Natasha took a deep breath before she joined Evan at Chloe’s bedside. She knew she’d have to face him at some point, but she hadn’t counted on exactly how painful it would be seeing him. Being reminded of not only his betrayal, but also what could have been. The future she’d only just begun to imagine with him before it had been crushed.
She plastered on a smile and tried to ignore the surprise on Evan’s face as she walked in.
‘Where’s Eddy?’ Chloe asked.
Natasha couldn’t help but laugh. She was under no illusion that she was as popular as her canine friend.
‘I’m afraid he’s not with me today. I can’t bring him every day, but I promise to come and see you the next time he’s here. I just wanted to see how you were.’
Chloe promptly lost interest once she knew Eddy wasn’t available, and it was Evan who provided the update.
‘Healing as well as can be expected. We’ll look at doing some skin grafts at a later date, but hopefully Miss Chloe will be out of here soon.’
Natasha gave a curt nod of her head. ‘Well, I’ll make sure to bring Eddy to see you before then. I must get back to work. I’ll see you all later.’
Without waiting for any awkward small talk, she made a swift exit. It hurt so much seeing him, talking to him, and knowing what they’d lost.
‘Natasha, wait.’
She closed her eyes, tears already threatening to fall before he took hold of her arm and faced her to look at him.
‘I don’t think there’s anything more to say, Evan.’
‘There’s plenty to say.’ Jaw set with determination, he guided her to a quiet part of the ward.
‘I have patients—’
‘Just hear me out, please.’
She never could walk away from him when he needed her. Arms folded, foot tapping, she waited for him to say his piece. She could give him that at least.
‘I’m sorry. I should never have gone to your mother. Please believe me that I only meant well. I never intended to betray your trust, or hurt you, but I am guilty of not thinking things through.’
‘Yes, you are.’
‘I miss you,’ he said, giving her puppy-dog eyes.
Evan was not playing fair.
‘I miss you too, but what’s done is done.’
‘It is, but we could start over. Put it behind us and move on. I think we could have something really great. It would be a shame not to try. I mean, I understand I hurt you, and it’s asking a lot…’
It was. Evan was expecting her to risk everything by giving him a chance to prove himself. Yet, it seemed as though he was prepared to do that too. He’d been hurt in the past, but he genuinely wanted to make things up to her and give them a chance. Deep down, that was what Natasha wanted too. She was just afraid to risk it all again, and he’d given her the perfect out by messing up.
‘You would have to promise never to contact my mother again.’
‘Agreed. That decision is entirely your choice, as it always should’ve been.’ The relief that she was even thinking about it was apparent on his face.
Then he took her hand. ‘In case you’re in any doubt, I love you, Natasha. I probably always have, but I was too afraid to admit it. Please give me another chance.’
She thought about those words, how much it would’ve taken for him to say them. Especially knowing that she was hesitant about even forgiving him. This was Evan laying everything on the line for her, and it was no small thing.
‘I love you too, Evan.’ In the end she couldn’t ignore that simple fact any longer.
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard. ‘I promise I’ll show you every day how much I love you, and never give you reason to doubt me again.’
‘That’s all I want.’ Natasha was exactly where she needed to be. In Evan’s arms. Being loved. And she had to trust that for once, her heart knew best.
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