NovelEnglishATHENA
| sit at work as my head spins. I've tried to think of what would have caused Alex
to say that, but | cback empty every single time.
He wouldn't tellwhat, and it's extremely frustrating!
"Dr. Dawson? We have an urgent patient who needs surgery." Nurse Mira says, and | nod.
| put my phone back in my coat and rush to to the OR.
Three hours later, I'm walking out, feeling like my bones are cracking. It's crazy how you think your body will get
used only to be proven wrong over and over
again.
The fatigue never goes away. And the back pains only get worse. But none of that matters when you're doing
something you love.
As long as my patients get to live a healthy life again, I'm fine with feeling tired and having dark circles.
"The surgery went well. We just need to keep an eye on him." | say to the nurse who nods.
"Yes doc. You really do have magic hands. Every patient you've worked on has lived." She says with a smile.
| smile back, but | can't help but get a strange feeling. That something is about to go wrong.
| push my thoughts aside as | step out, stripping off my gloves and gown.
"Nice work in there," Zayan says behind me, his voice warm.
He walks up as I'm sanitizing my hands, and before | can react, he leans in to kiss
me.
| turn my head at the last second, and the kiss lands on my cheek.
Zayan pulls back, his brows slightly furrowed.
"Is something wrong?"
| shake my head quickly. "No. Not with you. Never with you." | give a faint smile. "You're perfect."
And he is.
Smart. Kind. Patient. Loyal. The kind of man any woman would be lucky to have.
So why isn't my heart racing?
Why isn't my skin tingling?
Why isn't the air aroundshifting like it does when he walks into the room?
Even when Alex breathes near me, my blood rushes to my ears, my stomach flips, and it takes everything not to
melt.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtBut with Zayan... it's quiet.
Too quiet.
"I was thinking..." Zayan says, clearing his throat. "Maybe we could go out sometthis week? Just you and
me."
"I... I would've liked that," | say honestly, then add gently, "But | took a few days off. Rayen and | are going
camping."
His smile grows. "Just Rayen and you?"
| know he has been dying to meet my son, but Alex would kill him before he hung
| hate to crush his hopeful gaze, but | don't want to lie.
"No," | answer. "With Alex too."
There it is.
The shift.
Not inbut in him.
Zayan nods, his eyes unreadable. "I see."
And just like that, the silence between us turns into something heavier.
It's at this point that | really wish the ground could open up and swallow me.
"But when | get back, we can do that date." | offer him a smile, but he shakes his head.
"| love you, Athena. But | feel like I'm playing a losing ghere. I'm fighting against a man who is not even in
the game." he runs a hand through his hair.
| look around, grateful that it's just us.
"Zayan, it's not like that. You're a great guy but-"
"But I'm not him." He laughs bitterly.
"and that's why I'm with you! Because you're you. | know it's been crazy but-" He laughs at that.
"Nothing has been crazy about us, Athena. We've been dating for eight months, and it's been like we haven't at
all. Trust me, | would love scrazy right now."
| sigh.
| don't know what to say.
"I don't mean to put pressure on you, babe. | just feel like I'm losing you."
"You're not." | whisper, not sure if that's for him or for me.
"Good. Because I'm not letting you go." He pullsby the waist and kisses me.
It's soft
Warm.
Familiar in all the ways it should be. His lips are gentle, careful, like he's afraid of scaringoff.
But my heart doesn't skip a beat. My skin doesn't burn. My stomach doesn't flip. It's just... a kiss.
When he pulls back, his eyes search mine, hopeful, desperate, maybe even a little afraid.
| force a smile because | don't know what else to do.
He cups my face. "I'll wait. However long it takes. Just... don't shutout."
| nod, even though | already feel myself pulling away.
And the worst part?
| don't even know if | want to stop it.
"Hi." Alex says as he holds the door open for me.
| ignore him and take a seat in the passenger's seat.
The trip is today. We were all supposed to use the school bus, but someone is too high and mighty for one, so
here we are, using a private vehicle instead. s
Rayen refused to use the private
vehicle and said he wanted to ride et
with h his friends. Alex said no, and
ched the entire tand
belongs to s
He wouldn't relent until | stepped in.
"You'll ruin his trip." | said.
"That's better than seeing him hurt." He retorted, not leaving any room for arguments.
"Then have a security team follow the bus. And let one of your men drive it." | suggested.
It wasn't serious. It was meant to mock him, but that was exactly what he did.
He gets in starts the engine, but doesn't drive For a moment, all! hear is the hum of the AC and the pounding in
my chest. s
How long is this trip again?
"I'm surprised you decided to come," he says, his voice low and deep.
| turn my head slowly, my brows lifting.
"Why? Were you planning to keep Rayen's real mother a secret, too?"
He flinches. "Athena, that's not what | meant."
"Right." | fold my arms. "I wonder what you meant."
He exhales sharply, his hands tightening on the steering wheel.
"God, will you pick a fight from every word | say?"
"I'm not picking a fight, Alex. I'm just asking a question.”
"I'm happy that you're here. We both are. That's what | meant to say."
I scoff.
"That's pretty new!"
"Athena,"
"Just drive the damn car, Alex.. or I'll use the school bus!" I cut him off.
"I love you." He says, making my heart stop for a second.
I turn to face him.
Surely | didn't hear him right.
"What?"
"| said, | love you."
I've heard that word twice today.
But only one stopped my heart cold.
And that terrifies me.
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