Page 9 of Healing Hearts
I pull out my phone, her number taunting me from the screen. My thumb hovers over the call button, but I hesitate. It’s too soon, right? Definitely, don't want to seem desperate.
The internal debate rages on. Part of me – the part that's used to making split-second decisions in life-or-death situations – wants to throw caution to the wind and dial hernumber right now. But another part, the one that's been burned before, urges caution.
Since when did dating become more complicated than a quadruple bypass? I laugh to myself, pocketing the phone.
As I stand there, caught between desire and hesitation, I realize something. For the first time in years, my mind isn't filled with thoughts of patients, trauma, or my next shift. Instead, there's a flutter of anticipation in my chest that I can't quite shake.
The steady slap of footsteps on pavement behind me interrupts my reverie. Before I can turn, a voice – achingly familiar – cuts through the morning air. The sound of her voice sends a chill down my spine. I take a deep breath, steeling myself before I turn to face her. As I do, I'm struck by how little she's changed in the last two years. Those piercing gray eyes, the cascade of black hair – it's all too familiar.
"Trevor! Fancy seeing you out here."
My muscles tense involuntarily, the peaceful moment shattered. I plaster on what I hope is a neutral expression.
"Vivian," I manage, fighting to keep my voice level. "What are you doing here? I didn't know you were in town." It's been years, but the effect she has on me hasn't changed a bit.
She smiles, that same self-assured grin that used to make my heart race. Now, it just makes my stomach churn.
"Oh, you know me, Trevor. Always chasing the next adventure. I’m a traveling nurse now and landed a three-month contract at Hibiscus Harbor Hospital," she says, her voice dripping with confidence. "This adorable little town seemed like the perfect place for a... change of scenery." She waves her hand in the air.
My stomach drops, and I struggle to keep my face neutral. Three months. Ninety days of potentially running into her at work, in town, on this very jogging path. The peaceful morning I'd been enjoying shatters like glass. I can't help butnotice how she emphasizes those last words, her eyes never leaving mine. It's classic Vivian – every statement a challenge, every interaction some sort of game.
"That's... quite a coincidence," I manage, my mind racing.Did she know I was here? Did she seek out this contract specifically? I wouldn’t put it past her if she did.
Vivian laughs, a sound that used to make my heart race but now it sets my teeth on edge. "Isn't it just perfect? It's like fate brought us back together."
I resist the urge to snort. Fate had nothing to do with it. As she chatters on about the contract and how excited she is to work at Hibiscus Harbor Hospital,my hospital, memories flood back unbidden. The constant stream of texts and calls during my shifts, the accusations when I was too tired to go out, the way she'd show up unannounced at the hospital...
"...and I thought, why not? A change of scenery might be nice," Vivian's rambling, snapping me back to the present. She takes a step closer, and I catch a whiff of her familiar perfume. "Plus, I've missed you, Trev. Haven't you missed me, even a little?"
“Not really.” How do I tell her that the only thing I've missed is the peace I had before I ever met her? Inside, my mind is racing. What are the odds she'd end up here, in this small town, on this very jogging path? The rational part of me knows it could be a coincidence, but experience has taught me that with Vivian, there are no such things as coincidences.
As we stand there, the peaceful harbor behind us a stark contrast to the tension between us, I can't help but think of Brooke. The easy conversation, the genuine laughter – everything that's missing from this interaction with Vivian.
My throat tightens as I search for a diplomatic response. "Vivian, I?—"
She doesn't let me finish, her gray eyes glinting with determination. "Listen, I know things ended... messily between us. But that was years ago. We've both grown, right?"
I nod stiffly, though I'm not sure she has. My fingers twitch, itching to check my phone, desperate for an excuse to escape this encounter, but I know from experience that trying to dodge Vivian only makes her more persistent.
The scent of her shampoo—coconut and something floral—washes over me, bringing back a flood of conflicting memories. "We should catch up some time, you know? Grab a drink, talk about old times."
My mind races. How do I shut this down without setting off her temper? I can already see that familiar glint in her eye, the one that says she won't take no for an answer.
"I don't think that's a good idea," I start, but she cuts me off with a light touch on my arm.
"Oh, come on, Trev. For old times' sake? I promise I won't bite... unless you want me to." She winks, and I feel my stomach twist.
I take a deep breath, stealing myself. This is going to be a long three months.
I shift back slightly, trying to create some distance between us without being too obvious. The salty breeze coming off the marina offers a momentary reprieve from the tension.
"I think we need to just be professional with each other," I say, keeping my tone as neutral as possible. "It's been pretty busy at the hospital lately." I hope she'll pick up on my reluctance, but I know better than to count on it.
Vivian's lips curl into a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Oh, come on, Trev," she purrs, her voice dipping into that familiar, flirtatious tone that sends an uncomfortable shiver down my spine. "You can spare a little time for an old friend, can’t you?"
I hesitate, my heart racing as I weigh my words carefully. Vivian's expectant gaze burns into me, and I'm acutely awareof how insistent she can get when she wants something. The gentle lapping of waves against the marina's edge fills the silence between us, a stark contrast to the tension in the air.
"I don't know, Vivian," I finally say, my voice low and measured. "Things ended... the way they did for a reason." The words hang heavy in the salty air, and I hope they'll be enough to deter her.
