Lost Me, Gained Regret (Jane and Bryant Ferguson)

The arrow hit the bullseye, though it wasn't exactly planned that way.

By the time the meeting wrapped up at the office, dusk was already creeping in. I had hitched a ride with Christine earlier in the day.

I was just about to call an Uber back to the hospital.

Christine offered to drop me off, and I shot her a sidelong glance, teasing, "I saw you texting Dailey during the meeting. Don't let me hold you back from... whatever's brewing there."

Christine's laughter was bright and beautiful. "Oh, what now? You've become a screen peeker?"

"Just happened to catch a glimpse."

I chuckled awkwardly, feeling a bit embarrassed.

During the meeting, she was seated diagonally to my left, leaning over the table to text. It was impossible not to see.

Just then, my phone rang. It was Gregory.

"All done with the meeting?"

His voice, relaxed and casual, flowed from the other end of the line, making me smile.

"Yeah, just finished. I'm heading back to the hospital to check on Ramona, then home."

After several attempts by Dr. Thompson, Ramona's condition seemed stable, identical to anyone her age. If I kept up my constant vigil at the hospital, she'd start suspecting she had some incurable disease. She had already asked me a few times if that was the case.

Gregory said, "Then come on down. I'm waiting in the parking garage."

"You're here?"

He replied, his voice cheerful, "Picking up Ms. Webster from work is all in a day's duty for me."

"I'll be right there."

My spirits lifted. Turning to Christine, I saw her gesturing hurriedly, "Go on, go on. Look at you, all lovesick the moment you know it's your Gregory."

"Rubbing it in our faces every day, it's criminal."

"You..."

I touched my nose, "You go get him, girl. Lock down Dailey!"

With that, I grabbed my bag from my office and made a beeline for the exit.

Leaving the building, the parking garage still held the warmth of late summer turning into fall.

There he was, lazily leaning against his car, tall and long-legged.

His hands, bones well-defined, were fiddling with his phone, his casually drooping eyelids giving off a cool detachment. He had the look of someone who doesn't take much seriously.

He seemed utterly carefree about the world.

I tiptoed over, aiming to surprise him, but before I could say a word, he suddenly stretched out an arm without even looking up, pulling me into his embrace with a chuckle, "Trying to scare me?"

His preemptive move startled me instead, "You didn't even look. Weren't you afraid of grabbing the wrong person?"

"Not afraid."

He smirked, his hand caressing the small of my back, "A one-of-a-kind person can't be mistaken."

I countered, "Isn't everyone one-of-a-kind?"

He seemed amused by my argument, pinching my cheek and looking deep into my eyes, "In my world, you're the only one-of-a-kind."

My cheeks warmed, and I wriggled free to slip into the passenger seat.

I had to admit, the guy had a way with words.

He walked around to the driver's side and started the car. Suddenly, something dawned on me, and I hesitated before turning to him. "I... might have done something silly."

He raised an eyebrow, encouraging me to continue, "What?"

I felt slightly embarrassed. "That night... after, I forgot to take my pill."

"Which night?"

His amused look made me glare at him. "Stop joking around. Aren't you worried?"

"Worried about what?" Gregory took

my hand, gently massaging it, his

gaze soft and persuasive. "Jane,

how about we have a child? Another

unique person, just like you." en.swhovels.net