Page 77 of ’Til You Break

“Fucking better not.” He ends the call.

I lean against the office doorway, waiting until he’s finished before pulling my nurse’s scrub top over my head. I catch him stealing one last look at my body. His tongue drags slowly across his lower lip.

I love how insatiable he is.

“Are they giving you trouble again?” I ask.

“When aren’t they?” He pushes back from his chair and walks towards me. “They’re trying to rush me back to New York so they can launch before the marketing’s finished.”

He grumbles under his breath.

I don’t even think he realizes he’s doing it.

I laugh, imagining Muffin rubbing off on him so much that he’s started embracing his more animalistic side.

Even after all these months, I understand Vik’s frustrations. He’s still adjusting to working remotely. The pressure to stay in control from hundreds of miles away is different, but he’s never complained once.

We left New York after the police officially cleared him of everything that happened that night. With no real destination in mind, the three of us headed west in a luxury RV far nicer than my old apartment. Eventually, we found ourselves in Durango, Colorado. It’s a small town surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve ever seen.

Vik adapted to the slower pace of life much more easily than I expected. Every day, it seems a little more likely he’ll sell the company altogether and fully embrace life as an amazing cat dad...

And an even better boyfriend.

“Getting ready for work?”

“I am.”

I press a finger against his chest and slowly trail it down. Just to tease him. To leave him squirming after I walk out the door.

“You know, I’m glad you’ve found a job again,” Vik says, brushing a kiss across my cheek. “But I kind of miss how things used to be.”

“Is that so?” I roll my eyes.

It’s far from the first time he’s said it. And I know it won’t be the last.

“Yeah. When you were here all day. We could play hooky whenever we wanted.”

“If we did that, neither of us would ever get any work done.” I tap the end of his nose before stepping away.

Deep down...

I know if he pushed a little harder, I wouldn’t be leaving at all. Especially now that I don’t work because I have to survive. Or because I feel driven to make up for the mistakes I made.

I’ve made peace with those. Life never stops throwing punches. Good. Bad. Everything in between.

The only way to survive is to learn to thrive in the chaos.

I accept who I am, and the only person whose opinion truly matters accepts me too.

Going back into medicine isn’t about redemption anymore. It’s something I do because it makes me happy.

The hospital is small. Understaffed. The workload is heavier than anything I experienced in New York. None of those things matter. I get to do what I love. Help people heal... the same way Vik helped me heal.

“Walk me out?” I ask, taking his hand.

“I’ll drive you, if you want.”

“No, I’ll be okay.”