over almost immediately, and I climbed in the back. “Mass General,” I told the driver.
“You’re going to work?” Emily asked. “After that whole dinner you planned for him? Oh boy.”
“You have no idea …” I sobbed, holding my forehead, the aching inside far too much. “He was just the biggest asshole.”
“That happens sometimes. They get their periods, like we do. Now, tell me everything, woman.”
Thirty-One
Caleb: I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have treated you that way. I took everything that had happened at work out on you. That wasn’t fair, and it wasn’t right. I hope you can forgive me.
Me: You were the biggest dick tonight.
Caleb: I know, and you didn’t deserve that. I wish I could take it all back. I haven’t been able to sleep. All I keep doing is replaying the things I said to you.
Me: I can sympathize with having a bad day, and I accept your apology, but my God …
Caleb: Knowing that I hurt you is tearing me up.
Me: Did you honestly think I wanted to leave? Of course I’d rather be there with you. I would always choose you over my job. I love you, Caleb. But the things you said really stung.
Caleb: You have every right to be upset. I was out of line.
Caleb: Do you have a second to call me?
I read his last message and jogged down the hallway to the break room, holding the phone to my ear.
“Whitney,” he said as the call connected.
“Hi.” I fell into the corner of the couch, knowing I was going to need all my strength to haul myself back up.
“Listen to me. I’m so fucking sorry.”
“What happened between us was beyond awful.” I gripped the armrest, sinking my nails into the material. “I know fights are inevitable, but you have to fight fair. That was a complete shutout, like you were after blood.”
“Fuck …” There was so much remorse in his voice. “I was wrong. I can’t say that enough, and it’s been eating at me since you left.” Each of his exhales sounded more painful than the last.
“You need to understand that Rebecca and Fiona are my work family. If they need my help, I have to be there for them, the same way I would want them to be there for me. And as long as I’m employed at the hospital, that will always be the case.” I tucked my knees into my chest. “Helping people is all I know. If that’s what someone needs from me, it’s impossible for me to say no. I just don’t have it in me.” I stared out the window, the reflection of the room reflecting in the glass.
“That’s one of the reasons I love you, Whitney. I shouldn’t have used it against you.”
“No, you shouldn’t have.” I wrapped an arm around my knees, holding them tightly. “But some of the things you said about my job weren’t all that far off. I recognize I need to make changes. I’m not happy here, and I haven’t been for a long time. I’m just asking you to be a little patient while I figure this out.”
“I can do that.”
I leaned my head against the rough cushion, glancing up at the stained ceiling tiles. “Good.” I felt the anxiety start to leave my chest; the last few hours had been almost unbearable. “We need a redo that includes flowers in the Jacuzzi and chocolate-covered strawberries and champagne because that’s what I had planned for us.”
“Dammit, we’ll make it up, I promise you.” He was quiet for a few moments and asked, “What time can you leave the hospital?”
I yawned, feeling the weight of the next nine hours. “Around seven thirty tomorrow morning.”
“How about I pick you up? If you’re not too tired, I’ll take you to breakfast. Then, we’ll come home, and I’ll tuck you in.”
I was envisioning our bed and how amazing it would feel to be under the comforter, my head sinking into the fluffy pillows. “You’re not going into the office?”
“I’ll go in late. I think we could use some time together first.”
I sighed, knowing he liked to be there extra early after his run, especially following a blow like he’d had today.
But he was doing it for me.
We weren’t perfect. We were going to have problems like every other couple, and there would be tears and harsh words, but somehow, we’d make it right again.
There was too much love between us to consider any alternative.
“That sounds like heaven,” I whispered. All I wanted in this