Page 30 of Never Quite Gone

My watch ticked away minutes like heartbeats. Trading my usual Armani for casual weekend wear felt like stepping out of character, but today wasn't about the billion-dollar developer meeting the star surgeon. Today was about something else entirely.

Footsteps echoed off marble, and my pulse jumped like some goddamn teenager. Eli appeared around the corner, armed with coffee and wearing a grey sweater that made him look softer somehow,more real than the starched and pristine ER chief I usually saw.

“Mr. Rothschild,” he said, his hand going to straighten a nonexistent tie.

“Alex,” I corrected gently. “We're not at the hospital now.”

His eyes darted between me and the exits, but curiosity won over caution. “Do you often spend Saturday mornings with ancient medical gods?”

“Only the interesting ones.” I gestured to the bench beside me. “He's got good stories, if you know how to listen.”

A small smile tugged at his lips despite his obvious attempt to maintain distance. “I suppose you're an expert on ancient Greek mythology too?”

“Hardly. Just someone who appreciates good craftsmanship.” I shifted slightly, making room. “The bench has a great view, if you're interested. No shop talk required.”

He hesitated, then sat with careful precision, maintaining proper space between us. His coffee cup trembled slightly as he set it down, those surgeon's hands less steady outside the operating room.

“I used to come here with Michael,” he said suddenly, as if the words surprised him. “He loved the architecture. Said these spaces felt like they held secrets.”

“He wasn't wrong.” I kept my voice soft, letting the morning quiet wrap around us.

“I dream about places like this sometimes,” he admitted. “The light feels... familiar.”

“It's good light for healing,” I said simply.

A tourist group clattered past like a herd of well-meaning elephants, their excited whispers bouncing between centuries-old sculptures. We waited in surprisingly comfortable silence until they moved on, our shoulders almost but not quite touching on the marble bench.

“How do you do that?” he asked finally.

“Do what?”

“Say things that sound perfectly normal but feel like they mean something else entirely.” He turned to look at me properly for the first time. “Why do I feel like I know you?”

Sunlight caught his profile as he spoke, turning him into another masterpiece among the statues. My heart ached with possibility, but I kept my voice light. “Maybe we just have compatible appreciation for ancient art and good coffee.” I nodded at his cup. “That's from Giovanni's, right? Best brew in the city.”

His surprise showed plainly. “How did you?—“

“I have an excellent nose for quality coffee.” I grinned, letting some of my usual corporate polish fall away. “And I may have noticed you getting your morning fix there once or twice.”

“You mean you've been watching me.” But his tone held more amusement than accusation.

“I prefer to call it professional interest in my project partners' caffeine habits.”

That earned me a real laugh, the sound echoing off ancient marble like music. “Is that what we are? Project partners?”

“Among other things,” I said softly. The morning light painted shadows across his face that made my chest tight. “Maybe friends, if you're interested.”

He studied me for a long moment, something shifting behind his eyes. “Friends,” he repeated, testing the word. “I'm not sure that's wise, given our professional relationship.”

“Probably not,” I agreed easily. “But wisdom's overrated sometimes.”

Another smile tugged at his lips. “Says the man having a casual chat with Asclepius on a Saturday morning.”

“He's a very good listener.” I gestured to the statue's serene expression. “Never interrupts, always looks interested. Perfect conversation partner.”

This time his laugh was fuller, more natural. “You're nothing like I expected, you know that?”

“I'll take that as a compliment.” I let myself enjoy themoment, just us here in this pocket of quiet among the ancient stones. “For what it's worth, you're exactly what I expected. In all the best ways.”

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