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."

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 the

down.

"You're here?"

his voice cheerful, "Picking up Ms. Webster from work is all

"I'll be right there."

gesturing hurriedly, "Go on, go on. Look at you, all lovesick the

in our faces every day,

"You..."

touched my nose, "You go get

from my office and made a

the parking garage still held the warmth of late summer

was, lazily leaning against his car, tall and

casually drooping eyelids giving off a cool detachment. He

seemed utterly carefree about the

he suddenly stretched out an arm without even looking up,

move startled me instead, "You didn't even

"Not afraid."

hand caressing the small of my back, "A one-of-a-kind

countered, "Isn't

pinching my cheek and looking deep into my eyes,

I wriggled free to slip into the passenger