Lost Me Gained Regret

The arrow hit the bullseye, though it wasn't exactly planned that way.

By the time the meeting wrapped up at the office, dusk was already creeping in. I had hitched a ride with Christine earlier in the day.

I was just about to call an Uber back to the hospital.

Christine offered to drop me off, and I shot her a sidelong glance, teasing, "I saw you texting Dailey during the meeting. Don't let me hold you back from... whatever's brewing there."

Christine's laughter was bright and beautiful. "Oh, what now? You've become a screen peeker?"

"Just happened to catch a glimpse."

I chuckled awkwardly, feeling a bit embarrassed.

During the meeting, she was seated diagonally to my left, leaning over the table to text. It was impossible not to see.

Just then, my phone rang. It was Gregory.

"All done with the meeting?"

His voice, relaxed and casual, flowed from the other end of the line, making me smile.

"Yeah, just finished. I'm heading back to the hospital to check on Ramona, then home."

attempts by Dr. Thompson, Ramona's condition seemed stable, identical to anyone her age. If I kept up my constant vigil at the hospital, she'd start suspecting she had some incurable disease. She had already asked me a few times if that was

come on down. I'm waiting in the

"You're here?"

Webster from work is

"I'll be right there."

hurriedly, "Go on, go on.

faces every day,

"You..."

"You go get him, girl.

that, I grabbed my bag from my office and made a beeline

the parking garage still held the warmth of

against his car, tall and

well-defined, were fiddling with his phone, his casually drooping eyelids giving off a cool detachment. He had

utterly carefree

out an arm without even looking

move startled me instead, "You didn't even look.

"Not afraid."

the small of my back, "A

countered, "Isn't

seemed amused by my argument, pinching my cheek and looking deep into my eyes, "In my world, you're the

warmed, and I wriggled free to slip into