The next six months were nothing short of perfect. She and Conrad spent all their free time together: talking, watching a movie or soccer game, and cooking. He was over her house as often as possible and on the weekends, they weren't working, they got away from Atlanta.

They spent a lot of time at the park, near the bar they had had their first drinks together. They sat on a blanket in each other's arms, eating a picnic, an ice cream or just enjoying the time they had together.

"Did you always want to be a doctor?" he asked as they ate an ice cream.

"No. I wanted to be a lot of things."

"Like what? Singer?"

"Singer?" she laughed. "You apparently have not heard me sing in the car or shower yet. No. I wanted to be a lawyer, then scientist, but I think that was because of the microscope and dissection kit my parents got me one year for my birthday. Then a journalist."

He gave her an amused look.

"What? I'm a good writer. I wrote for the school newspaper when I was in high school."

"I'm teasing you." He pulled her into him. "What were you like in high school?"

"I don't know. I wasn't popular or anything. In fact, I always said I was popular in the unpopular group. I made friends easily but mainly with guys. Teenage girls can be way too competitive, and I didn't see the point in wasting time doing that. I was only a straight A-student in English and Drama classes. I was on the tennis junior varsity team and track for hurdles."

"I'm impressed," he said. "Looks like you were an all-around kind of girl. Scholar, artist, and athlete. Guys must have been waiting in line to get your attention."

She let out an amused giggle. "You'd think."

He looked shocked. "What? It wasn't the case?"

"No. I only had one boyfriend in high school, and we dated three months."

"What happened?"

"Well, he broke up with me so that he could start dating his best friend, Rebecca. He left me with a broken heart and mononucleosis."

"What a jerk!" said Conrad appearing to be angry.

"Maybe he was at the time, but I think I dodged a bullet."

He raised a curious brow. "What do you mean?"

"I ran into him a couple of years ago at our high school reunion. He was bald and had taken at least 60 pounds."

She knelt in front of him and leaned in.

"I think I much prefer the man sitting in front of me and I kind of thank Chris for breaking up with me."

He pulled her in and kissed her. "I'm the one who should thank him for making you available."

"What about you?" she said smiling, "what were you like in high school?"

"Still the same good-looking guy you have in front of you. I was a science and math geek, so definitely not popular. I played soccer for the varsity team and when I wasn't doing that, I was working out." He pointed to his chest. "It takes work to look this good, you know."

She pushed him down on the blanket and stared into his eyes.

"Oh, I don't doubt that one minute. I'm kind of jealous of your patients, who get to look at you every chance they get, while I'm stuck pretending, I don't really care."

"I think we've made pretty good use of some of the amenities Chastain has to offer."

He was referring to some of the rooms they had escaped to for privacy.

"And I'm actually happy that I'm the only one who knows what's going on inside that head and body of yours when you and I cross paths casually while we're at work."

In response, she leaned down and kissed him again. God, she could never get tired of doing that. She loved the touch of his lips on hers.

"You never talk much about your father," she said, knowing obviously everything from Marshall but she wanted to hear it from him too.

He shrugged. "It used to be complicated. My father worked a lot when I was younger, and he was hardly ever around. I quickly realized making millions was his priority and not me. I shut him out. When my mom left, I blamed him, and we hardly spoke. When he came to Atlanta and joined the board, things got better, and I think we're in a good place."

"I can see that in your father, the important businessman. Hey, I get it, my parents were the same, but they always made sure that they spent quality time with Jeremy and me, every chance they could. Growing older, I realized that they sacrificed a lot so that neither Jeremy nor I ever missed out on anything. They didn't do it just for them, but also for us. I'm sure that is what your father also thinks about."

Conrad put his arm around her. "You know, when you told me about your parents, it made me rethink my relationship with my father. I started to think about how I would feel if something happened to him, and I never saw him again. It wasn't something I was comfortable with."

She nodded. "Life is short Conrad, and in the blink of an eye, it can all change and be taken away from you. I've decided to live my life to the fullest, not taking anything or anyone for granted, just be happy and be the best person I can be."

He smiled contemplating what she had said. "I'm right there with you on that one. Which is why, I'm spending as much time as I can with you. You mean a lot to me Julia and I'm grateful that someone, whoever it is, put you on my path."

"I'm grateful too."

They remained silent in each other's arms as the sun started to set and then left the park.