Previously
I remember meeting and mingling with important clientele, but the person I remember the most was the bartender, James. He was hot and he was showing interest in ME, this small town girl from the middle of nowhere. We hit it off, but Angela and I left before I had the chance to exchange numbers with him. I believe in destiny and fate, so I never wonder about missed opportunities, if it was meant to be, I would see him again.
*****
BPOV
With my large work load at the magazine and acclimating myself to city life, the next month flew by faster than I ever could have imagined. Angela and I developed our routine.
She was a morning person and therefore every day I was greeted with the smell of fresh brewed coffee. I would set out the stuff for breakfast, normally just simple things like bagels or cereal.
We were both clean freaks so there was no issue in keeping the apartment cleaned, and we were both fabulous cooks, so we took turn making our meals. We worked together like a fine oiled machine.
The two of us had decided after the club opening that every month on the 29th, we would make a girls night and venture out onto the streets of NYC. We wanted to celebrate our survival as city girls, and while we may not be natives, we were definitely born for New York.
We hadn't made any decisions yet on where we would be going exactly, but I kinda had my heart set on Inc. If I was completely honest with myself, I was excited to see if James still worked there.
"Hey Ang, what do you say we head out to Inc. tonight?" I asked, hoping she wouldn't be able to read my high-school-crush expression.
I was wrong, "Oooo, are you wanting to go there for any particular barten...I mean reason Bella?" she teased.
After a long discussion, followed by a pillow fight, we decided that tonight we would, in fact head back to Inc. I almost squealed out loud, but reigned it in at the last minute.
In the past, I hadn't ever been the type of girl that went to a bar often enough to get to know the bartenders, but I was open to making an exception.
I had gone for a completely different look for this evening, instead of chic played-down elegant, I was going for more grunge. I donned my chucks, but they went perfectly with my crazy big hair and my tight lacy dress. It was a bit on the small side, but was definitely becoming one of my favorite dresses.
I had worn it to work a few weeks ago to the magazine and people wouldn't stop commenting on it. I thought I'd try it out this evening and maybe get a little lucky. I giggled to myself.
Hah! I'd never set out to get lucky in my entire life.
Yep, I was still a virgin at 23 and hadn't had a serious committed relationship since I was in High School and that one didn't even last long enough for things to get past second base.
As we headed out for the evening, we were trying to space things out so we wouldn't show up to the club looking too eager, especially since it had been a month since Angela and I had gone out.
She'd been spending all her free time with Ben and I had a feeling that come the end of our 6 month trial stay in this apartment, she would be moving in with him if she was offered a permanent spot at the magazine, which I knew she would be. This meant I would eventually have to find a new room mate, or figure something else out. However, Ben wouldn't be joining us this evening, and that meant no distraction for Angela if James did happen to be working tonight.
"Good evening ladies, you are both looking lovely tonight. Where are we off to?" Felix asked as he greeted us outside the door of the apartment building.
He held the car door open for us and helped us into the car.
"We are heading to Inc Felix, and you are looking quite handsome yourself," I flirted.
Being a New York girl was definitely bringing out a different side of me. I felt more confident, independent, and dare I say frisky?
He gave a little chuckle as he put the car in drive and pulled into traffic.
Upon our arrival at the club, we had been put on the VIP list so we walked straight in ahead of all the people who were standing in line. It felt like we were celebrities, which I suppose in our own minds we were. But what girl isn't her own personal goddess?
As soon as we were in we headed for the bar.
I immediately started looking around the crowed room. It was obvious to Angela that I was looking for someone.
"Don't hurt yourself Bella, your neck is not designed to go 360."
"Shut it!' I laughed back at her.
Then, there he was, looking just as good as he did last time with his spiked dirty blond hair, and his tight white shirt, he looked a little scruffier since the last time I had seen him and he seemed to be off in his own world when I appeared in front of him. He snapped out of his haze and we quickly started into a conversation.
"Well, well" he started, "If it isn't my gorgeous Bella. You don't know how much I wanted to see you. I guess wishes really do come true." His eyes danced as he spoke to me. I could tell by the look he was giving me, that he truly did want to see me.
"Hello James, we were just stopping in for a couple of drinks. I'm surprised to see you here." I lied. I was hoping and praying that he would be here, but I didn't want to seem to desperate.
"Hey, I'll be right back, ok? What would you two lovelies like to drink?"
"Um..I'm not sure, what do you make that's good."
"Don't worry gorgeous, I gotcha covered." He winked at me as he walked away.
He left to get our drinks and fill the drink orders for others scattered around the bar, waving their money in the air.
This gave me a chance to take a look around the club. The last time we were here, I was too nervous and too busy to actually take in the atmosphere. Inc was definitely not like the old dives back home. No. This place was classy. All of the patrons were very well dressed. You could tell there was A LOT of money in this room.
He brought me back my drink, and it was delicious. It was sweet with a hint of rum. It went down down smooth, just the way I like it.
When I asked him to make me another, I also asked what it was called. He gave me a mischievous grin as he whispered, "I made it up especially for you. I haven't named it just yet, but I was thinking of something like the Bell Banger. What do you think?" He snickered.
I couldn't help myself as I reached over the bar and held his hand and said "I love it," and winked.
We continued to chat and flirt with each other and every once in a while, he would help someone else at the bar and give them attention but he would always come back around to me.
I vaguely remember Ben showing up and ushering Angela out of there. I told her to take the car and James offered to get me home safely. I had no reason to doubt him, he worked at a well respected lounge.
I couldn't remember how many drinks I had, but I was definitely feeling the effects of the Bell Banger. I couldn't stop smiling and the music that was bumping in the club had me moving on the stool. I kept seeing James look at me. If another guy walked up to me while I was sitting there James was quick to make it known that I was off limits.
"Hey Bella, I get done in about 15 minutes, would you like to go to my place for a little while before I take you home?"
Oh. My. God...I can't believe he just asked me that, I mean do I turn him down, because I don't want to but do I really want to go to his place this late?
Without a further thought, I downed the rest of my drink and nodded my head yes. Probably a little bit more vigorously than I should have.
After 20 minutes, we were headed out of the club, but instead of hailing a cab, he said it was a short enough distance and since I wasn't wearing heels we could just walk.
We got to his apartment building, I don't know what I was expecting, low-class dark and dreary but it looked like something out of a movie. It wasn't classy, it wasn't even really nice, but I knew that not everyone could afford to live the way Angela and I had been living in New York. We were fortunate that our reputable magazine had the decency to take care of its employees, even their interns. I sighed and followed him to his door on the second floor. At least there wasn't anybody passed out on the stairs.
Stepping into his apartment, made me a little uncomfortable. He seemed to keep it clean, and once the lights were flipped on I felt like I might be able to relax a little bit more. After he shut the door, he proceeded to lock us in. It was like stepping into Fort Knox, I think I counted at least four locks. Cue the nerves, I probably should have made sure Angela knew I was coming over here, or that someone knew I was going to be at James'.
"James, I don't know how long I can stay. Angela will be expecting me, so I can only stay for a little while."
"How about a quick drink, we'll sit and talk and then I'll call you a cab."
"Sure, do you have any coke?" It wasn't until he answered me that I realized what I had asked for.
"Wow, I didn't realize you were into that type of hard core stuff Bella, or are you sure you don't have another nickname, like Izzy?" With a smirk on his face, he walked a little closer to me.
"NO! Coke as in Coca Cola, I don't think I should have any more alcohol this evening, I am already feeling a little sleepy," I said with a yawn.
"With or without alcohol?" He asked. "How about a lime wedge with that?" He was already in the kitchen preparing the drink and I really couldn't turn anything down that came with a lime wedge.
I sauntered into the kitchen and leaned against the counter next to him to watch him work. Even though this wasn't the bar, he was still in his element. He flipped the bottle into the air and caught it behind his back before pouring the Whiskey in with the coke. With a flick of his wrist, he had added the lime wedge, pure perfection. I sighed.
After a few flirty glances while he put things away and handed me my drink, he placed his hands on my hips and reached down to grab my hand. Bringing it up to his mouth, he licked the inside of my left wrist and poured some salt on it. He slowly licked it again, before bringing the lime wedge from my drink to his mouth and sucking on it.
I had never had any guy show me this kind of attention before, of course it's not like I had spent a lot of time in a bar. This is definitely not a distraction I need right now.
I couldn't resist when he leaned in for a kiss, anticipating the lime that would linger on his lips, awaiting the hint of whiskey that was likely still lingering on his breath.
He tasted better than I imagined and the kiss turned from tender to heated within a matter of seconds.
I pushed against his chest and he stepped back. Dropping his hands from my hips to lace his fingers with mine and pulled me to the couch for more of the heated make-out session. The alcohol continued to course through my system and I could barely keep my eyes open.
When I knew I was a light weight, why did I think drinking so much would be a good idea?
*****
When I awoke early the next morning, I was in my own room, with no recollection of being brought home. The sun had yet to rise and I had no idea what time it was, I also had a pounding headache and goose bumps rose on my flesh.
"Bella, Bella wake up." A quiet voice whispered beside me.
I opened one eye to see Angela standing there looking way too awake for a Tuesday morning.
Wait, it was Tuesday and I had to be at work for a staff meeting this morning. Ugh, maybe we should have thought this through before we went out on a week night.
I shot out of bed only to stumble backwards and plop back down, I felt like my head weighed a hundred pounds.
"Angela, what time is it?" I groaned.
"It's about 7:15, if you hurry through your morning routine, we'll be right on time," she calmly stated.
Whatever, I didn't have time to contemplate this further. We needed to get to work on time and I wasn't about to screw anything up. I'd deal with this later, when I had more time to think and figure out what the Hell happened after I had that last drink with James.
EPOV
"Dr. Cullen, could I see you for a consult?" Addison poked her head into the locker room.
I hadn't quite made it out of my coat, so I followed her out the door.
Maybe I'd get to go home after this patient. I just couldn't say no. She was too nice, always roping me into doing something for her. I didn't mind. It's not like I had a family of my own to go home to, not like she did.
When I walked into the room and saw the very pregnant strawberry blond, whom I was introduced to as Tanya, I felt a slight pang of jealousy of the man holding her hand and smoothing her sweaty hair away from her face. She looked like she had been in labor for quite some time, several hours at the least. I looked over her chart and looked back to Addison.
"Hello Tanya, how are you feeling?" Addison softly asked the woman. She became livid but after some reassurance from her husband and a quiet whisper in her ear, she didn't say anything.
It was times like this that I wondered why I even went into medicine. I loved saving lives, and I loved being around women, but it was a constant reminder of what was missing from my life.
"She's actually hoping that it will end soon, we've been here for almost 24 hours, and she's been in labor pretty much the whole time, is there anything you can do?" her husband, Lucas answered for her.
On the outside, he seemed to be rather calm, but I know for him to see his wife that way it must be tearing him up inside. At least she seemed to be perfectly healthy, and wasn't in any danger. But still that is a little long to let her go when they could further induce her.
"Dr. Montgomery can I speak with you outside please?" I whispered to Addison. As she quietly followed me out and shut the door.
"I don't know what to do Edward. She's in a lot of pain, but progressing naturally. There's nothing dangerous with letting her continue, this is what they did for centuries but I feel so bad. She would prefer to not have a C-Section, and I am granting her that but this is the longest I think I have ever seen a woman in labor."
"It's your call to make, but I wouldn't let her go past 36 hours if you can help it. And I'd ask Carlisle, even though he's not an OB/GYN he still has a lot of experience. My mother had three healthy children and he was there for those births, as well as when my sister-in-law had her daughter. Actually Rose might be a good person to ask, she was in labor for 29 hours and at that time, I had only been a resident for a short while, so I hadn't seen anything like that. In fact, that could have something to do with her, as in Roses', likelihood of never having another baby."
I remember her devastation when her OB told her that. She had me look over her charts at the time, and it wasn't impossible but her chances were certainly slim. She had been devastated and it had pushed her further into Postpartum depression.
As she thanked me and went back into the room, I watched from the sidelines.
It happened so often. Working in this department, we commonly interacted with each others patients. If I had an appointment scheduled, but a labor came up I knew she would cover for me and I would do the same.
Ever since my birthday a little over a week ago, I felt like my time was slowly running out. Yes, I had a great career and was one of the youngest in my field, but I didn't just want to be a doctor. There were more things I wanted to do, I had just been putting them off.
I had one more year before I turned the big 3-0. I had so many things I wanted to accomplish and thought I would have accomplished by now, that I felt like time was just passing me by. I had high hopes for this year. With Jaz and Ali getting married, they say things happen in threes, so hopefully something good would come for Em & Rose and the last good thing could somehow involve me.
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Sorry the EPOV was short, but I wanted to give some sort of information about him in there. This story is going somewhere, I promise. IT is going somewhere good. Let me know what you thought and hopefully you all want the next chapter that is in the works! Would you be interested in seeing the outfits that I find for them? Anything I am leaving out that you might want to see. There will be more smut in later chapters, and it won't involve James, he's not a main character :)
Also, I happen to know very little about being a doctor, so please forgive me. Internet research can only be so helpful.
Have a great weekend!
