Forgot To Tell You Something: An Angsty, Later in Life Romance

There’s only one downside about being in love. It usurps your soul, making it impossible to think of anything else.

I’ve been walking around like a lovesick fool since the day I met Owen, but after last night, I’m on cloud nine.

“Lu, you got a minute?” Stefani joins me at the coffee counter, giving me a gentle nudge.

“He loves me,” I mumble, my gaze on the creamer as I mix my coffee.

“What?”

I snap from my reverie with a guilty smile. “Sorry. Actually, I’m not sorry. Owen asked me to move in with him last night, after he told me he was in love with me.”

Note to self, have your friend sit before you drop a bombshell. I swear, Stefani staggers for a moment before regaining her composure. “You’re moving in with Owen? Are you getting married, too?”

“Not yet.”

She grabs my arms, giving them a squeeze. “Lu, this is amazing news. Wow.” She takes a step back, a radiant smile crossing her face. “How do you feel?”

“I want to pinch myself. It has to be a dream. Happiness like this cannot exist in the real world.”

“Yes, it can. It does, and you’re proof of that. I call dibs on being maid of honor.” Her phone sounds in her pocket. “Time to get back. Dr. Watts will be rounding with our new cardiac savior soon.”

“Let’s hope he is all that, and more.”

I can hope, right? I’m not sure why the idea of meeting the new interventional cardiologist has me tied up in knots. I get on wonderfully with most of the doctors here at Memorial. I respect their talent, and they—some more grudgingly than others—respect mine. Hell, some of my constant companions in the happy hour department are cardiologists. Let’s hope this new addition is ready to jump in and get his hands dirty, instead of preening in his ivory tower.

It takes all kinds to run a hospital.

I glance at the clock. Fifteen minutes until showtime, but my punctual ass is always early. That, and Dr. Watts wants me to meet the man of the hour before the rest of the staff.

My phone buzzes in my hand. It’s Owen.

Tally, I need to speak with you. Please. Call me as soon as you can.

I dial his number, strolling down the back hallway to the conference room. I hear a cellphone ringing as I near the door, but it’s the ringtone that stops me.

It’s ‘Girlfriend in a Coma’ by the Smiths, Owen’s ringtone for me.

Yes, I’m well aware that some might consider it morbid, but it’s our inside joke, and besides, the song kicks ass. But that isn’t what concerns me right now.

I push open the door and see Owen standing there, a cup of coffee in his hand.

“Owen? What in the world are you doing here?” How in the hell did he get back here? It’s only accessible with a badge. Maybe he really is a world-class burglar.

“Tally, can we talk?” My man looks positively stricken, and all I can deduce is that something happened to his mother.

“Is your mom okay?”

Owen nods, but he doesn’t get to say anything more.

“Lu, there you are.” Our medical director, Dr. Watts, strolls into the conference room. “I see you’ve met the surprise.”

“What?” I ask, scrunching my nose in confusion.

Dr. Watts motions toward Owen, a smile on her face. “My surprise to Memorial. This is Dr. Stevens.”

I’m a nurse. I’m prepared for all manner of emergency. I juggle stress and the fine line of life and death every day.

I’m not prepared for this. My knees buckle, but I catch myself on the edge of the table. I’m quick, but not quick enough. Owen is by my side, his gray eyes wide and terrified.

“Dr. Stevens?” I choke out, praying I heard our illustrious leader wrong.

“Yes,” Dr. Watts confirms, destroying my world with one syllable. “Dr. Stevens is a top-notch interventional cardiologist. Remember the robotic procedure you and I discussed at the last function? He helped spearhead the development of that robot. We are beyond blessed to have him working with us at Memorial.”

“Dr. Stevens?” It’s all I can say, my mind swirling along with the coffee in my stomach.

“Lu, are you feeling alright?” Dr. Watts places her hand on my arm, shooting me a look of concern.

“I’m a bit lightheaded. I need some water.” What I really need is an escape. I need to run far away from this place—and this man—and never return.

“I’ll get it.” Owen dashes to the water cooler, pressing the cup into my hands. How chivalrous of him. The lying lech.

Dr. Watts’s pager sounds, and she glances at it. Crap, I know that look. She’s got an emergency. As the chief of staff, her working life is nothing but emergencies. “Dr. Stevens, I apologize. I have to deal with a situation in the emergency department. Perhaps, after Lu is back to rights, she’ll take you on the tour. She knows the hospital like the back of her hand.”

“I don’t think…” It’s all I can manage.

“Be a pal, Lu,” Dr. Watts beseeches. She’s lucky I love her. Granted, her new cardiology addition might not make his first procedure. I’d rather kill him first.

“Fine,” I mutter, sipping the water and taking long, slow breaths.

“Keep an eye on Lu, will you? She works too hard.” With a squeeze to my shoulder, Dr. Watts walks out, leaving me alone with the man who spent last night buried inside me.

The man who spent the last two weeks feeding me one lie after another.

The fury overtakes the anger, particularly when Owen sits next to me, placing his hand on my knee.

“Tally—”

“Don’t touch me,” I snap, jerking my knee from his grasp.

I’m a professional. It’s time to act like one.

Pushing myself to a standing position, I adjust my glasses, avoiding Owen’s—I mean Dr. Stevens’s—gaze. “If you’ll come this way…Dr. Stevens.” I don’t wait for him as I walk out the door, turning left toward the cath lab.

“Tally, please. Let me explain.” He’s at my side, and I hear the panic in his voice.

I, on the other hand, am cold as ice. At least, externally. Internally, I’m suffering a nervous breakdown, temper tantrum, and crying fit all at the same time. But Owen will never know. “The doctor’s lounge is at the end of the hall.”

“Tally.”

“There is an employee gym down there, as well. I don’t go there often, but I’m sure some other medical staff can give you the lowdown.”

He grabs my shoulders, backing me against the wall. “Tally. Stop.”

For the first time since this liar upended my happiness, I meet his gaze. His eyes are wild, and I feel the fear washing off him.

His hands massage my shoulders, but I shirk his touch, tensing. “Darlin, please talk to me.”

“I don’t appreciate pet names, Dr. Stevens.”

But he isn’t listening, intent on making me hear him. Fat chance of that. His forehead presses against mine, and I smell his minty breath. I’m mere inches from his lips—lips that loved every inch of my body while spouting countless lies.

No. No more. I lift my hands to Owen’s chest and push against him.

“Tally—”

“What?” I snap, shoving at his muscled torso. “What do you have to say, Dr. Stevens? I have a job to do here. I’d appreciate it if you’d let me finish, so I can continue my day.”

“I wanted to tell you. So many times.”

“But you didn’t. Instead, you lied—so many times—and here we are.” I suck in a lungful of air when he backs off me, rolling my shoulders and willing up my last vestiges of courage. “I’d like to finish the tour. Beyond that, we have nothing to say to each other.” I turn, taking a few steps down the hallway.

“So that’s it, then? Less than twelve hours ago, we were discussing marriage, Tally. While we were making love. Now you’re going to act like you don’t know me?”

This man did not just try to turn this situation on me. Not again. Never again.

I whirl on him, my eyes blazing. “No, Dr. Stevens. I don’t know you at all. The man I knew doesn’t exist. You made him up. I’m not sure why. To fuck with my head? My heart? Bravo, doctor. You win. You sick bastard, you involved your mother in your game. Is it something you two do for kicks?” I take in another deep, shaky breath before setting off down the hallway. “It doesn’t matter. It’s over and done with, so if you follow me, I’ll show you the cath lab.”

I’m not sure how I manage the rest of the tour. I give myself credit that I didn’t impale the good doctor with something. Lord knows there is all variety of sharp instruments in a hospital. The place is a veritable treasure trove of torture devices—just ask our patients.

I purposely avert my gaze from Owen during the rest of the tour, but I feel him burning holes into my visage.

Look all you want, doctor, that’s as close as you’ll ever get to me again.

Rounding the corner, I make a beeline for the nurses station, catching Stefani’s wide-eyed gaze when she sees Owen.

“Owen? What the hell are you doing here?”

“That’s Dr. Stevens. He’s our new interventional cardiologist,” I hiss, spitting out his name as if it tasted bitter. Come to think of it, it does.

“Wow, you’re the new genius doctor? At least I know we’ll get along. Lu, you certainly kept quiet about this news!”

“That would be because I didn’t know until this morning.”

“But I thought you two were—”

“Nothing. We’re nothing.” For the first time, I look directly at Owen, driving the point home. “Absolutely nothing.”

Owen clenches his fists and looks away, a muscle jumping in his jaw.

I hope my words hurt him as badly as he’s hurt me, but I have my doubts. It’s likely all a game he plays, and everything was a lie. Why, I don’t know. But the why doesn’t matter anymore.

“That tour only covers the highlights, but I don’t like to overwhelm people on their first day. If you don’t have any questions, I’ll be in my office. Good day, Dr. Stevens.”