Page 25 of Falling for the Wrong Billionaire
I walk into the clinic, taking a deep breath, trying to shake off the anxious energy coursing through me. I don’t know why I’m feeling this way. I’ve been to countless meetings, held discussions with major investors, and yet, every time I’m around Lucy, my pulse quickens. Every time she looks at me, even for a second, I feel like I can’t breathe.
When I get to the clinic, I find Emma and Lucy talking in the back office. They both look up when I walk in, and I can’t help but feel a slight flush creep up my neck. I didn’t plan on interrupting their conversation, but when Lucy’s eyes meet mine, it’s like I’m stuck.
“Hey,” I say, trying to keep my tone casual, but my voice feels too thick. Too full of everything I’m trying to ignore.
“Hey,” she replies, her voice soft but warm. I can tell she’s trying to act like everything’s fine, but there’s a small hesitancy in her step as she stands up to greet me.
I feel the pull between us again, that unspoken connection I can’t seem to escape. I glance at Emma, trying to push the tension down, but she gives me a knowing look, one that’s hard to miss.
“I brought you something,” I say, my voice a little more strained than usual. I don’t know why I’m feeling this way. I just know that I don’t want to leave without saying something more, without making this moment last just a little bit longer.
I hand her a small bouquet of flowers, a simple gesture, but it feels so much more than that. It feels like a piece of me that I’m offering to her.
Lucy takes the flowers, her eyes widening slightly. “Thank you,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper. She looks at the flowers for a moment, and then back at me, her smile soft but unsure. “These are beautiful.”
I feel the awkwardness between us, the weight of everything I haven’t said. I try to keep my tone light, even though I can feel the tension thickening. “I thought you might like them,” I say, stepping back a little. “Just a little something.”
She smiles again, but I can see the uncertainty in her eyes. “I’ll put them somewhere nice,” she says quietly, her gaze lingering on me for just a moment too long.
I hesitate, unsure of what to say. I want to ask if she has the message. What is she thinking? Why haven't I gotten a response? I’ve said too much already, and I don’t want to push her. I don’t want to make things uncomfortable. So I stand there, awkwardly, my hands in my pockets, my chest tight with everything I want to say but can’t.
“Well,” I finally say, clearing my throat. “I guess I’ll leave you to it. I don’t want to keep you.”
“Thanks again for the flowers,” she says, her voice soft.
"You're welcome," I turn to leave and stop.
"I was wondering if you saw my message?"
“Yes, I did. I'm sorry I didn't send a response. I’ll think about the dinner, okay?”
I nod, forcing a smile. “Take your time. No rush.”
I leave the clinic, feeling like I’ve missed something, like I’ve missed an opportunity to say what I really want to say. I want to tell her how much I’ve been thinking about her. How much I want to see her again.
But I don’t.
I can’t.
Chapter twelve
Lucy
The clinic feels a little different today. It’s quieter, almost too quiet, like the world is holding its breath. I’m sitting at my desk, flipping through some paperwork when I see them. The flowers. The same flowers Liam brought yesterday, now sitting in a vase on the counter near the front desk.
My heart skips a beat as I look at them. There’s something about them — the way they stand there, bright and beautiful, like a reminder that he’s been here, that he thought of me. It’s the smallest thing, yet it feels like it carries so much weight.
Emma comes into the room, her face lighting up when she sees the flowers. She’s always been so open about her emotions, her energy infectious in a way that makes it hard to stay unaffected.
“Look at those!” she says, her voice full of warmth. “They’re gorgeous! Are they the ones from Liam?”
My stomach tightens, and I quickly look down at the desk. I don't want to look too obvious, but it’s hard to pretend I don’t know exactly where they came from. “Yep, from Liam,” I mumble, trying to sound casual, even though my heart is racing in my chest.
Emma’s eyes sparkle with curiosity, and I can see her stifling a grin. “Ah, your admirer,” she teases, raising an eyebrow.
I shake my head quickly, trying to brush it off. “We’re just friends,” I say, my voice not quite as convincing as I want it to be. I can’t stop thinking about the way he looks at me, how he makes everything feel like it’s just us, like there’s no one else in the world. But I can’t admit that. Not to Emma. Not to myself.
Emma crosses her arms, leaning against the counter, her gaze never leaving me. “Lucy,” she says gently, “you know even a blind person could see the chemistry between you two, right?”
