What is Love?

Okay, tonight is the night. I'm hoping Ethan Montgomery will propose to me, Lydia Crawford. "Lydia?" Dr. Jacobs said. Instantly pulled from my thought, I snapped my head up to look at him and his beautifully chiseled jawline with dreamy teardrop-shaped green eyes. While staring back at me, he uttered, "The patient in room two needs the flu vaccine. Can you please give it to them?" "Of course, Dr. Jacobs." Yep, that's right, nurse Lydia. I work in a pediatric hospital as a nurse. I made my way to room two, and administered the shot to the screaming child. The entire time thinking about how I was going to surprise Ethan at his office once I got off work. He is the CEO of M Technology. Ethan asked to meet up at a fine restaurant as he made reservations, but I thought it would be better to meet at his office and go to the restaurant together as a couple. I watched the clock hit 6pm and headed for the locker room to shower and change. I put on a sleek black lace dress that hugged all of my curves perfectly. I curled my long brown hair and let it flow freely down my back touching my hips. After, I applied a maroon lipstick and made my eyelashes. I always loved minimal makeup. "Oh my goodness Lyd! You look stunning. Where are you going?" My best friend Katie said. "Ethan asked me to meet up with him at The Blue Lagoon. I'm hoping, after four years, tonight is finally the night. I'm going to surprise him at the office." "Sounds fancy, you look so great I might take you out myself." "You talk too much," I said while laughing and swatted her hand away. She gave me a hug and we departed our separate ways. Sitting in my car, I whispered to myself, "Breathe. You've been waiting for this moment, Lydia." I peeled out of the hospital's parking garage and made my 20-minute drive to M Technology. I gazed at the glowing skyscraper and the sunset in the background. It really couldn't be more beautiful. I put my car in park and paid for the parking meter before going inside and riding the elevator. Once I arrived at the 17th floor, his receptionist gave me a smug look. Confused, I walked to her and asked if Ethan was in his office. "He sure is, and he's with Jessica." Instantly my heart sank. I knew that name, Jessica. She was his first love, the one that got away. She moved to Europe to further her studies and left Ethan high and dry. My family has a wealthy background, we all specialize in medicine. My grandfather Ezra made a name for himself by becoming the world's most famous neurologist. Much travel far and wide to see him. M technology partnered up with my grandfather's hospitals he owns, creating a partnership to give his many hospitals medical equipment. Ethan's grandfather, Richard, and my grandfather became best friends. Coincidentally, Ethan and I met while in many of these meetings and fell in love. We grew a bond, and I helped him get over the heartbreak of losing Jessica. We created a life together. We live in a beautifully decorated villa on the outskirts of town right on the beach. We call it Ocean Side Villa. "Lydia? Hello, didn't you hear me? He's with Jessica," his receptionist repeated with an annoyed tone. "I heard you." I shot back and made my way to his office. His door was ajar, and I could hear muffled talking. I could just barely make out what they were saying. Jessica's pinned straight shoulder-length blonde hair, matched perfectly with her blue sundress, exposing half of her back. She was adjusting his tie while he sat on his desk. "Didn't you miss me, E? It's been a long time. I hope you haven't forgotten me." She had a seductive tone that laced her voice. "Of course, I missed you Jess. I never ever forgot about you." He was gazing into her eyes. I cleared my throat, and opened the door. "Ethan?" I said with a smile. He jumped off his desk, "Jessica, this is Lydia I told you about." "Hi, Jessica. I'm Lydia." I reached out my hand to shake hers. She looked at my hand and gave me a taunting smile, "So I have heard." "Lydia, Jess will be joining us for dinner tonight." My eyes shot over at Ethan, Jessica standing next to him smiling radiantly. "Oh, okay well, we are happy to have you," I remarked, totally baffled and blindsided. "Well, shall we?" She gestured toward the door, nodding her head. I walked behind them while walking to get my car, as Ethan's sleek black SUV rumbled, pulling up to the curb to pick him up with his assistant Daniel driving. "I hope you don't mind taking your car, Lydia. I'm afraid three is a crowd in Ethan's car." Jessica looked at me smiling. "Of course not. I will see you both there." I got into my car and drove to The Blue Lagoon. Ethan and Jessica made it there before I did. Walking to their table, they looked like a real life Barbie and Ken couple. Ethan has shaggy brown hair with a sharp chinstrap beard with a clean mustache, and sparkling blue eyes dressed in a suit and tie. Jessica, dressed in a blue sundress with shoulder-length blonde hair and green eyes, sat next to him smiling and chatting. I felt like an outsider a third wheel if you will. The waiter came, and took our orders. Ethan ordered for himself and Jessica, while I ordered for myself, not having much of an appetite. "Jessica is going to stay with us for a couple of days while she's in town at the Ocean Side Villa." Shocked, I dropped my fork with a loud thud of metal hitting glass. "Lydia, that's not very proper of you." "I'm just surprised Ethan made this decision without me," I retorted while flipping my hair back and staring right at him. "She needs somewhere to stay, don't be nasty," Ethan responded. "E, if she doesn't want me there, I can stay in my family's hotel," Jessica purred. "Don't speak nonsense. You will stay with us." Ethan said softly. I shook my head and grabbed my wine glass, but it spilled all over Jessica. "ETHAN! Do you see what she just did to me?" She yelled. "Lydia did this on purpose because she's not happy with me staying with you at the Villa." "Lydia, you can be angry at me all you want, but do not take it out on Jess!" He yelled while helping to clean up the wine off her dress. "It was an accident, I didn't mean to." "Whatever, Lydia. You know what you did. Waiter, check please?" Ethan paid the check and held Jessica's arm while helping her out the door to his SUV. Completely ignoring my existence. I sat there, stunned for a moment. I really thought he was going to purpose to me, but boy was I wrong..