Our Way

by Swan, T L

  “And I am?” He growls.

  “Shut up, Nathan. I don’t have to explain my dating life to you. You’re not my boyfriend.”

  “Shut up?” He gasps as he pulls me to a stop. “Shut up?” His eyes look like they are about to pop out of his head. “Don’t tell me to fucking shut up, Eliza.” He growls. “Do it again and see what happens.”

  I roll my eyes at his dramatics. “Where am I, Nathan?” I ask him. He glares at me. “I am at dinner with you.” I prod my finger in his chest, hard. “I will be going home with you tonight, and I told Samuel I was busy all weekend because I wanted to see you instead. Although, if you keep being a dickhead, I may reconsider.” I storm to the table. “Hello.” I smile to everyone as I fall into my happy go lucky role.

  “Finally.” Brooke smiles and stands. I pull her into a hug.

  “Happy birthday, baby.”

  Nathan hugs her, too. “Happy Birthday, Brookey.”

  “Sorry we’re late.” I kiss Jolie and the two boys.

  Nathan and I fall into our seats opposite each other. He smiles and greets everyone, and then they all fall into chatter between themselves. Then, his attention comes back to me, and his face drops.

  “Stop it.” I kick him hard in the shin and he jumps.

  He winces in pain.

  Oh shit, I didn’t mean to kick him so hard, that really connected. “Serves you right.” I whisper.

  The look on his face is murderous, and I drop my head to try and hide my smile. “That wasn’t me,” I whisper. “It was Tiny.”

  He twists his lips, and I giggle.

  “Stop it.” I mouth as I put my hand out toward him on the table. “We’ll talk later. I don’t even really like him, Nathan. Can we just enjoy tonight, please?”

  He looks at me flatly, and I wiggle my fingers to try and entice him. Eventually, he puts his hand in mine, and I blow him a kiss.

  He’s just angry that I didn’t tell him about my date, and as it turns out, he’s right, I should have.

  Nathan isn’t a controlling person, but he’s strong-willed, and so far in life, apart from his parents, I’m the only one who can talk him down from his temper.

  I slip off my shoe and rub my foot up his shin. He rolls his lips as he looks over at me.

  “You didn’t ask me how my last day at the hospital was,” I say.

  “How was your last day?”

  “It was sad. So, can you please not make my day any crappier?”

  He nods and gives my hand a squeeze. “Okay.”

  * * *

  “Okay, good luck, honey.” My mom smiles down the phone. “You won’t need it though.”

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  I brush down my skirt and twirl and look at my behind in the mirror as I speak. “What are you wearing?” Mom asks.

  “I’m wearing a gray pencil skirt and a pale pink blouse. My hair is twisted up into a knot. It’s gotten so long, I need a trim,” I mutter, distracted. “I’ve got my pearl earrings in that Nathan’s parents bought me for Christmas, and I’m wearing sheer stockings and high heeled pumps. I’m hoping I look businesslike.”

  “Sounds perfect.”

  “I hope so.” I smile. It’s Monday morning—my first day at my new job—and I’m as nervous as hell.

  “Okay, I’ll let you go. Knock them dead, baby.”

  “Okay, bye. l’ll call you tonight.”

  I glance at my watch. I need to leave soon. My phone rings, and the name Nathan lights up the screen.

  “Hi,” I answer.

  “Hello, Eliza,” his deep voice purrs down the phone.

  “What do you want?” I smirk.

  “I called to wish you good luck, although I know you don’t need it.”

  I smile goofily. “I’m so nervous.”

  “Don’t be. You’re going to do great. I’ll pick you up from work.”

  “Really?” I smile.

  “Sure, we can celebrate your first day.”

  “Okay.” I put my hand on my chest. “My heart is racing.”

  “Don’t be nervous, and remember: there is a better job waiting for you. You can walk out any time you want.”

  I roll my eyes. “Yes, Dad.”

  He chuckles. “See you at five.”

  “Okay.”

  He stays on the line, as if not wanting to hang up.

  “Nathe?”

  “Yeah, baby.”

  “Thanks for calling.” I smile. “It means a lot.”

  “Yeah, well, you mean a lot.”

  My heart swells.

  “See you tonight, have a good day.” He hangs up, and I close my eyes.

  Let’s do this.

  Forty minutes later, I take the elevator to level 7.

  “Hello.” I smile as I walk into reception.

  The young girl’s face lights up, and she jumps up from her seat. “Eliza, come through. I’m Lexi.”

  “Nice to meet you.”

  “Come with me. Dr. Morgan is in his office.” She leads me down the hall and knocks on an office door.

  “Come in!” he calls.

  Lexi opens the door. “Eliza is here, Dr. Morgan.”

  He stands from his seat, “Thank you, Lexi.”

  She nods and leaves me alone with him.

  “Lovely to see you again, Eliza,” he says. We shake hands, and his eyes linger on my face.

  Oh shit, it’s there again. I instantly feel his attraction to me, and I have to admit it, he is kind of cute. I was hoping I imagined it last time.

  “I’m nervous.” I smile as I clutch my bag in my hands.

  He gestures toward the door. “You have nothing to worry about.” I follow his lead and walk out of the office. “This way.” He gestures down the corridor. “You’re in very safe hands here.”

  I wish he hadn’t told me he was attracted to me because now everything that comes out of his mouth sounds sexual.

  Reason 969 why I need to get laid.

  He opens a door. “This is your office.”

  I look around in awe. The room has dark carpet and a huge chandelier. There’s also a large silver, gilded mirror, and a mahogany desk.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “It is. I trust you’ll be happy here.”

  “Thank you. I really appreciate you giving me this opportunity, Dr. Morgan.”

  “Please, call me Henry.”

  “Henry.”

  “Now you have a day to settle in and find your way around.” He picks up a piece of paper from the desk and passes it to me. “This has all of your email and server details. I have emailed you our schedule for the week. Take today to familiarise yourself with the girls, your office, and our protocols.”

  “Okay.”

  “As of tomorrow, you will be working closely with me. I would like you to work out of my office at the hospital the days that I’m in surgery.”

  I nod, this all sounds so exciting. “Yes, of course.”

  “Tomorrow, we will be at the Martyr Private Hospital. We have a rhinoplasty, a breast augmentation, and a labiaplasty.”

  I frown in question.

  “That’s a vaginal reconstruction.” He smiles at my inexperience.

  I widen my eyes, feeling stupid. “I did not know that.”

  “I wouldn’t expect you to.” He chuckles. “It’s where I reshape the labia and lips of the vagina to make them more visually appealing.”

  I raise my eyebrows, unsure what to say to that. “Oh, I see. Do you cut and stitch, or laser? How do you even do that?”

  “You can do it one of two ways. Either an edge resection or a wedge resection. You see, no two labias have the same thickness, length, or color, and no two vulvas are the same. Most women are prompted to have this surgery by their partner or what they think their prospective partner would want in a woman.”

  I frown as I imagine getting part of my vagina lips cut off, and how much it would hurt.

  He shrugs casually, as if he has this conversation every day. “Men have ve
ry different tastes as to what they desire their sexual partner’s labia to look like. The one I’m doing tomorrow, for instance. I’m trimming the edges of the labia and filling it with a filler.” His eyes hold mine. “She wants it plump and juicy to look at and touch.” He pauses. “Hormones sometimes discolor it to a darker shade so we are also going to bleach it down the track so it’s a perfect pink.”

  My face falls. This is a thing?

  “It varies,” he continues. “Plump, thick labia are to my taste. Personal choice, I guess.” His eyes meet mine. “It comes down to how you like it to feel during sex.”

  “Men can feel the shape of your labia during sex?” I frown. “I had no idea.”

  He chuckles. “Yes, it’s very different from one woman to the next. All a part of the experience, I suppose.”

  I stare at him, lost for words, and he chuckles.

  “Welcome to the world of plastic surgery, Eliza.”

  I shake my head with an embarrassed smile. “Wow. Okay. Who knew?”

  He stands. “Happy you’re here, welcome to the team.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Oh.” His eyes widen. “We have two conferences next month. One in Dallas and one in London. I think the first one is two weeks after you get back from your vacation. The dates are marked in your new calender.” He gestures to the calender on the desk.

  “And you want me to come?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “How long will we be away?”

  “A week each time.”

  “Okay.” I nod.

  “Will that be a problem with your boyfriend?”

  “Not at all,” I lie.

  “Good.” His eyes hold mine for a moment longer than they should. “Conferences are a great way to get to know one another properly. You really learn a lot about a person when they depend on you for everything.” He gives me a slow sexy smile. “I look forward to it.” He turns and walks out of the office, and I sink into the chair. “Eliza?” He pops his head back around the corner.

  “Yes?”

  “Come and get me any time you need me. I’m at your disposal.” He winks.

  “Sure.” I force a smile. “That’s great.”

  He disappears, and I exhale heavily and look around my office.

  Shit…

  I really need to get laid before I go on those conferences with him. I could get drunk and ask him for a labia appraisal. This could be a fucking nightmare waiting to happen. I open the calender and flick through to the conference dates that are marked in. I search through the drawer and find a lead pencil, and I scribble the words:

  No drinking at conference!

  At the end of the day, I walk out into reception. The girls have all left. I take out my phone and text Nathan.

  Coming now

  A message bounces back.

  I’m downstairs.

  I smile.

  xo

  I push the button on the elevator. It arrives, and I step in.

  “Hold the door, please,” someone calls.

  I put my hand in the door to hold it, and Henry rushes in.

  “Thanks.” He smiles. He’s undone his navy tie, and it is hanging loose around his crisp white shirt

  “How was your first day?” he asks.

  “Great.” I smile. “I had a wonderful day.”

  “Wait till I get you into surgery. I can’t wait to fry your brain.”

  I giggle.

  “Penis enlargements are my specialty.” He holds his hands apart to signify twelve inches and I laugh out loud just as the door opens.

  Henry puts his hand on my waist to lead me out, and I look up into the gaze of Nathan. He’s leaning against the wall, his hands in the pockets of his expensive charcoal suit trousers.

  He clenches his jaw at Henry.

  “Nathan.” I smile awkwardly as I walk over to him. “There you are.”

  He snaps his arm around my waist and bends to kiss me. His lips are a little open, and he sucks with just the right amount of suction. My knees weaken from under me.

  Oh, wait, what?

  “Hello,” Nathan says.

  “Good to see you again, Nathan,” Henry replies. “She did fantastic.” He smiles down at me. “She’s like a dream come true.”

  “Is that so?” Nathan says dryly.

  Oh crap.

  7

  Eliza

  Henry’s gaze holds Nathan’s for a moment longer than he should, and then he smiles.

  “Have a good night, you two.”

  Nathan gives him a smug smile. “We always do.” He puts his arm around my shoulders and pulls me to him.

  I’m still reeling from his kiss. My lips are tingling. What kind of kiss was that?

  Nathan watches Henry walking across the road. “I don’t like him.”

  “You don’t even know him.”

  His attention comes back to me. “Why did you tell him I was your boyfriend?”

  “Good idea playing along with that kiss, by the way,” I say quickly to try and distract him. “I think it looked realistic.”

  Nathan takes my hand and begins to power walk up the street. “Why did you tell him you had a boyfriend?” He demands as he pulls me along. “Did he make a pass at you?”

  “N-no,” I stammer, nearly running to keep up with him.

  “Did he make you feel uncomfortable?”

  “No.”

  “What is it then?” He growls.

  “Nathan, I just thought it would make me sound more reliable and grounded, you know?”

  He turns toward me and stops. “That’s fucking bullshit, Eliza, and you know it.”

  “You know what?” I huff. “Why the hell did you come and pick me up from work if you just want to be a jealous jerk?” I rip my hand out of his. “Screw you, I’ll go celebrate my first day by myself. Go home. You’ve ruined it now.” I storm off. If he wants dramatics, he can damn well have them.

  “I’m just saying that I don’t like him,” he says as he follows me.

  “Well, it’s lucky he isn’t your boss then, isn’t it? First, you don’t talk to me because of Samuel, and now you want to whine about my boss. Is there anything that doesn’t piss you off, Nathan?”

  “Nope. You’ve pretty much got it fucking covered right now, Eliza.”

  I turn on him like he’s the devil himself. “What the hell does that mean?”

  “Don’t give me that tone.” He growls.

  “Oh, but you can give me that tone, and that’s perfectly fine?” I turn and storm off, once again. “I don’t know what’s come over you lately; you’re acting fucking weird,” I bark. “Hot, cold, angry, sulking. Your mood swings are giving me whiplash.”

  “I just want to protect you,” he calls from behind me. “Where are we walking to?”

  “To a bar!” I snap. “I told you to go home. I’m not in the mood for a three-hour temper tantrum from a two-year-old.”

  “You want to go to the bar by yourself so you can pick up a fuck, is that it? Am I in the way, Eliza?”

  I roll my eyes. “I’m not even joking now. Go the fuck home.”

  I see a place that looks nice, and I storm inside and sit down at the bar. Nathan follows and sits down beside me.

  “What will it be?” the bartender asks.

  “I’ll have a margarita, please,” I say as I try to calm my anger.

  The bartender looks to Nathan, who holds up two fingers. “Make it two.”

  We sit in silence as I watch the bartender making our drinks.

  “Sorry,” Nathan finally mutters.

  “For what?”

  He pauses and I know he’s trying to get the wording right in his head. “For being jealous.”

  I turn to him. “So, you admit it?”

  He stares at me.

  “Why would you be jealous?”

  His eyes hold mine. “Because it’s only a matter of time until I lose you.”

  “Nathe,” I say softly and put my hand on his thigh. “Y
ou’re never going to lose me.”

  He takes my hand in his and plays with my thumbnail. “Yes, I am, Lize. Let’s face it,” he whispers.

  He’s insecure. How didn’t I see this before? Empathy fills me, and I smile up at my beautiful friend.

  “Why would you think that?” I whisper.

  “Here you go. Two margaritas.” The bartender puts our drinks on the bar.

  “Thank you,” we say in unison.

  Nathan shrugs and sips his margarita. “You keep telling me you’re horny and you need sex, and once you meet someone…”

  “You think I’m not going to need you if I meet someone?” I frown.

  He stays silent.

  “Nathan, I need you.” I smile softly. “In fact, I’ve spent the last ten years trying to find a man who lives up to you.”

  His eyes hold mine. “What does that mean?”

  “I don’t even know.”

  He frowns as if wanting to say something.

  “What?” I ask.

  “If I wasn’t… the way I am.” He pauses and looks around the bar as if processing his thoughts. “Would I be the kind of man you would want?”

  “You are the man I would want, Nathe,” I answer honestly. “Fate hasn’t been kind to me in this life.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I have this beautiful, smart and funny man who is so loyal and makes me so happy. But he can never give me…” My voice trails off. I smile sadly. “It doesn’t matter. We are not destined to be like that. I really wish that we were.”

  He stares at me, his jaw clenches, and I know that deep down that he knows I’m right.

  The truth sucks. Nathan and I are perfect for each other in every way.

  We know that. Everyone knows that.

  But I’m the wrong sex for him, and no matter how hard I try, I could never be what he needs.

  “You didn’t ask me how my first day was,” I say.

  “How was your first day?” he asks softly.

  “It was pretty crappy.” I smirk.

  A semblance of a smile crosses his face. “Why is that?”

  “Tomorrow, someone is getting their labia cut off and injected with fillers so it’s plump, and I have to watch.”