When Love Breaks by Jack

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.”

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

come on down. I’m waiting in the parking

“You’re here?”

voice cheerful, “Picking up Ms. Webster from work is all in a day’s duty for

“I’ll be right there.”

spirits lifted. Turning to Christine, I saw her gesturing hurriedly, “Go on, go on.

it in our faces every

“You…”

“You go get him, girl. Lock down

my bag from my office and made a beeline for

garage still held the warmth of late summer turning

he was, lazily leaning against his car, tall and

eyelids giving off a cool detachment. He had the

carefree about

stretched out an arm

me instead, “You didn’t even look. Weren’t you afraid of grabbing the

“Not afraid.”

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

countered, “Isn’t everyone

argument, pinching my cheek and looking deep into my eyes, “In my world, you’re the

wriggled free to slip