Choices

Chapter 8: You're Forgetting Something

When I arrive to work on Monday morning things are quite in the locker room. Jake Black, James Lawson and Sadie Prince are all in there already and the silence is piercing as soon as I enter the room. Both are scheduled to return back to work tomorrow and I can tell that it's going to be a quite day without the two of them around. Turns out that James Lawson loves the power that he has over the other residents, so he used it to get Dean into trouble as well. I was livid when I heard from Jamie that Dean had been suspended as well, it’s his first week and he barely did anything to James Lawson. I offer all three of them a smile as I lower my head and grab a pair of clean scrubs from my locker. Saturday and Sunday went by and I managed to do my laundry and get some rest in those two days. Brooke left on Saturday morning and ended up staying at her fathers house for the remainder of the weekend. Drake made himself quite comfortable next door with Nicolas and Daniel, so the apartment was quite. Drake left for work before I even woke up and it's probably because he has an early morning flight. I haven't seen or heard from Lucas Parker since Friday night and it was a relief to know that he is distancing himself. It gives me time to breathe and think about my poor choices from Friday.

I was with Peterson today and he seemed like he was in for a busy day, which meant that the both of us were in for a busy day.

I did my morning rounds in Neuro and Peterson informed me that after lunch we would be going into surgery. He made himself scarce and ended up in his office claiming to be on the verge of a medical breakthrough. I spend my lunch break in the cafeteria, Jake sits with Sadie while Lawson sits with the guys from radiology. I find myself an empty table and ignore the stares coming from Lawson and his radiology friends. My phone buzzes as I'm in the middle of reading Jackson's case file and eating my sandwich. An unknown number flashes across my screen and I think twice about answering it before I eventually do.

"Hello." I say into the speaker as I abandon the case file.

There is a moment of silence before the familiar voice comes through the speaker. "Hello beautiful." Lucas Parker's voice is something I never thought I would hear coming from the other end of the speaker.

"What do you want? I told you I'm not going to do you anymore favours or go on a date with you." I look around to see if anybody is listening in on our conversation. James Lawson's eyes are on me and I feel slightly uncomfortable as I look away quickly.

"Well can you at least come outside and reject me to my face." My eyes widen in shock at his words. Lucas cannot be at this hospital because every time he is this place seems to go on lockdown.

"No, I'm working and I really don't want to see you right now." I snap and he sucks in a breath.

"I can always just come in and find you." That would be a big mistake, not only would he get into trouble but him walking in here to come see me could make me look suspicious.

"Fine. I'll be out in a minute." I cut the call before he can give me a snarky remark and gather up the file and my lunch. I throw my lunch and the case file into my locker and begin to plan what I am going to say to Lucas Parker.

I find myself at the front entrance and Lucinda offers me a sweet smile before pointing to the doorway with a wink. The automatic double doors open and when I step outside I instantly regret not bringing my lab coat with me. The blue sweater underneath my scrubs is warm but not warm enough to shield me from the icy wind that London provides me with. Lucas Parker leans against the door of his sleek black Mercedes dressed in a pair of black jeans and a charcoal grey sweater with a black pea coat and grey sneakers. His eyes meet mine and I notice how half of his neck length hair is pulled up and the other half is down. His eyes meet mine and his face lights up, he wasn't expecting me to come out and neither was I. However, he gave me no choice.

"What do you want?" I ask and he gives me a smile.

"Hello to you too beautiful." He says as I draw closer and the wind whips the tiny wisps of hair that have escaped my ponytail.

"Save the charm for someone else. You can't be here." I snap and he rolls his eyes.

"You like my charm." It's my turn to roll my eyes now but he's right. I do like his charm and I do like him, I am definitely attracted to him.

"There will be no date, I am busy." He offers me a frown.

"This entire week?" I cross my arms against my chest.

"Yes and for the rest of my life." His laughter is contagious but I won't give in to it. I'm stubborn and I've been told how stubborn I am by everyone for the last twenty six years. I wrap my arms tighter around my body as the wind whips around me and he notices.

"Come here." He reaches a hand put for me and I shake my head. I can't say no to him that's why I choose not to talk. "You're freezing. Come here." This time I find myself giving into him and walking over to him. He takes my hand in his and pulls me closer towards him as he wraps his arms around my body. His warmth envelopes me like a blanket on an ice cold day.

"You're not supposed to be here." I wrap my arms around his waist, inside his coat as his body instantly warms me up.

"Why not?" He places his chin on my head as I place my head against his chest. His cinnamon scent fills my nostrils and I find myself growing fonder of his scent.

"Because people are looking for you and I can't be seen around you." I pull back and look into his hazel brown eyes. His hands still remain wrapped around me as he looks down and meets my gaze. The closer I am to him the more evident his freckles become which are dusted over his cheekbones and nose.

"Is that why you keep on rejecting me, because of people?" He gives me a frown and I know that my words have upset him. His hold around me loosens and I know that he's upset because he turns away from me.

I grab a hold of his face and he flinches at my touch, it probably has something to do with the fact that my hands are freezing. I pull his face back into my direction and his eyes meet mine, I see the hurt in them and knowing that I caused it doesn't make me feel any better. I stand on the tips of my toes and lean in to brush my lips against his, his hold tightens around me as he pulls me closer and I pull back. "I'm not worried about other people, I'm worried about you being seen." His eyes soften and he gives me a smirk.

"Are you worried about me?" He teases and I pull away from him. "No, don't do that. I like that you're worried about me." He whispers and I can feel my cheeks reddening.

"I'm still not going on a date with you." I say and he rolls his eyes at my words.

"Why not? Clearly you're attracted to me and I am very much attracted to you. I don't see the problem." He frowns and I've noticed that he frowns a lot and doesn't smile often.

"The problem is that I barely know you and the first time we met you were running away from the police and that scares me." The truth is he could be a criminal for all I know and being around him could be dangerous for me.

"I own over eleven hotels across London and five bars, does that sound like a criminal to you? And besides the point of going on a date is to get to know the other person. I do want to get to know you better and I know you want the same. Stop making it so hard." He's right, he doesn't look or sound like a criminal because if he did then he would be in jail right now but he's not, he's here with me.

"I don't date guys like you. You're complicated and annoying." I tease and a hint of a smile makes it's way to his face.

"You're going to insult me or go on a date with me?" He looks down at me with a questioning look and I roll my eyes.

"Are you ever going to just forget about it and leave me alone?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"Not a chance." He gives me a smirk and I can understand how easy it is for someone to fall for someone as charming as him.

"When and it better be a good place." I give into him and the look on his face is priceless, it makes it worth agreeing to the date because the smile on his face is contagious.

"Where do you want to go? Anywhere you want to." He gives me an enthusiastic smile and I give him points for asking, instead of just planning something.

"Nothing extravagant." I quickly say because I know for a fact that if I didn't make that clear then he will go all out.

"Tonight. Dress casual and I'll fetch you at eight." He places a kiss on my lips before I can reject him again. When he pulls back he gives me a childish grin and his smile is contagious because he has me smiling like an i***t. "Now go back to work, you have lives to save." He unwraps his arms from around me and playfully shoves me away.

"Don't be late, if you're late then there's no do overs." I warn and he waves me off with a smile.

"I will be on time." He promises and I give him one last smile before turning around and walking towards the double doors. He stands there and waits for me to get inside and as the double doors close behind me I turn around to give him one last look. He throws me a wave before getting back into his car and driving off.

When I go back to the locker room to get my case file and lunch, James is standing against my locker with his arms crossed against his chest and a furious look on his face. "You're f*****g him?" He snaps.

"That is none of your business." I snap back with a glare. "Tell me James, do you always spy on people in your free time?"

"Only on people who associate themselves with criminals. You were suspended for three days because of him, imagine the amount of trouble you could get into if people knew you helped him escape." He really needs to mind his business because he is getting on my nerves and Dean isn't around to pull me away from him if he pushes me to the point he pushed Jamie.

"I did not help him escape and if you walk around telling people that you and I are not going to have a friendly conversation the next time we talk." I push past him to my locker and grab my case file. "Now if you'll excuse me, some of us have work to do around here." I walk out before he can say anything else.

I end up reaching home at seven in the evening, giving me an hour to get ready for my date with Lucas. My conversation with Lawson put me in a mood and the only thing that managed to lift my spirit was knowing that tomorrow Jamie and Dean would be back at work. I managed to shower and slip on a pair of black jeans and red long sleeved off shoulder bodysuit. I barely had time to put on makeup because by the time I got out the shower my time was up. I slip on my watch and sneakers at the door when I hear a knock on the door. My eyes find the clock and I frown before I pull open the door. My eyes meet Lucas' eyes and he offers me an endearing smile.

"You're early." I snap as I spin around to dig through my purse for my keys.

"Do you think that there will ever come a time where you greet me like a normal person?" I turn around to give him a glare and he only then do I notice that his hair is pulled back and he swapped his coat for a black leather jacket. Does this man look bad in anything?

"Okay, I'm ready." I grab my phone off charge and throw it into my purse before turning around to face him.

"You're forgetting something." He says and I look around to see what I'm forgetting.

"What did I forget?" His mouth covers mine and he pulls back a second later before giving me a boyish grin.

"That, you forgot that." He says and my insides just melted. "You look beautiful." I know he's lying because I barely had time to get ready, but I still take his compliment with a smile.

"Enough of that. I'm hungry, let's go." I shove him out the apartment and lock the door behind me as his laughter bounces down the walls of the hallway.