CHAPTER 8
Neela stalked towards the elevator finally her day was over but for once she wasn't looking forward to go home because then she would have to prepare for her 'date' with Ric.
To make matters worse when she entered the elevator, to her dismay Ray was in there, alone.
"Bloody hell…this seems to happen to us a lot." she muttered softly but it came out much louder than she expected.
She cringed.
"Great, Neela, that's going to make things way better between the two of you." she thought to herself.
To her surprise Ray actually cracked a small smile.
"My thoughts exactly." he stated slowly.
She gave him a faint smile.
"So…I heard about the bet." Ray said.
"Oh, God, please don't remind me." Neela groaned.
Ray laughed.
"Why don't you like Ric?" Ray asked curiously.
"Well I might have liked him…if it weren't for every freaking day that I work here he bloody keeps on nagging me to go out with him." Neela stated.
"Oh..." Ray said.
"Yeah…well he got his wish." Neela said with a glum sigh as the elevator reached the ER floor.
It's was only then that both of them realized that they had just had a conversation.
"Umm…well I have to get going." Ray said becoming uncomfortable again.
"Yeah…bye." Neela said slowly.
As Neela watched him walk away she couldn't help but smile.
"Maybe one good thing had come out off this stupid bet" she thought as she exited the hospital.
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Ray sighed deeply as he sat down in his car.
Had he really just had a conversation with Neela? And even though he didn't want to admit it, it sort of felt nice talking to her...it was just like old times.
Maybe Anna was right maybe he should just forget about the past and start fresh with Neela…it was not like he couldn't just be her friend.
He was distracted when he noticed Neela walking past his car heading for the main road.
On a spur of the moment decision he stuck his head out the window.
"Neela!" he called.
She whirled around.
She smiled when she saw him.
"Would you like a lift?" he questioned.
She looked taken back by his question.
She looked uncertain for a moment before a smile spread across her face.
"Sure, I think I'll take you up on that." she said and headed towards his car.
She opened the door and sat down in the front next to him.
Just then his phone rang.
"Hello?" he asked picking it up.
"Hey babe." Sara said cheerfully.
Ray couldn't believe his luck out of all the time she could have called she had to when he was in the car with his ex.
"So, has work finished?" she asked.
"Yeah, I'm heading home now." he told her.
"Okay, so I'll see you in a couple of minutes." she said.
"Yeah, I'm just giving a colleague from work a ride home." he said rushed out quickly.
Neela raised her eyebrows at him strangely.
"Umm…okay, do you remember we have dinner reservations tonight." Sara said slowly.
"Yeah, I remembered, bye Sara." he said.
"Bye." she replied.
He quickly put his phone away and started the car.
"Your wife?" Neela asked quietly.
He nodded hoping she would just drop the subject.
She looked uncertainly at him before proceeding with her next question.
"Ray…I don't mean to pry or anything…but did you ever tell her about…me?" Neela asked slowly.
"Which way…?" Ray asked quickly trying to ignore her question.
"Left." she stated.
"Ray?" she asked again.
He sighed in defeat he had to tell her.
"I told Sara I'd been engaged before but I didn't mention any specific names." he stated.
"Oh…okay." she said slowly.
"So, how are you finding being Chief like?" she asked him dropping the subject.
He sighed thankful that she hadn't continued pressing questions.
"It has its ups and downs." he remarked.
"Its testing you, isn't it?" she said with a grin.
"To the limits." he replied dryly.
"You go right here and it's the third apartment on the left." Neela stated.
He pulled up in front off it.
"So you live with Anna?" he asked.
"Yeah." she nodded.
"Thanks for the lift." Neela said.
"No problem." Ray stated.
"Well I've got a "date" to prepare for." she said with a sigh quoting speech marks at the word date.
Ray laughed.
"Have fun." he stated.
Neela groaned.
"If's that even humanly possible." she said as she got out of the car. "See ya tomorrow" she told him with a wave.
"Yeah, bye." Ray called.
He watched her retreating back until it disappeared before driving off.
He smiled as he thought to himself.
Maybe things were going to turn out better than he expected.
