The Best of Us (Love in Isolation 2)

A blush hits her cheeks as she chews on her bottom lip. After a few seconds, I get out and run around to open her door. When we walk inside, I smell delicious cookies and coffee and hear Christmas music playing.

“This place looks like it fell out of a Hallmark movie,” she says, spinning around, taking it all in. I love seeing Kendall so damn happy and interlock my fingers with hers. We look over the menu written on a giant chalkboard surrounded by string lights.

A woman with bright blue hair and a lip piercing comes to the counter. After a minute of watching us, she interrupts us. “Hi! Do you know what you’d like?”

"What do you suggest?" Kendall questions. “Anything sweet and holiday-like. I’m not picky!”

The woman seems thrilled to answer this question. "We're famous for our gingerbread peppermint mocha latte with our cookie crumble whip cream."

“Oh my gosh. That sounds amazing.” Kendall squeals. “I want the biggest size you have."

"Make it two," I add. She gives us the total, and I pay.

While we wait, Kendall and I look at the gigantic Christmas tree that overlooks the street. All the ornaments are coffee related, with mugs and coffee beans, even tiny coffee makers. I glance out the window, and it’s like the world transformed while we were away. Soon, the woman sets our drinks on the counter, and we both thank her as we grab them.

Kendall takes a sip, and she moans. "This." She points at her red cup with the words Holly Jolly written in cursive letters. "This is magical!”

I taste mine and nod in agreement. "This is basically dessert."

"Absolutely," she says. giggling. “Christmas in a cup!”

Without hesitation, I tilt up her chin and press my lips to hers.

We thank the barista one more time, then make our way back to the Range Rover. Seeing Kendall this excited over the simplest thing was worth stopping. And I have to admit it tastes pretty damn good.

As soon as we’re back on the road, my phone buzzes. I look down and notice it’s my boss.

“Hey, Nick,” I pick up and answer.

"Ryan, how's the drive?"

"Going fine, not much traffic so I should be in the city within the hour," I explain.

"Perfect. Do you think you can swing by the hospital? I'd like to catch you up on a few patients before your morning shift tomorrow."

"Sure thing," I tell him and glance over at Kendall who's staring out the window.

"Shouldn't take too long. Maybe an hour or two.”

He kept me updated while I was away. One of my weaknesses is getting too attached to my patients and constantly checking up on them even when they’re transferred to other doctors. I hear codes being called over the intercom in the background, and then his name is announced.

"No problem, sir. I'll be there," I say, then we say goodbye and hang up.

Kendall doesn't ask who it was, but I tell her anyway. "My boss. I have to go in after I drop you off."

"When's the last time you've taken off this long?"

It takes me a minute to think about it. "Not since before my residency."

"Ryan, you have to take time for yourself every once in a while."

"I know. It's something I'm working on. You showed me how much I’ve missed in life. I love my job, don't get me wrong, but I have to start being kinder to myself. For the first time in years, I feel refreshed and rested." And it's all true. I'm less anxious than usual and don’t feel nearly as stressed as I typically am.

"I'll take some credit for that," she teases.

"Undoubtedly." I chuckle. "Funny the only thing that can force me to slow down in life is Mother Nature. I think it was a wake-up call to slow down."

"You should. I know you've been through a lot in the past few years and needed to build your career, but if you don't want to blink and realize you worked most of your life away, you need to find a healthier work and life balance. You deserve to be happy and have fun too."

I bring her knuckles to my lips and kiss them. She smiles at me lovingly, and I contemplate telling her how I feel about her. But before I can, her phone vibrates. She releases my hand and reaches for it. "Cami," she tells me showing me the screen.

I take the exit that leads to her street and know we only have about ten more minutes together. I don't know how to bring up us—if there even is an us. As I try to find the right words to start this conversation, I also don’t want to scare her away.

I’m dying to know where her head and heart are. Though I’m pretty certain I do, we still need to have an actual conversation about it. I’ll see her next weekend for the wedding, but I need to muster the courage to bring it up before then, yet I’m running out of time.