Until Autumn

“You and me,” I say, feeling a little awkward while not wanting him to think that I’m being too serious far too soon. “You know, the whole dating thing while also working together. I mean, I am your student after all and I’m pretty sure that’s frowned upon.”

“It’s definitely frowned upon,” he confirms with a smirk, clearly not giving a shit about the rules. “But to be completely honest with you, I’ve already been thinking about this. If you’re comfortable with it, I don’t intend to hide our relationship, because to me, that’s exactly what it is. You’re not some dirty little secret to me, but having said that, I’m not about to flaunt it all over the hospital and shit all over the board’s rules and guidelines about workplace romance.”

“So, what happens from here?”

He shrugs his shoulders. “I really don’t know. I can’t say that I’ve ever been involved with a student before, but I’m assuming that I will remove myself from that role and all assessments will be handed to Dr. Harding.”

My eyes bug out of my head. “You're not going to teach me?”

“I don’t know if that would be wise.”

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “I want to be the best damn midwife this country has ever seen and that means being taught by the best. We need to think of another way because not being taught by you isn’t an option for me.”

His eyes shimmer with happiness and he nods his head. “Alright,” he promises. “I’ll figure it out.”

I nod. “Thank you,” I say before biting down on my lip as a nervousness begins to pulse through me. “So before I go and embarrass myself by overthinking this; you’re serious about this? We’re in a relationship?”

“Yeah,” he tells me, reaching across the table and taking my hand. “I don’t want to take things slow with you. I’m not here to fuck around. I want you and I’m not about to let you slip through my fingers. So, you need to be prepared for that.”

A smile stretches across my face and I watch him looking back at me. “Okay,” I tell him. “But just so you know, I’m not exactly the easiest person to be involved with. I’m already married to my job.”

“Good,” he says. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

New confidence settles through me and just as I’m finishing off my meal, a pager sounds through the restaurant, and regret filters through Thorne’s eyes. “I’m so sorry,” he murmurs, almost looking sick with himself. “That’s the hospital. I have to go.”

Devastation pours through me but I put a lid on it. It’s not like I didn’t know this was a possibility. “Oh, okay. Sure,” I tell him, trying not to let my emotions show as I reach down and grab my purse off my lap.

I start pulling out some cash and Thorne looks at me as though I’ve just grown a second head. “What do you think you’re doing?” he asks, his brows dropping and almost looking offended.

I look up at him in confusion. “Umm … paying,” I explain. “What does it look like I’m doing?”

He shakes his head as a fond smile spreads across his face. “No the hell you’re not,” he tells me. “I appreciate the gesture but there’s no way I’m about to let you pay, especially on our first date. That bullshit won’t be coming back to haunt me.”

“But—”

“Nope. Besides, it’s already been taken care of.”

My mouth drops as I think back over the night. “When … how? You haven’t moved all night.”

Thorne winks before rubbing his hand over his face. “How do you want to do this? Do you mind stopping by the hospital with me and then I can take you home after that? Sorry, I should have thought this through before bringing you here without a way home in a situation like this.”

I shake my head. “It’s completely fine,” I tell him. “Don’t worry about me. I’ve been getting myself home from nights out for years. I know you knocked Uber earlier, but it’s my main form of transport. I can’t live without it,” I tell him with a stupid grin. “I’m actually close to becoming a platinum member.”

He shakes his head. “I don’t know whether to be horrified or impressed.”

“Definitely impressed,” I laugh. “Now get out of here and save someone’s life already. Besides, I’ve been dying to call KC and gossip about you all night.”

“Only good things,” he tells me, walking around the side of the table as I stand.

“Promise,” I whisper, turning to face him so I can meet his eyes. “I’ll be sure to tell her all about your Ferrari, though she’s going to claim that you’re overcompensating for something.”

He shakes his head before curling his hand around the back of my neck and gently pressing his lips to mine, finally giving me exactly what we’ve been craving since the last time I got to feel his lips on mine.