? It was like I couldn’t get a spare minute with her.

She was always coming or going. Not to mention, I kept getting stuck with a different nurse. Not that there was anything wrong with Kate or Kim or whatever the hell her name was; she just wasn’t Elena.

I rested my head against the back of the driver’s seat of my Jeep. I knew I was pouting like a fucking kid about to throw a damn temper tantrum. I glanced at the watch on my wrist and frowned, I had to get inside soon. I hated being late anywherebut especially to work. Shutting my car off, I was just about to reach for my messenger bag that sat on my passenger side when an SUV pulled up next to me.

A very familiar SUV.

My head turned just as hers did, and when our eyes connected, fuck me, it felt like everything was right in my world. Just from one small look. I hurried out, forgetting my messenger bag, and went to open her door.

“Hey!” I grinned at her.

“Hi, umm, Dr. Jefferson. How are you?” She always tried to call us by our last name when she was around the kids.

“Miles,” I corrected and peeked behind her, and the easy smile on my face grew. “Mike! Betsy!” The kids waved enthusiastically, and I turned to Elena. “Can I help you with them?”

She looked at the kids then at me before glancing at her watch. “If you’re sure. I mean, if you don’t mind, umm—“ That was all I needed. Something was obviously off.

“Hey.” I took her hand in mine without thinking. I was done overthinking. I was going to go with what felt right. “Everything okay?” I asked, because there was a serious vibe coming off her. She opened her mouth and then shut it and nodded.

“I’m fine.” Her smile felt weak. I frowned.

“Come on.” I pulled her toward me and grinned at the kids as we walked to the trunk she opened.

I knew her routine. She stored all the things she lugged back and forth in there. How many times had I watched from across the parking lot the last three months alone? Too many to count. I hated the helpless feeling I felt each time. I wished I’d been able to step in and itch in to make her day easier.

“What’s going on, El?” I asked, leaning a little closer, and to my complete surprise, she didn’t step away. If anything, she leaned in.

“Nothing. It’s just, umm, girl stuff.” She blushed brightly.

“Girl stuff?” I frowned, and she rolled her eyes.

“I, umm…” Her cheeks turned a brighter shade of pink, and one of my brows lifted.

“Elena, talk to me.”

“I started my period,” she blurted out. I stilled, keeping my eyes on her, waiting to hear what the problem might be. “And, I, umm—“ She licked her lips. “Stained.” I lost her eyes because they dropped to my neck.

“I didn’t bring extra scrubs, because I fell asleep and forgot to toss my laundry into the dryer, so now I’m…” She licked her lips. “This is seriously TMI and stuff you most definitely don’t want to know,” she rambled.

Her eyes dropped to the concrete parking lot floor like it held tall the world’s answers. The tip of my finger lifted her chin until I had those pretty dark eyes on me.

“Let’s get something clear. If it’s about you, I always wanna know.” Her eyes widened, and then confusion marred her features. “As far as menstruation, I’m a doctor, babe. There is nothing to be embarrassed about.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t know about that. Umm... anyhow, I’m running late and have to get the kids to the day?—“

“Wait right here, okay?”

“Wait? Where are you—“ Her voice drifted to nothing as I moved to my Jeep.

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