Page 31 of Dr. Lillian Harrington
Rebecca leaned back in her seat, staring out of the window for a moment before finally replying. "It’s fine. Work is work."
Lillian kept her eyes on the road, the tension growing in the car. She could feel Rebecca’s coldness, the emotional distance that always seemed to creep in when things got hard. Part of her wanted to ask Rebecca how she was really feeling, to break through that wall. But another part of her didn’t want to push, especially not tonight.
They drove in silence for a while, the city lights flashing past them, until finally, Lillian spoke again. "I know this wasn’t what we planned, but I thought we could still grab something to eat.There’s this late-night diner I know. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s quiet. We can just talk."
Rebecca glanced at her, her expression softening ever so slightly. "That sounds...nice."
Lillian smiled, a small sense of relief washing over her. Maybe tonight wasn’t going to be perfect, but they were together, and that was enough for now.
She drove toward the diner, the hum of the city fading into the background as they settled into the silence between them. For the first time all day, Lillian felt like maybe—just maybe—things were starting to fall into place.
As they pulled into the parking lot of the small diner, Lillian glanced over at Rebecca, her heart pounding just a little faster. The lights from the diner’s neon sign cast a soft glow across Rebecca’s face, highlighting her sharp features and the unreadable expression in her eyes.
"We’re here," Lillian said, cutting the engine.
Rebecca turned to look at her, and for a moment, Lillian thought she saw something flicker in her gaze—something vulnerable, something real. It was gone almost as quickly as it appeared, but it was enough to remind Lillian why she was doing this. Why she kept trying, despite everything.
They both stepped out of the car, and as they walked toward the diner’s entrance, Lillian couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope. This wasn’t what she had planned, but maybe it didn’t have to be. Maybe tonight could still be theirs, despite the rough day, despite the exhaustion.
They entered the diner, the warm smell of coffee and frying food greeting them as they slid into a booth near the back. Thewaitress came over, taking their orders, and for the first time that night, Lillian felt the tension between them start to ease.
As the food arrived and the quiet clatter of plates filled the air, Lillian looked across the table at Rebecca and said softly, "I know we both had a hell of a day. But I’m glad we’re here."
Rebecca met her gaze, her cold exterior cracking just a little. "Yeah. Me too."
Lillian watched as the waitress placed their plates down in front of them: a greasy cheeseburger and fries for Rebecca, and a simple BLT for herself. The diner’s warm, low light flickered gently above them, casting a soft glow over the table. It wasn’t the elegant, quiet restaurant she’d originally planned for their date, but there was something about this small, unassuming place that felt right. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was real. It felt like a good place to break down the walls between them.
Rebecca sat across from her, staring at the burger in front of her like it was something foreign, something she hadn’t seen in years. And for a moment, Lillian wondered if that might be true.
"This is...far from what I’m used to," Rebecca said, her lips quirking up at the corner as she picked up the burger and inspected it. She looked like she was about to laugh, though her eyes still carried that cool, detached glint. But there was a softness, too, an openness Lillian hadn’t seen in a long time.
Lillian grinned, settling back in the booth. "Yeah, it’s not exactly fine dining, but I figured we could use something different. I think there’s a certain charm to a place like this."
Rebecca raised an eyebrow, biting into the burger with a slow, deliberate motion. The grease dripped onto her plate, and for a second, the elegance she carried with her everywhere seemed to falter. When she swallowed, her expression changed into one of pure surprise.
"Okay, I’ll admit it. This burger is actually good." She wiped her lips with a napkin, smirking. "I don’t think I’ve had aproper diner burger since...god, I don’t even remember. Years, probably."
Lillian chuckled, picking up one of her fries and pointing it at Rebecca. "You’re telling me you’ve been depriving yourself of this kind of greasy goodness all this time? That’s practically a crime."
Rebecca let out a soft laugh, a sound that was far rarer than it should have been, and it made something inside Lillian ease. For once, they weren’t in the hospital, weren’t trapped in the formal roles that kept them apart. Here, in this cheap little diner with its flickering neon sign and checkered floors, they were just two people—just Lillian and Rebecca.
Rebecca’s eyes flicked to the burger again, her smirk fading slightly. "I suppose I’ve been busy trying to keep up appearances. Fine dining and all that. You know, part of the image."
"Ah, yes, theimage," Lillian teased, leaning forward on her elbows. "Dr. Rebecca Lang, brilliant surgeon and connoisseur of all things fancy and expensive."
Rebecca rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. "It comes with the territory. Family expectations and all that." She took another bite of her burger, chewing thoughtfully. "But I have to say, there’s something nice about just eating a burger in a cheap diner. No pretense."
Lillian’s smile widened. This was exactly what she had hoped for—just a chance to see Rebecca let go, to see her without the mask of professionalism and control. "It’s funny, you know," she said, leaning in a little closer, "I always figured you were the kind of person who never let loose. Always composed, always in control. But now, you’re just like the rest of us, devouring a greasy burger like it’s the best thing you’ve ever tasted."
Rebecca’s lips quirked up again, but there was a glimmer of something in her eyes—something vulnerable. "Maybe I am likethe rest of you," she said, her voice quieter now. "Or maybe I just don’t let anyone see that side of me."
Lillian felt a little flutter in her chest, the weight of Rebecca’s words sinking in. There it was—the crack in her armor. She had always suspected there was more to Rebecca than the cold, distant persona she presented to the world, and now, sitting here in this diner, Lillian was seeing that person for the first time.
"I’m seeing it now," Lillian said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "And I like it."
Rebecca’s eyes flicked up, meeting Lillian’s gaze, and for a moment, the air between them seemed to shift. There was something deeper here, something more than just attraction. Lillian could feel it—a connection that was real, tangible, and terrifyingly fragile.
Rebecca set her burger down and leaned back in the booth, her eyes still locked on Lillian’s. "You’re different, you know," she said after a long pause. "You don’t treat me the way everyone else does. Like I’m untouchable."
