My Hometown Love

Chapter 10 - Water Under The Bridge

Lexie’s P.O.V

I gently wiped off the single drop of tear that fell on the letter as I folded the letter and inserted it back into the envelope.

“Wow, that was a lot to process.”, I sighed as I slumped back on the couch, my mind racing with all the information I just read.

“Well, what did he say?”, Priya asked confusingly, wondering what Kevin wrote that made me so thoughtful.

So I told Priya everything I read, watching her face change with every new detail I say.

“Okay, that is intense. So, what are you going to do now?”, Priya asked.

“Honestly, I don’t know. I would probably want to meet him face-to-face and talk things out but ultimately, I agree with what Kevin said. I want to face the ghost of my past and move forward as I put all this behind us.”, I said confidently.

“Good for you Lexie. I’m so glad that you’re finally letting this go, even though it’s really hard to. I’m proud of you, lady!”, Priya said as she patted my back encouragingly.

We both burst into laughter and talked a little while longer before Priya had to leave. As I closed the door after her, I thought of how I was going to approach Kevin and how I was going to go about all this. But part of me was so relieved somehow like a huge burden had been lifted off my shoulders. Smiling to myself, I walked up back to my room and dozed off as soon as I started to read.

*******

My ringing phone pulled me away from my dreamland fantasy dreams to the real world. My hand reached out trying to find my phone as my eyes slowly adjusted to the light. I look at the screen to see a video call invitation from my New York buddies.

“Lexie!”, I heard unanimously the minute I joined the call.

I waved at the screen as I pouted my lips showing them how much I missed them as soon as I saw their faces appear.

“Oh my gosh! How are you guys?”, I asked, curious as to what they’ve been up to.

Soon, they all started to fill me in with everything that has happened in the last week. We spent an hour just gossiping, laughing, and catching up. We parted ways, promising to keep in touch, as we each left the video call.

With the video call over, I could finally hear voices from the living room below. Looks like my parents and Jake were back for lunch and they were just about to leave back for work. So, I quickly popped in the shower, got ready, and was planning to ask Jake, where I can find Kevin since I wanted to surprise him by dropping in wherever he was.

I collected my things and headed down the stairs, only to realize that they were all headed out the front door. As they headed out, I heard a piece of conversation that shook me from within as I felt my knees suddenly go weak.

I had heard my Mom ask Jake if Kevin was coming by to pick him up, and Jake had replied with a sentence that made my heart stop.

“No Mom, Kevin’s at the hospital.”

*********

My mind was racing at those words and my heart full of worry. I followed my instinct and drove to the hospital as fast as I can, worried and guilty, wondering if I was the cause of his misfortune.

I parked the car and ran to the reception counter.

“Hi…. I… am…. Looking… for… Kevin…Walker, please.”, I asked her panting away from my run.

She curiously eyed me up and down before directing me.

“Through that door and to the right, he should be in the Clinic”, she replied pointing with her pen before shifting her attention to the other person’s question.

I walked through the door and turned right into the clinic. I scanned the people seated and those on the beds to see if Kevin was there. I heard a curtain opening and heard that familiar voice that makes my heart flutter.

“Lexie?”, he called out as I turned around to face him.

“Kevin?”, I replied in awe as I looked him up and down.

There he was standing in front of me, in the last thing I would have ever imagined him wearing. Kevin Walker stood in front of me as Dr. Walker, looking ever so handsome in his shirt and necktie plus the sharp white coat and the stethoscope around his neck.

“Lexie? What are you doing here? Are you okay? Why are you panting?”, he asked eyeing me curiously as I stood in front of him star stuck, completely unaware that I was still panting.

“I…I heard Jake say that you were at the hospital. I thought something had happened to you and I rushed here to see if you were okay. And I ran here from the parking lot.”, I replied looking away realizing how silly and emotional I sound.

Kevin put his hand on my shoulder, jolting me and I turned to look up at his face only to be greeted by his cheeky smile and his urge to not laugh at me. I guessed very well the reason for that smile, he was happy that I pushed away all my anger and came running when I knew something had happened to him.

“Maybe we should go somewhere else and talk”, Kevin said suddenly aware of our surroundings as he guided me away from the clinic.

*********

“So, you’re a doctor now”, I said as Kevin handed me a cup of coffee and sat down in front of me.

“5th-year resident doctor actually, I have to take the test in a few months before I can become a full time attending”, he replied with confidence.

“How did I not know about this? I am so proud of you!”, I replied thinking of how far Kevin has come since high school.

Kevin just smirked and drank his coffee as he looked at the people passing by.

“So, about the letter. It was very sweet of you but I just wanna say…..”, I said breaking the silence.

“Listen, I know that was too much to ask for in just a letter. I understand if you wanna think about it.”, Kevin said cutting me off.

“I forgive you.”, I said with a slight increase in my voice, ever so slightly annoyed that he didn’t let me finish my sentence.

“Wait! Really?”, he replied in awe.

“Yeah, I wanna move past this and be friends. I overreacted and ever since I read your explanation of what happened on that fateful night, I realized it was all a big misunderstanding. So, it is all water under the bridge now. Okay?”, I replied, sighing deeply as I felt the ghost of my past leaving me.

“Oh my! Thank you so much, Lexie. You won’t regret forgiving me.”, Kevin said as he put his hands over my coffee cradling hands.

“Okay, I got to go now. I need to meet Maria and catch up on my maid of honor duties”, I said as I stood up smilingly.

“So, friends?”, Kevin said as he extended his hand to shake mine, with his famous award-winning smile.

“Friends.”, I replied as I shook his warm hand.

“See you around Lexie”, he said as he let my hand go and slowly retreat backward.

I smiled and turned to walk to the exit, but not before turning around slightly to see Kevin still standing there, watching me leave. I turned back and grinned like a teenage girl as I walked back to my car.

********

Kevin’s P.O.V

I had just finished checking on a patient when I opened the curtain to find Lexie standing in front of me confused as her eyes scanned through the room.

Turns out she was looking for me, thinking I was hurt as she heard Jake say that I was at the hospital. Honestly, I was so happy that she was so worried about me even though she was so mad at me yesterday. Looks like my letter broke through to her. She looked so cute panting away because she ran to find me.

“Oh Lexie, you’re truly one of a kind”, I thought to myself as I tried to control myself from laughing at her red face.

I felt so many pairs of eyes on us, so I lead her to the open-air cafeteria to talk. When she said that she was proud of me, I was completely ecstatic. I’ve always wanted to prove to her that I wasn’t the same guy back in high school and that I have worked so hard to be better. I turned away and pretended to drink my coffee to cover up my goofy smile as soon as she said that she was proud of me because I didn’t want her to think of me like some silly teenage boy, smiling away every time a girl says something nice about him.

Then, suddenly she brought up the topic of the letter. I immediately cut her off, explaining that she can take time to think about it and she should not be pressured by the letter. I cut her off because I couldn’t bear to hear her say that she wouldn’t forgive me and so by giving her more time, I thought she would change her mind.

But I was stunned when she downright told me that she forgives me and she wants to be friends. My heart dropped at those words and I felt relief wash over me. I quickly reached to hold her hand in gratitude and sincerity, thanking her for forgiving me and promising to live up to it. 

As I shook her hand, part of me felt like this was the beginning of a new friendship that should have started ages ago. But I knew, there was no time like the present. We both were more mature now and could think properly.

I watched her as she walked away like a protective bear, making sure she was okay till she reached her car before heading back inside, smiling away.

“You okay, Dr. Walker? You look like you slept with a hanger in your mouth.”, Sarah, the reception counter nurse asked, curious about my goofy smile.

“Yeah, I’m fantastic!” I replied as I leaned on the counter.

“Does this weird smiling doctor I have never seen before have to do with your visit from the pretty brunette earlier?”, she asked sarcastically as she tidied up some paperwork on her desk.

“Maybe…..”, I replied nonchalantly.

“Who was she anyway?”, she asked as she gently knocked my head with her flipchart trying to knock me out of my daze.

“Just a friend for now but I promise you Sarah, one day I will make her mine.”