“You wouldn’t try. And I love you for that. But I think it’s best we end this now, before we ruin each other.” Love walked into the bathroom and slammed the door.
Drake pounded on it. “Love.”
He kept knocking, calling her name, begging her to talk to him. But Love just leaned against the panel and cried silently.
* * *
Drake knocked on the door, waited until he heard “come in” before opening it.
Dr. Leon was seated at his desk. “Drake. What brings you here?”
“I wanted to believe that you’d get over it, that you’d accept me.” Drake paced the office. After Love had barricaded herself in the bathroom, he’d stormed out and driven around, turning everything over in his mind.
It was curious timing, receiving the acceptance letter from Johns Hopkins. Almost too coincidental. Then it made sense. His own father hand-delivered the letter, the same day Love’s father apologized and asked for forgiveness…? A call to the admissions office confirmed his suspicions. His father had worked with hers, sending over glowing recommendations to their friends at Johns Hopkins, calling in a few favors, and voila!
Drake had just left his dad. He’d yelled at him, not just about this, but about everything that he’d ever done to hurt him. And like every other time his father felt like his back was against the wall, he’d responded in kind. It had been a waste of time, talking to someone who didn’t know how to listen. Instead of arguing with him any longer, Drake had walked away and now he found himself staring at the man that he’d thought was better than his father.
“I don’t know what problem you have with me, but I would have never hurt your daughter. I love her too much. I wanted a life with her, and I was willing to give that fellowship up for her. But I guess I should congratulate you. Because of your interference, your manipulations, she ended it. You got your wish. Your daughter will not be married to me much longer. Maybe she can take that asshole Derrick back so he can cheat on her again.”
“Drake,” Dr. Leon said.
“No, you don’t have to say anything. I’m going to Baltimore. Love made the decision for me. You’re happy, huh?”
“Drake—”
“Tell me something.” Drake hung his head, took a deep breath and faced Dr. Leon. “When did you start hating me so much? What did I ever do to you? I thought we were better than that. You were more important to me than my own father.”
“I don’t hate you.”
“Then what is it?” Drake threw his arms out in frustration. “Why?”
“You were right. Love was right. I look at you and I see myself. And my protective instincts kicked in. I didn’t want my daughter to fall in love with someone like me.”
Drake let out a strained snicker.
“It doesn’t mean that I don’t care about you, son. I do. I still think this may be the best thing for both of you. This way you can follow your dream. You worked hard for it.”
His dream. Yes, he had dreamed of a Johns Hopkins fellowship, followed by a prolific career. But now a woman dominated his dreams. And his every thought.
“Great,” he said with no emotion in his tone. “Just so you know, though. None of that matters to me.”
CHAPTER 18
Love was miserable, and it was all her fault. She’d been so scared of being hurt that she’d hurt herself in the process. Drake had told her that he wasn’t going to take the job, had begged her to listen to him, but no… She couldn’t hear him past the roaring in her brain. The truth was she’d been happier with Drake, as his wife, than she’d ever been in her life. It was like she’d been looking through a peephole for her entire life, but when he kissed her, when he loved her, it was like he’d opened up the window to her soul. Who knew that her best friend would be the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with?
Then she had to go and mess it up. She’d sent Drake packing when it was the last thing she wanted to do. The worst part? He’d actually left, walked out of her life.
Love had always made fun of silly women who took to bed after a breakup. She’d thought that would never be her, until it was. Dr. Lovely Grace Washington was licking her wounds, eating cookies and ice cream bars and potato chips—and nothing else. All junk food, all day. The last time she’d looked at herself in the mirror, her hair was a mass of naps on her head, she had chocolate on the corner of her mouth and crud in her eyes. That was yesterday. She could only imagine what she looked like today.
She’d tried to rationalize it. Drake was her longest friend; they’d cut their teeth together. She had every right to mourn the end of their relationship, especially since it could also be the end of the friendship. Love complicated things. Love sucks. Pun intended.