Page 47 of Dr. Lillian Harrington
Rebecca shook her head, feeling the smile stretch across her face. "If you say so."
Their waiter arrived, taking their drink orders—wine for Rebecca and a gin and tonic for Lillian. The conversation flowed easily as they browsed the menu, deciding on a few small dishes to share. It was comfortable, familiar, like they’d been doing this for years.
"So, what’s the verdict on the conference food?" Lillian asked as she placed her menu down, a playful grin on her face. "Is it as pretentious as I imagined?"
Rebecca laughed softly. "Surprisingly, it wasn’t that bad. Though I have to admit, I didn’t really pay much attention to what I was eating."
"Oh?" Lillian leaned forward slightly, her chin resting on her hand. "And what was distracting you, Dr. Lang?"
Rebecca’s heart skipped a beat at the way Lillian’s gaze held hers, so full of warmth and affection. She felt the tension in her body melt away entirely, replaced by something deeper, more peaceful.
"You," Rebecca admitted softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "You were the best part of today."
Lillian’s smile softened, her eyes shining with something that made Rebecca’s chest tighten with emotion. "Rebecca..."
The waiter returned with their drinks, interrupting the moment, but the weight of Rebecca’s words lingered in the air between them. As they sipped their drinks, the conversation moved to lighter topics—teasing each other about work, joking about the strange mix of personalities they had encountered at the conference.
Lillian leaned back in her chair, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass. "You know, I never pictured myself at a fancy dinner like this, especially after a conference like that."
Rebecca raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"
Lillian shrugged, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "I’m more of a burger-and-fries kind of girl. But this is nice. It feels special."
Rebecca smiled, her heart swelling. "That’s because itisspecial. You’re special."
The sincerity in her words hung in the air, and Lillian’s teasing smile faded into something more tender. Rebecca leaned forward slightly, her voice lowering. "You make everything easier, Lillian. I didn’t realize how much I needed someone like you until you were already here."
Lillian’s eyes softened, her hand reaching across the table to take Rebecca’s. Her fingers were warm, grounding, and Rebecca felt the familiar sense of peace wash over her again. "I feel the same way. You’ve changed my life, Rebecca. You’ve made me happier than I ever thought I could be."
For a moment, they just looked at each other, the rest of the restaurant fading into the background. There was a depth to their connection now, a quiet understanding that hadn’t been there before. They had been through so much—Rebecca’s coldness, her fear of vulnerability, the tension between their personal and professional lives—and yet, here they were, stronger than ever.
As the waiter brought their food, they shared a small laugh, the moment breaking with the arrival of steaming plates. They leaned back into their easy banter, tasting the food and joking about how "fancy" everything looked. But under the surface, something had shifted between them. The words they had exchanged weren’t just fleeting confessions—they werepromises. Promises that they were in this together, that they had both found something worth holding on to.
Between bites of their meal, Rebecca found herself reflecting on everything they had been through. She had spent so many years keeping people at a distance, believing that love—real love—wasn’t something she could afford to let into her life. But Lillian had proven her wrong, in every possible way. Lillian had shown her that it was okay to be vulnerable, that it was okay to let someone in. And now, sitting here across from her, Rebecca realized that she couldn’t imagine her life without her.
She even allowed herself to think about the future, something she had always avoided. What would it look like, being with Lillian long term? They hadn’t talked about it yet, not really, but for the first time in her life, Rebecca wasn’t afraid of the idea. In fact, the thought of a future with Lillian—of more nights like this, more laughter, more quiet moments of connection—made her feel something she hadn’t felt in years.
Hope.
Rebecca set her fork down, her eyes catching Lillian’s again. "You know," she said softly, her voice thoughtful, "I never thought I’d be the type of person to want...more. But with you, I find myself thinking about it."
Lillian tilted her head slightly, a curious smile playing on her lips. "More? Like what?"
"Like..." Rebecca hesitated, searching for the right words. "Like a future. With you."
Lillian’s smile grew, her eyes lighting up with warmth. "I like the sound of that."
Rebecca felt her chest tighten with emotion. This was it—this was what she had been missing for so long. Not just the passion, not just the connection, but the possibility of something lasting, something real. And with Lillian, it didn’t feel like a risk. It felt like a promise.
As the night went on, their conversation continued, moving between playful banter and deeper confessions. They laughed, they teased, they shared stories from their pasts. And all the while, Rebecca felt herself falling deeper in love with Lillian—not just for who she was, but for the way she made everything feel...possible.
By the time they left the restaurant, the night had grown darker, the city lights glowing brightly against the inky sky. Rebecca and Lillian walked hand in hand back to the hotel, the cool night air wrapping around them like a comforting blanket.
As they reached the hotel room door, Rebecca paused, turning to face Lillian with a soft smile. "Thank you," she said quietly.
Lillian looked at her, confused. "For what?"
"For being here," Rebecca replied, her voice thick with emotion. "For being you."
