Lives Collide (Collide #1)

by Kristina Beck

  “No, I went to St. Clare’s Medical School north of where I grew up. That medical school has a good reputation, but the residency program here is much better.”

  “Do you wish you had a sister or brother? My sister, Alexa, is one of my best friends. I can’t imagine my life without her. She’s one year younger than me and went to a college near mine. I went to Johnson College because it wasn’t too far from where my parents live in New Jersey. She now lives here and works as a pharmaceutical sales representative.”

  “I do wish I had one or a bunch. It’s lonely growing up with no siblings. When I get married and am ready to have children, I want at least two so they have each other.”

  “When I fall for the right woman, I would like to have two or four children. With three, one always feels left out. I don’t want them right now though, since I’m just starting my residency.” I gaze at her. She stares right at me with a sweet smile on her face. What is she thinking about? Hopefully, what I’m thinking. I look down and notice we are holding hands and are knee to knee. When did that happen? It feels so natural being here with her.

  Finally, our food arrives. “Ladies first.” I motion. She takes the first nacho and starts to slowly feed me. How is being fed nachos by a beautiful woman so erotic? If I saw someone doing this at another table, I would think it’s completely absurd. I watch her put a nacho in her mouth, and I can’t keep my eyes off her lips. She licks her lips to get the food off her mouth.

  Because my mind is in the gutter, I drop my napkin on the floor. We both react at the same time and bend over to get it. We bang our heads.

  “Ouch!” We say in unison and start to laugh.

  “Are you okay, Jessica? I’m a doctor. Do you need me to check your head?” I ask playfully.

  “Why yes, doctor. Can you please feel my head right here? Or maybe you should kiss it to make it feel better. I bet you have magical lips.” She leans her face close to mine.

  I lean in closer as I rub my hand up her thigh. Gently, I touch the red spot on her forehead with my lips, lingering there for a few seconds. The electricity between us is thicker than the humidity in New York during the summer. I slowly lean away and skim my fingers along her jaw. On impulse, I brush my lips against hers. I pull away but stay close while we stare into each other’s eyes. Everything is in a haze.

  “How does it feel now? Are you all right?” I ask in a sultry voice.

  She nervously sips from her wineglass and sets it back down. “Perfect. I couldn’t ask for better service from any doctor. Do you act this way with all your patients?”

  “You are my only patient. I promise.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. I want to be the only one to look into those glowing green eyes of yours. They are quite breathtaking.”

  The loud noise of a chair scraping along the floor yanks us out of our bubble. We lean away from each other as if we’ve both suddenly remembered we are in a public place. I clear my throat to keep me sane.

  “Do you have any hobbies? Do you ski or run?” A good neutral question.

  “I’m sorry to say, I hate skiing. I tried it several times, but it’s not for me. As for running, I find it boring.”

  No skiing or running. That’s too bad. But then again, I haven’t gone skiing since my accident. I don’t even know if I could hold a ski pole.

  “I would rather go to the gym or exercise at home by myself. Right now, I have minimal time to exercise, with my work schedule.”

  It doesn’t look like it to me. You are beautiful from head to toe. I can only imagine what is under that dress. “I guess that means you won’t run with me if I ask you. I run quite often,” I say with my bottom lip sticking out. She laughs as her head falls back slightly. She has a natural beauty that’s even more radiant when she laughs.

  I am brought back to earth when she starts talking again. The time goes quickly as we talk about anything that comes to mind. Eating nachos and laughing without a care in the world.

  She stifles a yawn. “I’m sorry. It’s not easy to work the hours we residents do. I need to be up at four tomorrow morning. I haven’t had much sleep this week.”

  “I agree with you there and I only started in July.” I finish my beer and place it at the edge of the bar. “I’m lucky I have off tomorrow.”

  She looks at her watch. “On a normal night, I would force myself to be in bed by now. I’m surprised I’m awake. However, being here with you is the only place I want to be right now. It’s worth every minute I lose of sleep.” She squeezes my hand and looks directly into my eyes.

  The noise and energy in the bar are blocked from my mind. There could have been a bar fight, and I wouldn’t have noticed. I’d stay here all night with her if we could. But she needs to be at the hospital early in the morning.

  “Let me pay so we can leave.” I wave for the bartender.

  While we wait for the check, she searches through her bag. She pulls out some mints. “Want one?” she asks as she pops one into her mouth.

  “Please.”

  “Open up.” My eyebrows shoot up.

  I do as she says. She places one on my tongue as if it’s normal to do that. I play with my shirt buttons again. I’m not sure I can restrain myself much longer.

  I stand up from my stool and pull my wallet out of my pocket. “Where do you live? Should I call you a taxi? My car is parked too far away.”

  “I live in the Greenhouse Apartments. Do you know where they are?”

  “Yes, I do. I pass them often when I go to the hospital. I would love to walk you home. I don’t want you to walk alone at this time of night.”

  “That would be nice. Thank you.” The bartender comes over with the check, and I pay it. Then I put my hand on her lower back and lead her out the door.

  We walk part of the way to her apartment in silence. We talked nonstop but I forgot to ask her one particular question. I turn slightly toward her as we continue walking. “What made you want to become a pediatrician?”

  She starts swinging her arms back and forth, with a smile on her face. “Let’s see. The obvious one is I love children. I look forward to working with all the different age groups. I can have patients ranging from newborns to late teenage years. This field is stimulating as well as complicated, because I need to know different practices for the variety of age groups. There’s a huge difference in developmental, psychological, and physical needs between these ages. I love to nurture and educate them and their families. I could possibly take care of a child from birth until they are in their teens. It would be amazing to see the developmental changes in one person during a long period of time. When I have a baby as a patient, it’s a new life I’m taking a part of and caring for. However, there are times when I see a child suffering from a horrible disease or sickness. If I can help a child recover or make them smile, it’s all worth it at the end of the day.” She stops talking abruptly and covers her mouth. “I’m sorry. I got a little carried away. I hope I didn’t lose you there.”

  I put my arm around her shoulders and pull her close. “Actually, you did the opposite. It’s nice to hear how passionate you are about helping others and not just the paycheck you’ll receive.” She wraps her arm around my lower back and pulls me closer. If it’s even possible to get closer to one another.

  “Do you want to work in a hospital after your residency, or would you like to open up your own pediatric practice?”

  “One day I would, but it’ll be expensive. I have debt from school. My parents helped me with tuition, but I still have some small loans to pay off. I’d also like to gain more experience through the hospital before then.”

  “Isn’t this your apartment complex?” I say as I tug her hand lightly to stop her.

  “We’re here already? That’s too bad.” She sighs. “My focus was on you, not where we were walking. I would have passed it if you didn’t say something.” She giggles.

  “Which apartment is yours?”

  “Number fifteen on the first floor to the
left. A lot of medical students and residents live in this large apartment complex. They’re nothing special, but the rent is cheap. To cut out more expenses, I decided to get a roommate since I have a spare bedroom. We don’t see each other often because our schedules are different.”

  “Do you live nearby?”

  I point in the direction where my apartment is. “I live about ten minutes in that direction from here by car. The apartment is small and not big enough to have a roommate. I enjoy my privacy. I’ll show it to you some time, if you would like.”

  There’s her beautiful smile again.

  “I’d love to.”

  We arrive at her door, and it’s time to say good night. I hear something behind us. I turn around to see where it’s coming from. The lighting in the hallway is dull, but I think I see two people kissing like mad. They clearly have the same thoughts as I do. They hear us, so they stop immediately. Jessica and I both laugh and turn toward her door.

  Should I kiss her or not? I really want to kiss her, especially after we spent the past hours together. The soft kiss I gave her at the bar made me desire her even more. Why am I questioning myself? I’m usually a confident man, but with her it’s different. I have never tried to impress a woman before. This is how I know she is different from other women I’ve met.

  “I had a great time tonight. It was the last thing I thought I would be doing when I woke up this morning. I would love to see you again,” I say.

  “I enjoyed myself too. I don’t want the night to end, but my roommate is actually home tonight. Plus, I need to get up early. I’d love to see you again.” She looks at her feet for a second and then up at me through her long eyelashes. “I have a confession. I deliberately went to your table at orientation because I saw you from my table. I’m usually not so brave, but I felt this pull toward you. I thought you were so handsome. I just had to introduce myself.”

  “I’m glad you did. This has been a day I will never forget. If you give me your phone number, can I call you tomorrow night? When is your shift done at the hospital?”

  “Give me a call after five. I should be home by then.” She pulls out a pen and writes her phone number on the palm of my hand. How can something like this send vibrations through my body? I need to leave before I push her against the wall and do things to her I shouldn’t. Well, at least not on the first date.

  She opens her bag and searches for her keys. As I start to walk away, she asks softly, “Aren’t you going to kiss me good night?” She plays with her hair nervously as she waits for my reaction. I hear the keys jiggling in her hand.

  “Would you like me to kiss you?” I ask. Wishing I could run to her rather than walk.

  She nods without hesitation. I check to see if the other couple down the hall is gone. We are alone in the hallway. I stand in front of her. We are both breathing faster. I see the anticipation in her eyes. We are only inches away from each other now.

  “I have been wanting to kiss you all night. Especially after the little kiss you gave me. You are such a tease,” she says as she moves closer to me.

  “I didn’t notice because I was too busy staring at your lips. That brief kiss before was not enough. But if I kiss you now, I won’t be able to stop.”

  “What if I don’t want you to stop?” She looks at me with seductive eyes.

  I cup her face with my hands and lean into her slowly. When our lips touch, we simply blend into one. Her lips are warm and soft. We know exactly how to kiss each other without thinking about it. It’s better than I could have ever imagined. This night has been building up to this moment. My hands run through her silky auburn hair, then down her body, eventually resting on her backside. I pull her closer to me, not leaving any space between us. She lets out a slight moan. Then it hits me out of nowhere, like a billboard in Las Vegas. Soul mates.

  We stand there kissing for seconds, minutes…I have no idea. I hear her purse and keys fall to the ground. I graze her neck. She tastes so sweet on my lips. I want to taste every part of her body every day. I feel like a teenager with buzzing hormones.

  Eventually, we come up for air. Her lips are red and swollen. Her eyes are heavy, hopefully for desire for me and not because she’s tired. I hate that her roommate is home. I want to kiss her for hours, among other things. For the second time, I need to leave. I must force myself to leave.

  We slowly let go of each other. I already miss her touch. Our eyes lock, and I immediately see our future together. “Sweet dreams, Jessica,” I say with a stupid grin on my face. When did I become so soft? As I walk away, I can truly say, I will marry her someday. Something tells me she feels it too.

  Chapter 4

  Lisa

  The campus at Clarion University of Physicians and Surgeons is so beautiful in September. The last time I was here was in the dead of winter. It’s not just the one-hundred-year-old historical buildings that are beautiful in the sunshine. The beauty also comes from the lively surroundings.

  Large old oak and maple trees are scattered in every direction. They are still lush with dark-green foliage. Roots push up out of the ground, making the sidewalks uneven. Squirrels run around, collecting nuts or food of some kind. A pigeon pecks at a piece of bread on the ground near a garbage can. The weather still holds remnants of the summer heat, balanced by a slight breeze blowing through the trees. Students lie on the warm, bright-green grass, studying, napping, or socializing. Some play Frisbee or kick a soccer ball around. I’m enjoying myself so much I almost pass the sign for orientation.

  I turn in the direction of the sign and hear music in the distance. There’s a group of students in front of me, but I can’t see where they are walking because I’m too short. I move to the side and smile instantly. There’s a massive building ahead, which I assume is the auditorium. A huge rainbow made of balloons frames the entrance, and a big sign announces, Welcome to Orientation. My mother loved rainbows. When I see them, a sense of peace settles through me, as if she’s watching over me. The rainbow arch pumps me with confidence as I approach the building. When I arrive at the entrance, to the right a band plays soft rock music. To the left, girls in red hand out welcome envelopes. I take one and walk through the doors.

  I spin around in awe. Wow, this place is impressive. The undergraduate orientation at Johnson College was nothing compared to this. What a pleasant surprise. People are here already, but it’s not too crowded. I should take advantage and walk around before lines form at the tables. The welcome envelope has a layout of the tables and what they represent: faculty, different curriculums, financial aid, campus health clinic, and hopefully some free food.

  I find some tables particularly interesting. These have fourth-year and freshly graduated medical students talking about personal experiences during medical school. I have some questions and would love to hear what an actual medical student would say. I search for the nearest one on my map.

  I try to act like I know what I’m doing as I approach the table. There’s a line already, but I’m in no rush. A young man stands behind the table, with his back toward us. He’s easily over six feet tall with wavy light-brown short hair. His backside seems quite attractive in his khakis.

  What? Where the hell did that thought come from? I’m here for medical school, not for my hormones. He has such broad shoulders though. I wonder what it would feel like to touch them. Stop it, Lisa!

  Unfortunately, I don’t see his face, because he seems quite enraptured with a redhead behind the table. Isn’t he supposed to help the new students? Can’t he see the people waiting at his table? Probably not, since he only has eyes for her. He’s acting like a puppy dog, hanging on her every word. He’s probably drooling. Maybe I should offer him a tissue. She is quite beautiful though, with her long auburn hair and tall, slender body. Her hair is the type you would see on a shampoo commercial. It dazzles in the light and looks so smooth and bouncy. It must be nice to have such beauty.

  The other students are impatient as well. I clear my throat to get his att
ention, but he doesn’t even acknowledge me. After waiting again for what feels like an eternity, I slam some pamphlets back on the table and storm off. He must have heard me that time, because he calls out to me, but I walk away, never looking back. Why would they have someone like him here to represent the medical school? All he wants to do is pick up students, or whoever she is. Typical!

  “Where should I go next?” I ask myself. I walk around and search to see what’s interesting. After about a half hour, I see a table representing the faculty in the psychiatry department. As I approach, I feel something slam into my hip. I lose my balance and drop my things on the floor. “Shit.” My bag slides off my shoulder and falls open on the ground. My phone flies out, along with empty candy wrappers, notebooks, and, of all things, a tampon. Great! How mortifying! A guy tries to help me pick up my stuff. I quickly rip my things out of his hands. My face burns and must glow like a fireball.

  After I put my things back in my bag, I straighten, and as I walk away, I glance at him. I do a double take. Well, hello there. He’s quite handsome. Blond disheveled hair, a bit of stubble, and chocolate-brown eyes. Wow, does he have long eyelashes. He’s only a few inches taller than me. I don’t need to look up too high. Out of embarrassment for staring at him, I turn away, but he grabs my arm lightly.

  “Sorry about that. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going. Did I hurt you?”

  “No, no, you didn’t hurt me. I’m just a little embarrassed.”

  “Why are you embarrassed? I’m the one who ran into you. I should be the one who’s embarrassed. What’s your name, blue eyes?” he asks with a crooked smile.

  “Lisa…Lisa Schmitt.”

  He takes my hand and kisses the inside of my palm. Oh my gosh, that just vibrated through my entire body. I imagine myself as a character in one of my steamy romance books. Who kisses your palm when you first meet him? Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining. Am I blushing even more?

  “Nice to meet you, blue eyes. I’m Bryant Callahan.”

  His name sounds fancy or like someone with money. Or one you would hear in movies.