"He broke up with you, Neela?" He felt her nod. "And you're okay with this?" Ray felt confused.
"I didn't think I was." Neela placed her head on Ray's lap. "And yet, I can't help but feel relieved suddenly." She turned and lay on her back, staring up at Ray. "He told me that he found someone else in Iraq. A fellow Soldier, so she knows and understands his need to serve country. When he told me, I was very hurt and I felt absolutely gutted, but right now, it's as though it were just a small prick." She sat up and cupped Ray's face in her hands. "It's as though I'm where I should be, with who I should be with." She gently kissed him.
Ray didn't know how to respond. I don't want to be just a rebound for her, but if that's what she wants right now, who am I to argue? He thought as he kissed her back. Without warning, Ray pushed her away. "God, Neela, I want this, but I don't want to be some sort of rebound for you." He stood up and headed into the kitchen.
"You think you're the rebound?" Neela followed him and her voice had a hint of surprise.
Ray closed the door to the fridge and looked at her. "You just broke up with Michael and now you're kissing me and what am I supposed to think?" He pouted.
"You don't get it, do you?" Neela leaned against the table. "You're not the rebound."
"Let's see. Let's define rebound." Ray popped the top on his beer. "It's the person you seek comfort from when you lose the one that you were dating."
"I sought comfort in Michael's arms because…" She stopped and looked at Ray.
"Why?" Ray leaned against the counter, arms crossed against his chest. Neela looked around as if to find support, but finding none, she looked back at Ray and pouted. "Don't start your pouting. It only turns me on." He smiled.
"Michael was the rebound, so to speak." Neela gathered her courage. "I thought that, well," She sighed heavily. "I thought that you wouldn't be interested in me and he was. We've been only civil to each other, that's been the case, but probably more on my part because you're well, I don't know, but…" Her words were cut off by his lips. When she pulled away for air, she looked up at him. "I don't know when or where it happened, Ray, but I fell in love with you along the way." She whispered. "Maybe that's why right now Michael breaking up with me isn't hurting the way that it would if I had loved him just a quarter of how much I love you." Ray smiled. He had so much to tell her, but he knew now wasn't the time to say anything. "Aren't you going to say anything, Ray?"
"I'm glad you came tonight." He grabbed his beer and sat back on the couch.
Neela was flabbergasted. She stared at Ray. "I tell you I love you and all you say back is 'I am glad you came tonight'?" She sat at the table and pouted.
Ray looked at her. "What do you want me to tell you that I haven't told you?"
"That you love me too."
Ray laughed. "I've told you. But, have you actually heard it?"
Neela looked up. "Excuse me?"
"Yeah. It was about three weeks ago." He looked intently at her. "Well, I was pretty drunk, so maybe you didn't take it seriously. But, Neela, you know, don't you, that I love you? Why do you think I hated Gallant so much?" Ray took his turn and pouted. He ran his fingers through his hair, trying to think of what else to say. He was never good at loving someone. Most of the girls he was involved with, he'd say he loved them to sleep with them and it usually worked. Neela was different. He didn't want to tell her he loved her just for one night. He wanted it to be forever.
Neela came over and straddled his lap and kissed him. "I thought it was because he was a better doctor." She teased.
Ray wrapped his arms around Neela's waist. "I have loved you from the moment I saw you. Why do you think, when Abby tossed you out, I offered up my room?"
"To cover rent and just annoy the hell out of me." Neela smiled.
"Well, okay, that too, but it was because I wanted…needed…to be around you." Ray was unsure of how to say everything he was thinking. He knew he wanted Neela to know how much he loved her, but words wouldn't come.
Neela leaned in, touching her forehead to his. "You are quite the enigma." She kissed his forehead. "How's the nose?"
"Well, it's still attached to my face." He could feel her breath on his skin and he felt a hunger he'd never known.
"It hurt?" Her hands softly traced the outlines of the bandages on the bridge of his nose.
"Only when I sneeze."
She tenderly kissed the tip of his nose. "You're pouting, Ray."
"Am I?" Ray pretended to be shocked.
"Yes, and for once, you don't have to pout to get me to do what you want." Neela began to kiss him. Ray's body responded and he held her to close to him.
Neela sat on the couch in the Staff Lounge and watched Ray pour a cup of coffee. "Damn that pout of yours."
Ray sat next to her. "You know you love it."
Abby came in and handed Ray what had been thrown at him a couple days earlier. "You forget about this?"
Ray took the package. "I don't know if I even want to know what it is."
"Well, I do!" Neela quipped and took the box. She ripped it open. "Oh my God, Ray!" She looked at him with wonder in her eyes.