Page 35 of Beginnings By the Sea

He glanced up at the darkened sky and sighed. “It was a test, Nyla. I only filed for divorce to see if I could grab your attention.”

My heart stopped and the tears in my eyes burned hotter than anything I’d ever felt. Even my lungs burned as if I couldn’t get enough oxygen. I remember the day I received the divorce papers. I had just gotten home from working over sixty hours at the hospital, and they were waiting for me on the kitchen table. The house was quiet, but I remembered hearing my heart breaking as I opened the large envelope. Miles had decided to stay at the fire station that night. It was one of the loneliest nights of my life. I’d signed the papers, and the next day, I found an apartment and moved my things out. I was ashamed for letting my job get in the way of our marriage. At the time, it felt like it was too late to do anything about it.

There was no stopping the tears from cascading down my cheeks.

“I thought it was what you wanted, so I signed them,” I whispered. “I knew I’d screwed up. And instead of working things out, I submerged myself in more work.” I turned away from him and angrily wiped the tears from my eyes. “I was so stupid. I literally hate myself for being such an idiot. Saying I’m sorry isn’t good enough.”

Miles wrapped his arms around my waist, and my whole body melted into him. “I don’t want an apology, Nyla. All I’ve ever wanted was your heart.”

“It’s always been with you, Miles.”

Miles turned me around in his arms. “Then why can’t you just end it with this other guy and be with me? I know we can make this work.”

Sighing, I stepped out of his hold and peered out at the ocean. “He’s a good person, Miles. It pains my heart to think of hurting him like I hurt you. I can’t just end it over the phone.”

He scoffed. “You also can’t let guilt be why you stay with him, Nyla.”

“I’m not,” I said, turning to face him. “But what about us? How do you plan on making this work? You live in Virginia!” I released a heavy sigh. “And I have my practice here. It’s been a dream come true having my own place. I don’t . . .”

I let my job tear us apart before, but this was different. I didn’t want to leave what I had in Oak Island. Miles’s lips pulled back slowly, the light in his eyes blazing as he stepped closer.

“I’m not asking you to leave here, Nyla. This is where you belong; it’s as clear as day.” His calloused hands found mine, and I could feel my heart racing.

“Then what are you asking?” I wondered.

He searched my face with longing in his gaze. “I’m asking that . . .” His words trailed off, and he paused to take a deep breath. “I’m saying that if you want me, I’ll pack up everything I have and come here to be with you. I can get a job down here.”

It seemed too good to be true. Was it really that simple?

“Just like that?” I asked, feeling dizzy as my heart thundered against my ribcage.

He nodded. “Just like that. We’ve spent too much time apart. And for what? To be miserable? I don’t want to live like that anymore.” He pulled me closer, his lips so close to mine. “I need you in my life, Nyla. I told myself I’d do anything to get you back, and I meant it. Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it.”

Lifting my hands, I cupped his cheeks. “I’m the reason things didn’t work, Miles. It should be me doing everything I can to be with you.”

He leaned into my touch, his blue gaze burning with passion; it made my whole body tremble.

“There is something you can do.”

And I knew what that was. I slid my hands away from his face.

“I’m going to talk to him when he comes back. But you have to know that he’s loved in this town. My friends adore him. It’s not like he’s going to go away.”

Miles’s jaw clenched and he nodded. “Then we’ll deal with it. All I want is for you to be mine again.”

That was all I wanted too, but I had to break the news to Cohen first before I let anything progress with Miles.

16

NYLA

“We seriously have a ton of stuff,” Autumn said, laughing as she looked around the room.

Our entire waiting room was filled with boxes of goodies for the Spring Fling tomorrow. Luckily, we didn’t schedule any patients for this Friday afternoon so we could prepare. We needed the time.

Autumn had all the different boxes opened, revealing the contents inside each one. We had avocado-shaped stress balls, pens, sticky pads, notepads, and small first aid kits in plastic containers with the Seaside Family Practice logo on them. Everyone who decides to stop by our table tomorrow will get a bag filled with all of it. Gina and Autumn started loading the bags with each item, and I also pitched in.

According to past Spring Fling attendance records, there had always been thousands of guests, and this year was projected to have more people. By the time we were almost done, over half the room was covered in a sea of plastic gift bags.

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