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."

constant vigil at the hospital, she'd start suspecting

said, "Then come on down.

"You're here?"

up Ms. Webster from work is all

"I'll be right there."

lifted. Turning to Christine, I saw her gesturing hurriedly, "Go on, go on. Look at you, all lovesick

it in our faces

"You..."

my nose, "You go get him, girl. Lock

grabbed my bag from my office and

the parking garage still held the warmth of

against his car, tall and

phone, his casually drooping eyelids giving off a cool detachment.

utterly carefree about the

surprise him, but before I could say a word, he suddenly stretched out an

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

"Not afraid."

the small of my

"Isn't everyone

and looking deep into my eyes, "In

cheeks warmed, and I wriggled free to slip into the