Page 20 of The Bitter Rival

“Can I sit down?”

“I’m almost done here-”

“Please?” I feel his warm hand on my arm as he lowers himself to the seat beside me. Feeling the heat of his body next to mine has momentarily distracted me from the frisson of current coming from his hand. “I wanted to make sure you knew my apology was sincere. It felt less so when I had to address the others in the group I’d wronged.”

I look at him, puzzled.So, were their apologies not sincere?

As if reading my mind, he quickly interjects, “I needed to apologize to everyone, but my behavior toward you was much more appalling. I’ve never spoken to anyone that way. It’s despicable. You deserve more than I can offer in words. You did absolutely nothing wrong. I was an ass.” He stops, momentarily running his hand through the dark strands of hair that have fallen onto his forehead. As pissed as I am with him, I can’t help wanting to touch him. Just to feel those inky strands between my fingers again. “Please know this is a tipping point for me. I’m going to find a way to deal with my stress and hope to prove it through my actions in the future.”

Feeling a little snarky, I toss out, “Well, I only have my training wheels for a few more weeks. Then I’m done here.” I watch as a pained look crosses his features. Unable to hold back any longer, I reach over to grab his hand. “I’m kidding. I accept your apology, Dr. Lee.”

Looking toward our hands, he mutters, “Feels odd, you calling me Dr. Lee.”

“What do you mean?”

“Until today, I only thought of you as this beautiful, nameless, naked woman who-”

“Okay, okay,” I interrupt, looking about to make sure we’re completely alone. “I’m sure I’m not the first person you’ve slept with that you happen to work with.”

“No,” he answers sheepishly. “But, I knew that when I acted on it with them. You surprised me.”

“Ah. I see. So, you have a lot of women here, calling you by your first name?” I ask, pointing my finger at the hospital behind me to make a point.

“No. They call me Dr. Lee.”

“Well, then why is it odd, I call you that?”

“I don’t know.” I watch as he appears to examine my I.D. badge more closely and shifts in his seat a bit. Attempting to change the subject, he states, “So, Isabella, if I offer to let you punch me in the chest, will we be even?”

Almost choking on my sandwich, I lean forward as I cough. I feel that warm hand caressing my back and look back at him, stunned. Taking a sip of my water to clear my throat, I lift a brow at him, hoping he’ll explain himself.

“Donovan told me you needed a clavicle x-ray.” He chuckles, shrugging his shoulders.

I can feel the corner of my mouth lift at his offer. “As tempting as that is, I’m hoping to not be the cause of any more stress on the job.” Standing, I grab my lunch tote and water bottle. “I have to get back now. Thank you for the apology, Dr. Lee.”

“Sebastian.”

“What?”

“My name is Sebastian.”

“Oh.” I’m stunned. Not sure what to say to this, “Well, goodbye.”

Heading back to work, my head is spinning.What the heck just happened?This has been one rollercoaster of a day, that’s for sure.

Closing the door behind me, I practically collapse on my couch. Thank heavens Bailey has Austin tonight. I need some ‘me’ time to unwind after this crazy-ass day! Pulling off my shoes, I shuffle over to the kitchen to grab a bottle of wine. Finding the opener, I pop the cork on this puppy as if its contents are needed for my very survival. Carrying the glass of crisp Pinot Grigio to the bath.This day calls for a quick rinse, then a hot soak in the tub.The sushi I picked up on my way home will just have to wait.

After stepping out of the shower, I decide to make a plate of sushi as the tub fills with water. Sitting at my kitchen island, I devour the delectable rice-covered rolls as I sip my wine. This day feels like it lasted a week. It’s hard to wrap my mind around the chaotic events. From the belittling dressing down in the OR, the heart-to-heart with Jeff, then the surprising apology from Dr. Lee… it barely seems real. But the kicker was his appearance in the courtyard on my break. If I hadn’t seen and heard it with my own eyes and ears, I would’ve thought I imagined the whole thing. He seemed like a completely different person. Not only had the condescending surgeon from the morning transformed into a genuinely remorseful man, but the overconfident arrogance from the night I met him seemed to have also vanished. What could’ve possibly happened to have changed him in only a few hours?

Popping the last California roll into my mouth, I refill my wine glass and return to my steamy bath. Placing my drink down, I reach for a eucalyptus mint bath bomb and drop it into the water. As the bomb disintegrates into the hot water, I watch the greenish-blue hue dissolve and equate it to the way my emotions have felt today. Before my break, my body felt like a turbulent sea, reacting to everything in my wake with a harsh, edgy recoil. Needing that clavicle x-ray for my checklist was both frustrating, and at times, funny. Being in the operating room while a surgeon operated on the town celebrity was exhilarating, ’til it wasn’t. Having a man who I’d dreamt about scold me in front of my peers was humiliating. Having said man apologize in front of my colleagues, felt gratifying. Yet, his private confession in the courtyard had me baffled. I’ve never had a man speak to me that way. It felt real.

Rubbing my thumb along my lower lip, I let my mind wander to the man I’d replayed in my dreams. He’s even more attractive than I remembered. Maybe the haze of the alcohol that night had clouded my memory. Or the overconfident shark persona had me more focused on his skills in the bedroom versus his physical appearance. He’s more than attractive. He’s downright beautiful. His dark hair is a little longer than I remembered, but just how I like it. He wears a five o’clock shadow like no one I’ve seen. His dimples aren’t as deep as mine, but there’s a playful quality to them. Maybe I only notice them when he’s flirty. But his eyes, now they’re the showstopper. The deep blues had teased me in my dreams but didn’t compare to the technicolor irises I witnessed today. Beyond the coloring were their depths. Maybe he simply knows how to lure a woman, but there was a tortured look about him. With each smile in my direction, I could see the regret lingering there.

Lying my head back against the tub, I inhale the calming scents as they waft from the water. I’m not a pushover. I will not be won over with a simple apology and the offer to snap his clavicle like a twig. Biting my lip as I giggle at the recollection, I reach for my glass.You did well today, Bella. You learned a lot. You kept your head held high. And you offered forgiveness when you didn’t think you had it in you. Now, don’t let your guard down if he comes sniffing back around.

What had he said? “If you can’t play with the big dogs, Bella, maybe you need to stay home.” I play the words in my head, again and again. Getting out of my bath, I towel off and put on my sleep clothes before grabbing my phone. I’d grown up watching old black and white movies. I was such a fan of the bygone era of Hollywood. The days where celebrities were a bit of a mystery, unlike this day and age where you can become famous for a reality tv show stint or going viral on YouTube or TikTok. One of my favorites was Marilyn Monroe. She was an incredible beauty but so troubled. It was fascinating to read how someone that looked like her could still struggle to find love. It made my plight feel more normal.

Scrolling through the phone, I locate the quote I’d remembered Marilyn Monroe saying. I found it some time back, and it hit me as poignant then, and even more so now.

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