“No, not yet. There’s a chance, but I think it will be OK.”
We were about to sit down when Jake’s pager went off again. Patiently, I waited for Jake to return from his call and politely conversed with Jennifer, who was also waiting for her date to return. I found out she was an orthopedic nurse and two years older than Max. With such an uncomfortable situation, she was a good sport talking with me. I was happy to see Max dating a sweet girl. She seemed good for him.
Jake walked toward me, and I had this nervous feeling I was going to be alone…again.
“Hi. Done with your call?”
“Yeah…” The way he said this made me feel even more uneasy.
“Oh, that doesn’t sound good,” I whined.
“Well, I’ve got some good news and some bad news. Which do you want first?”
“The bad.” Of course, I was always the pessimist.
“I have to go back to the hospital,” he said quickly.
“No!” I protested. “Not again. I thought you had the whole night off! Jake, we hardly ever get to see each other. I think I’ve seen you once a week in the last couple of months.” My protest was a bit unfair, but I really didn’t want to be alone tonight, of all nights.
“I know and I’m sorry. I thought we’d be together tonight but my patient came back with complications and I need to go back into surgery now.”
What could I say? A possible dying patient sat on the operating table waiting for his doctor, while I fretted over my insecurities of sitting alone at a dinner table with Max and Jennifer. Pathetic. But…how was I going to get through the rest of the evening without him?
I unhappily shrugged my shoulders and let him go. “Save another life tonight, Dr. Reid. I want to stop you but I can’t…I won’t.”
He apologized again with both arms tightly wrapped around my body. “BUT…the good news! Chief gave me the whole weekend off, so I’m taking you on a surprise trip. We’re going somewhere far where no one can call me back to the hospital. Can you be ready by 7:00am? I’ll pick you up at your house.”
“OK.” Still sounding glum, I couldn’t disguise my disappointment with Jake leaving me stranded at dinner again. “Where are we going?” As much as I tried to like surprises, they made me nervous. I didn’t like uncertainty. “How shall I dress? Is it going to be very cold?”
“It’s always cold up there,” Jake slipped.
“Up there?” I asked curiously. Obviously we were going up north but were we driving…? Flying? Suspense grew.
“When will we be back? I assume we will be back tomorrow night?” I asked with more enthusiasm.
“Do we have options? Can we stay the weekend? Would that be OK?” He sounded hopeful.
I thought about what Jake had asked, all too aware everybody at the table was listening and waiting for my answer. They all knew what my answer would’ve been if Max had asked me this same question back in college. They were curious to know if I’d changed in the almost two-year absence.
It was a simple answer, but I couldn’t immediately speak. A part of me wanted to spend the night with Jake. I felt safe with him. A part of me also wanted to hurt Max and say yes just to spite him. I knew it would be unfair to both men if I gave into my ugly side. Max watched me carefully. Eagerly, both men awaited my answer.
“Um, no. I don’t think it’s wise for us to spend the night,” I said, relieved to speak my mind. Accepting my answer with a more than gentle kiss, he relented to the pager that beeped endlessly.
“OK, OK, I’m coming, people,” he answered back at his pager. “Bye,” he murmured, stealing one more kiss. “I’ll miss you.” Before he left, he turned to Peter and asked if he would not mind giving me a ride home.
“Please take care of her for me,” he added. “And please,” he whispered to me, “don’t fall back into your ex’s arms after I leave.” We both laughed.
“Sure will,” Peter obliged.
As soon as Jake left, Peter turned to me. “Jake seems like a good guy. I’m relieved to know you’re dating someone who loves you.”
It never occurred to me Jake might feel that strongly about me. I knew I couldn’t say I loved him yet. After all, we hadn’t been dating too long and this was the first time I’d opened my heart in a long time.
“You seem to have a way of wrapping men tightly around your finger,” Peter noted.
“Yeah, some good that does me in the end,” I retorted. I heard a low chuckle coming from everyone at our table except Max and Jennifer.