Page 49 of Cinematic Destinies
Betty stood up and Khalil put one hand on her shoulder and the other on the small of her back. They started to dance around the room. At one point, he said, “There’s always a spin, you ready?”
She nodded and he spun her out, and back to him, a smile etched on her face. “One more before the finale,” he said, and he twirled her out again and then held her in a grand dip. He slowly helped her rise, their faces only centimeters apart. Softly, he whispered, “I love you.”
“Are we still acting out the show?” she asked, hardly able to exhale.
He shook his head and put his hand on her cheek, leaned forward, and pressed his mouth to hers. When their lips parted, he looked into her eyes with unadulterated adoration, cradled her face in both his hands, and they started kissing passionately. Eventually, she pulled back and tried to catch her breath.
“I think we got swept up in the moment,” she mumbled.
Khalil took her hand and said, “I’m in love with you. I’m completely, head over heels in love with you. Every time you walk into the room, I can barely breathe.”
“You never . . .”
“I never said anything because I was afraid of scaring you off. You’re my best friend and I didn’t want to risk losing you. There were times I almost said something, butyou always stopped me, like maybe you knew and you weren’t ready.”
She dropped his hand and stepped back, muttering, “Maybe you’re just feeling lonely, or . . .”
“Betty, I hate spicy food, but I always eat it with you.” She looked at him with eyes like saucers and he continued, “You’re the smartest person I know so part of me thinks you must know that, but you keep ordering even hotter dishes, not because you want to torture me but because you want me to like what you like, and you think I’ll get used to it.” Her eyebrows were sky-high. He stepped forward and stroked the side of her face. “I know you and I love everything about you—what a committed doctor you are, the way you look in these scrubs, your ponytail bouncing up and down when you’re racing down the hallway, the look on your face when you have a really good Scrabble word, and the glint in your beautiful blue eyes when you see my mouth is on fire from the takeout we’re sharing. Mostly I love the way you look at me when we’re alone, because I can see it in your eyes, that you feel the same way.” She just stared at him as if unsure of what to say or do. He pulled her close, caressed her cheek again, and swept her up into a frenzied kiss. They were kissing and running their hands through each other’s hair when Betty pulled back.
“I . . . I . . .” she panted.
“Do you love me?” he asked.
“I don’t believe in all of that.”
“Betty, it’s not something you believe in, it’s something you feel.”
“Feelings can mess everything up, make things harder, make us feel attached to things that aren’t real. I’ve spent my whole adult life trying to escape fantasies and build something on solid ground. Something real. Medicine is real. We’re doctors. That demands all our focus. There’sno time for anything else. I’ve worked so hard, and you have too.”
“I’m not asking you to give anything up or change,” he assured her. “I want us to be partners. In so many ways, we already are.” She lowered her gaze. “Tell me why you’re so afraid to give in to your feelings.”
“I . . . I just can’t do this,” she stuttered. “I’m sorry.”
“Betty . . .”
“Please, I can’t,” she said, stepping back. “I don’t know what to say. Will you please just go? I’ll clean everything up. Please.”
Khalil looked at her through a haze of disappointment, nodded, and walked out the door.
Betty just stood there, trying not to feel.
CHAPTER 13
Albert was gazing out the window as the trolley rolled through Brookline.
“What are you thinking about?” Ryan asked.
Albert looked straight into his eyes and said, “Labor Day weekend came so quickly, and . . .”
“Tell me.”
“This has been the best summer of my life.”
Ryan smiled. “You killed it in those animation classes. Now you’ve landed this amazing job. I mean, they’re one of the best comics publishers in the business. It’s so perfect for you.”
Albert blushed. “Thanks. But that’s not what I meant. Spending the summer with you has been . . .”
“For me too,” Ryan said.
