Chapter 18

Everyone was going to the back, so I closed up my computer and headed to the back…when I got to the Medical Office, there was a dozen red roses in a beautiful blue glass vase…I went over and saw there was a card…and it said:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nyla,

I'm really glad you're doing better…How about dinner later?

Mark

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thinking out loud, I said, "That little shit…" From behind me a familiar deep voice with a beautiful southern accent said, "Yea, I know…but how do you break the ice to someone you hurt?" I couldn't turn around for fear of crying…and I said, "Mark, you didn't have to do this, ya know…" Mark said, "Of course not, I could have just kept stalking around here like a raving lunatic for a couple more months trying not to feel sorry for myself…that I said such hateful, awful things to you…and not said anything close to I'm sorry, since we started talking again."

I said, "Mark, you don't have to apologize for what you said, you was only saying what you thought…besides you had every right to say anything to me…I should of told you what happened, when it happened." Mark said, "It was because of that night that you cried that whole week, wasn't it?" I nodded and said, "Yea…" And kept my head down…Mark said, "I wish, you would of just told me…I probably would of taken it a lot better and easier for that matter…we could of dealt with it…" I said, "Mark, I never meant for any of it to happen…I don't regret that it happened…I wanted it to…I just wouldn't admit it…I was in total denial about my feelings for you…and then the morning after, I could of kicked myself, cause that's not how I wanted things to go down between us…I would of loved for you to remember…you was so gentle and sweet, loving, caring…everything was perfect."

Mark said, "Screw me remembering…I could care less if I remembered, I am glad you remembered and that you thought it was perfect…obviously no, I wouldn't have wanted us to be drunk when we did that…but it happened…if we can get past this, I would really like us to try this again…and obviously from now on neither one of us is allowed to drink before bed…" I put my hand over my mouth and started laughing and said, "I can't believe you said that." Mark walked over and turned me around, and saw the tears sliding down my cheeks…he whipped them away and picked me up and sat me on the exam table, then put one hand on either side of my knees and leaned against it, making sure he was eye level with me and said, "I said it…the question is, what are you going to do about it…and no more of that crying shit…every time I see you cry it breaks my heart…"

I didn't say anything, I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him…he slid me off the table and held me back…I wrapped my legs around his waist and he put his hands under my butt so I wouldn't fall…I said, "You know something…you're making me into such a girl…" Mark said, "Good…I'd rather have you as a girl, then not one…I guess." I leaned back a little to look Mark in the eye and I said, "I think we could give this another shot…well since technically we never had a first shot, then this would be a first shot…" Mark said, "I think that's a great idea."

Mark set me on my feet and he started to walk away when I said, "Wait a minute…Get your dead ass back over here…there's just something I've been dying to do…" Mark stood in front of me and said, "What?" I put my hands on his cheeks and slid them back and grabbed his hair and pulled him to my lips…and we stood there in the medical room kissing for a good….oh…25 minutes…Before I heard Amy's voice say, "Damn, Lala…girl, get you some of that…" We looked over and everyone was standing in the doorway watching us…Mark started to walk over and say something…when I grabbed his arm and said, "Uh-uh, learn to ignore them…I have…" Mark shrugged his shoulders and we went back to kissing…Mark picked me up and held onto me as we were kissing…

We went to dinner later that night and had a really wonderful time…as far as our future…who knows…this isn't the end…it's just the beginning…