[BFMH] A/N and Disclaimer

Hello hellowww

To clear the confusion…

I’ve had this idea for a while now, to write a series of standalone short stories, and it’s here.

The idea is to divide them into two and because I’m sooo cReAtIvE, I named them the cherry and kimono series.

It’s easy to understand; the cherry series is only going to have short stories filled with fluff and ‘probably’ a tiny amount of smut depending on the book. The kimono series on the other hand, will be full of smut. Like really full of it lol. As much as I can without tarnishing the story line.

So… these series don’t have a schedule, it is mostly so that I can still post something even if I’m really busy and can’t focus on the full length stories. But mostly, I really want to write short stories too.

So this is the first short cherry book. Enjoy!

If you have any questions, ask me here —>

Well… onto the disclaimer stuff

BLURB

After a fatal accident, Aidan wakes up in a hospital with more broken bones than one.

His critical condition leaves him under the care of the hottest person he’d ever seen. So much that one look at his doctor almost gives him a heart attack.

As he tries to control his attraction to the annoyingly professional man in scrubs, he forgets that he is slowly recovering until it is too late.

Will his feelings be reciprocated? Or will he leave the hospital more broken than when he’d first come in?

DISCLAIMER

This book is a work of fiction, names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual places or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Hey thanks for checking this out! It goes a long way🥰 
Hope you like it 

Copyright © cherrykimono7 2021

# 1| Dollar Bills

As usual, I'm the last to leave the office. And the next day I would be the first back in it if my sister hadn't insisted and convinced me to take the weekend off. 

She let my driver, Erik, handle it. 

Erik was a scary looking person generally. The first time I met him I had to ask if he was sure he was in the right place. We got along fine right after that. 

Erik would do anything my sister said. Including crushing my windpipe if I was being stubborn, just as long as my sister said so.

I get in the back seat and tell him where I would prefer to go. 

He nods in approval and minutes later, we're at the club. Before he can open the door for me, I get out of the car. 

The club isn't that crowded yet, I observe as I make my way to the bar, Erik following close behind me, a protective habit that I was forced to get used to. Even for the smallest of things. 

It gets annoying because if I wanted to hire a bodyguard I'd have done just that but he just had to assume the role like I was some helpless creature. 

I ask the bartender for a water and I get a devilish look from Erik. "I hate to be the bad influence, but get some alcohol into your system, sir."

"I said to call me Aidan. A i d a n. It's  been three years already."

"Yes, sir," he smirked. 

"Okay, I'll get some alcohol if you promise right here, right now to call me Aidan from now on." 

His brows furrow as he oberves me, like he is thinking about everything he'll lose if he agrees to the simple request. 

"Fine, Aidan."

"Yeah, that sounds much better." I shift on my stool. "It had never made much sense, you calling me sir then threatening to end my life,  sheesh."

"It's because I want to keep my job," he replies.

"You just want to see my sister," I say and he can't meet my eye. 

He's made it clear more than enough times that he didnt do 'feelings', but in my opinion, he was just trying to hide his obvious ones. 

"Okay, what are you drinking? It's all on me."

"No, I'm just here to watch you," he says casually. 

"To watch me? I'm not a baby." I get defensive.

"I get that, but–"

"Whatever," I cut him off.

"Aidan, sir, I don't say it to belittle you, it's just that you need... I feel like you deserve someone," he shrugs. "Who can take care of you. Love you even."

It just sounds to me like he's saying I'm a baby.

"I don't appreciate your pity Erik. And you're making me very uncomfortable right now," I tell him.

"Sir, uh... Aidan. I'll wait in the car."

"No, just leave, I'll drive myself back." I put my hand out for the keys.

"S- Aidan," he sighs. "I can't let you drive while you are drunk."

"Don't worry about me." I put a hundred dollar bill on the table and extended it to him. "For your cab or something. And don't worry, I won't get drunk."

He raises an eyebrow.

"Fine, if I do, I'll call you." It's the only way to get him off my back.

"You promise?" He asks as a final precaution.

"I promise." I mean it, but deep down I know some part of me wants to show him how well I can take care of myself.

He places the key on my palm and gets up to leave, one last look at me and he's gone. He doesn't take the money. 

Fine then
. I think. 

"Erik and his stupid pride," I mutter to myself. 

I look to the bartender and start thinking what the best way is, to spend a hundred dollars.

# 2| Carpool Karaoke

That Erik, thinks I'm so pitiful I can't watch myself. Fuck him. 
I think to myself after he's gone. 

He's right and you know it. 
My inner thoughts bite back. 

I am probably on my fifteenth shot when the warning bells started to ring in my head. 
Damn. 
I order another. 

"You might want to take it easy," the guy in front of me says. "You here with someone?"

"He left, everybody leaves you know? Everybody leaves me." I am being dramatic, but I blame it on the alcohol. 

"Where's the next glass?" I ask. 

"Are you sure?" He sounds concerned a little.

"Do I look like I'm joking?" I turn and look seriously at him, a look that always had people rethinking their steps. I feel a hiccup building up but thankfully it doesn't surface. He should be quaking right now. 

"You shouldn't say that while smiling like an idiot," he replies.

Oh fuck. 
"Just get me the drink," I say, gripping my knees so that my fingers would stop their slight trembling. 

"Here, you can have this." 

I don't know what he means but it's not a shot. 

"You can ask for a refill if you want, no more shots for you, I don't need you passing out and puking on the floor with no one to take you home. Cleaning this place already sucks as it is."

"We could go to yours," I tell him.

"Yeah sure, then you can cozy up to my husband and cuddle with me," he replies immediately. "He'll surely love that."

It sounds like he is telling me no, so I let it go. I down more than five of those drinks and I still don't know what it's called. 

And then my bladder feels like it could burst any minute, so I shuffle to the bathroom.

As soon as I'm done, I need another drink. So I walk back to the same bartender. I like his face. He has a pretty face. I like pretty things. 

I use one of my most charming smiles while I get ready to impress him with an expensive order.

"A dollar for a bottle of scotch..." he puts the money I had so proudly handed him, in my suit pocket then pats my chest. "Are you stupid?"

"No, I'm just drunk, I think," I hiccup. "But I'm s-sber too."

"Yeah, now go home."

"You can't make me! I want another drink!" I think I'm shouting because a few people turn my way. 

I hear a few laughs. Fuck them.

And maybe I am so out of it because I choose that moment, to snatch the bottle of scotch and make a run for it. 

If they didn't want my money then I would just take the bottle. Idiots. 

The next thing I know, a big body has hoisted me up and keeps moving, the bottle is no longer in my hand but I don't care. 

"Erik! You came to save me!" 

But it isn't Erik, and I find out because I land on my butt outside the club, still trying to gather my bearings. 

It should have hurt, but my mind is a little foggy. I stagger around, looking at the cars. Blue, black, black. 
Well that's boring. 
Red, oh that's shiny!

 I stop at a black car and stare at it. "Hey! You look just like my car!"

I fish the keys out, checking my breast pocket then my socks. "Where are you?" I giggle. Then I take my tie off and get in. 

I feel something hard; the shape of a phone when I sit down. "I should probably call Erik," I mutter. 

"Hey Erik," I say when I hear his voice. "Why does no one like me?"

"
Are you drunk?" 
He asks. 

"See, you can't even answer me can you? B–but but... you're a good person, you know..." I hiccup. "I–I could never be like you. You won't leave me too right?"

He sighs from the other end. "
Sir..."
 

"You know, I've always loved it when you called me sir."

"
Yeah, you're totally wasted. Stay where you are, I'm coming to get you."

"Hmph, stupid Erik, thinks he can just hang up on me. Well I won't wait for him either." I laugh then frown because weirdly my chest hurts. 

I turn on my camera and fix my phone where it can clearly show my face. I need to watch myself driving, so I can do it carefully.

A sob racks through me suddenly and I realize I miss my dad so much. I miss him so much.

I'm full on crying now and the tears won't stop. So I let the noise of my wailing distract me as I drive safely. 

I can see clearly, but I don't understand why everyones making so much noise. I'm clearly the only person bothering to drive carefully. They're so stupidly crisscrossing each other. I laugh. 
Fucking amateurs.

Okay time to really get home. 
I pick up speed and keep driving. "Whoo!" I open the window and hoot! "My driving skills are on fire today!" I shout, tears forgotten. 

Then, in an instant it happens. The screeching of tires and the crash, but it all takes place in a second. 

I don't know what happens, but black colors my vision.

# 3| Wiggling Toes

The lights are too bright when I first open my eyes. So I close them back and attempt to open them more slowly. 

"You're awake," says a nurse. "Hey there!" She smiles radiantly at me.

Everything hurts and I feel like I can't move. The nurse holds a bucket right in front of me and immediately I look at it, I puke my guts out. 

My energy is completely spent by the time I lie back down, staring at the ceiling, but mostly trying to get my strength back.

I'm in a hospital. 
I finally realize. No wonder there was a nurse holding a bucket in front of me. 

Then I notice the other person in the room. My head threatens to split open but I recognize him. And her. 

Erik is right next to Penelope looking like he's spent a day in hell. After the nurse checks up on me, she steps out for a while. 

"How could you?" Penelope asks me. Erik is just quiet right next to her. I can't mistake the tears in her eyes. 

I try to remember, but everything is coming back to me in bits and pieces. 

Just keeping my eyes open is painful enough. My entire body hurts. Everything is bleak, so much that I don't really understand what she is trying to ask.

It finally hits me, at the same time that Erik speaks. "I told you to wait for me and I'd come get you," he sounds frustrated. "Why couldn't you just listen?" 

"I'm sorry," I immediately say, but I don't really mean it, even if I feel guilty. "How bad was–"

"You almost bled to death, Aidan," he cuts me off. 

"The doctor will be with you shortly," the short nurse from earlier says before she checks a few things. 

"That video you made..." Penelope starts. 

"What video?" I ask. 

"You still don't remember?"

"Well, you did make a video, but we'll talk about it when you get better. It's easier that way," she says. 

It makes me really wonder what I did. I notice Erik looking worriedly at me. 

I wonder why he does. I get it, he doesn't have to pretend I'm that important to him. "You don't have to..."

"I know what you want to say, don't say it. Because it's simply not true."

Just then, someone comes in as I notice from my peripheral. 

"Hello sleepy head, good to see you're finally awake," he says.

My eyes locate the source of the voice in a heartbeat. He holds a clipboard. And as he walks towards me, I notice how his built frame fills out his scrubs perfectly. 

I start to feel weird, but before I can ponder over it longer, he is suddenly rushing by my side. 

"His vitals are unstable! Heartbeat is abnormally fast. Aidan, can you hear me?"

I can hear him loud and clear. It's his fault my mouth can't move and everything feels so hot.

I try to focus on his face for the longest time but my eyes seem to have an agenda of their own, they start to give out. 

Until I see nothing.

•••

The next time I wake up, my eyes are groggy while my mind tries to recollect how and why and where I am. 

I vaguely remember speaking to Erik and then next thing I know... 

My thoughts pause as my heart literally skips a beat. 

Who was he?

Your doctor you dimwit. 

Yes, they said that but from what I know, doctors shouldn't look like that. It wasn't fair. I hadn't really focused on his eyes but I bet they were the type you could get lost in. 

The way he held the clipboard, made me want to trade places with it. 

No patients would be leaving the hospital if all doctors looked like that, honestly.

It's dark and since I'm awake and alone in my room, I'm hoping he walks in through the door. 

I know I know, it's the old me speaking but I can't wait to see him again. 

The pain forces me to push my thoughts at the back of my head because everything hurts. 

From what I can guess, some things are broken and I can't move so well without it being painful. My leg is in a cast but I can wiggle my toes. 

That should be good right? Relief washes over me, regardless. And then I start to understand what Erik was talking about. 

I can't deny that he cares about me. So I try to put myself in his shoes. If the roles were reversed, I'd be really pissed, furious and freaking hurt. 

Thankfully, I start to feel sleepy. The pain recedes just a little and before I know it, I'm asleep.

•••

I trust you guys to pretend that this is not a little bit unrealistic 

😌

(I mean, I'm not really sure I got the dynamics right but that's where the pretending comes in alright?)

# 4| Heart Sounds

I hear his voice before I see him, before he comes into view.

The next time my doctor gets in, I can't take my eyes off him. 

I see his mouth moving but there's not much I can comprehend. 

I don't know how long he stands there before he narrows his eyes at me and for a moment I see worry in them. "Aidan."

God I love the way he says my name. 

He comes closer to me and speaks. "You can speak right?"

"Y-es–" I stop myself before I could say something embarrassing. 

"How are you feeling?" He asks then smiles at me. 

I am just about ready to die. I don't see myself getting well any time soon. I'd rather not get well. I shrug happily.

"Your vitals are still steady. To my relief, they've been, since you fainted two days ago. How much pain were you in when that happened?"

"Did you say two days?" I am genuinely surprised, thinking that it should have been half a day tops.

"Yes, two days. But it's great to get a reaction from you," he says.

My doctor scribbles something down and plugs his stethoscope in his ears, bringing the other end towards me to rest on my chest, right above my heart.

He is so close that if my legs worked fine, I just might have bolted out the door. He smells heavenly.

This is going to be embarrassing.

"Your heart is beating unusually fast," he says in his sexy deep voice that could bruise me. "You've got to tell me Aidan, how much pain are you in?"

"Oh, it's not so bad," I say half of it, the other half only inside my head. 

How can he not know why my heart is pounding so much? He doesn't even need a fucking stethoscope to hear it.

"You're so brave aren't you?" He asks in response to my reply. It is one of the most trying moments of my life.

"Yes–" 
Yes I am. I so am. 
I want to tell him so bad. "I mean no... nah."

He chuckles and my cheeks warm. 

"I'm going to trust you, okay? As long as you tell me the truth."

I nod, then he puts some distance between us. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding in.

After regaining my composure, I ask what I'm dying to know. 

"What is your name?" I try and fail to look directly at him. 

He looks at me skeptically. "I told you when I got in, but I guess you didn't hear me. I'm doctor Garza."

"What is your other name?" I know that if I was healed, I might have been throwing my most seductive eyes at him.

"Luis," he said without really focusing on me. I watch his strong hands just for the sake of it. 

How would they feel if they touched me? 
Really touched me.

"I'm going to call you Luis," I tell him. 

I finally have his full attention again. He looks intrigued. "Sure."

I don't know how he knows but my face must be have been showing it. "Are you in pain?" He asks me. 

"A little," I lie, already breaking our little agreement. Weirdly, I feel like he knows I'm lying. 

"I'm going to put you to sleep okay?" He says. "You should be resting but you are in pain."

"I'll be dreaming of you," I tell him, my voice already lazy. 

I can't wait for the next time I wake up because I want to see him. I'm so attracted to him it's absurd.

I don't hear his reply as my eyes close. 

•••

The next time I wake up, a nurse brings me what to eat. She has a lovely smile but she isn't whom I want to see. 

I turn my head when she holds the spoon to my mouth. 

She looks confused. "Aidan, you have to eat."

"I want Luis," I say stubbornly. 

"Luis?" She asks. 

"Doctor Garza," I cross my arms. "Or I'm not eating."

# 5| Headaches and Bandages 

"Dr Garza is busy," she says kindly to me. 

"I guess I'm not hungry then," I tell her and lay back down. If there weren't bandages covering my face, then she'd see my irritated expression.

The nurse sighs and puts the food away, then exits the room. 

Before the door can properly open, my eyes are already glued to it. 

"So I heard you have quite the stubborn streak," my doctor says. 

"Luis!" I forget that it still hurts to make sharp movements.

"Hello Aidan," he smiles that gorgeous smile. "You seem to be in better shape."

I notice that he didn't come back with the nurse as he picks up the food and sits at the edge of my bed. 
Now, if he'd only move closer...

My heart is already beating in my throat as he puts the spoon up to my mouth. 

Please don't notice my lips trembling! 
I chant inside my head. 

"I thought you wanted me to feed you," he looks confused. "Open up."

He has absolutely no reason to point it out like that. I open my mouth and accept the food. 

I don't even know what it tastes like because I'm too preoccupied with the fact that he is here, on my bed, using those strong hands to feed me. He is going to make me emotional.

"Why do you keep giggling every time you take in a spoonful?" He asks and horror sinks deep in my gut. 

"I'm– I'm just h-happy," I stumble over my words.

"Yeah?" He says. "It's a good look on you." I swear he is doing it on purpose.

"You don't even know how I look," I say. 

"Is that what you think?" He asks. "Such a cute pout." He teases. 

I refuse to eat anymore food because I just need him a little away from me before I said something stupid. 

He puts the leftovers away. "Guess what?" He says.

I look at him and blink. "What?" 

"It's time for some of your bandages to come off," he motions around his head and I understand. "We could do that now or I could come back in an hour if you want."

I pause as I realize what this means. I wasn't going to get away so easily with staring at him. 

I realize it was easier to hide but if anything happened, my excuse would be that I wasn't well.

I tell him to do it now, because I simply don't want him to leave the room. 

He is close once again and I am already flaming. What is wrong with my resolve?

Luis is so gentle as he unwraps the bandages around my head. "You stopped having random headaches, yes?" 

"Yeah," I reply as I'm looking at his biceps stretching the scrubs. 
Please crush me.

"That's good," he says. Luis starts unwrapping the bandages around my face and I almost freak out. 

He pauses. "Is everything okay?"

"Everything is fine," I say and he continues. 

My forehead is freed first, and it finally goes down to my chin. 

I feel Luis hesitate and go rigid for the shortest time, before taking the last piece off. 

He doesn't move off the bed when he is finished. When I finally get the courage to look up at him, I find that Luis is staring at me.

His eyes seem to roam every inch of my face until they finally fall to my eyes. His serious expression makes me feel all kinds of nervous and I am forced to look back down. 

Wordlessly, he finally gets off the bed. 

"Look," he says as he holds a mirror up for me. 

My face surprisingly looks better than I thought it would. I almost look normal except for the tiny bruises and cuts that looked almost completely healed. 

My remark dies on my tongue as I notice he is staring again. 

"I'm gorgeous aren't I?" I ask. 

Luis puts the mirror away and smiles at me. "Yeah, you are."

He is back to himself, so I don't know if he's saying what he should say, or what he really thinks.

"You know," Luis starts. "That night, you were found without one shoe and a one dollar bill inside your underwear... I still can't figure it out, were you playing Cinderella or were you stripping, or–"

I burst out laughing before he can go on, not believing how much of a mess I was. 

"Shut up!" I say between laughs. "Are you serious?"

Luis ignores my question completely. "God, even your laugh is gorgeous," he says in a low voice and I stop. 

He ruffles his hair and runs a hand through it before clearing his throat. "Okay, I'll leave you to rest some more." He discards of the bandages. 

"Don't go," I tell him a bit desperately. It's embarrassing and I know it. But for Luis, I don't mind being embarrassing.

"I have to see my other patients," he chuckles. "I'll see you later okay?"

"No," my hands tighten on his scrubs as he turns to go, although weakly.

I hated even just hearing that he has other patients apart from me. I should be his only patient, so he wouldn't have to leave.

"Aidan..." his hand fastens on mine and my brain leaves my body. 

It is the first time we've ever had actual contact. He makes it worse when he rubs over it. 

My face flames as I snatch my hand back. "Fine." I turn to my side and away from him, dreading the feeling that I was red all over.

"You really are stubborn," he says and my pout deepens. The last part is almost like a whisper. "Makes me want to..."

I turn so fast to look, but when I do, the door is already closing behind him. 

I probably imagined that last part.

# 6| Falling

The guilt finally catches up to me and I finally accept that I shouldn't have gotten drunk. 

From everything I can remember, I've always been disappointing everybody. I was never just enough, which is why I always make sure to work twice as hard. 

Penelope has told me over and over, that it doesn't matter, but I feel like I need to prove myself. 

And now I had gone and done this. 
How disappointing.
 I can already hear my mom berating me.

I shouldn't be thinking of that, but I can't help it. I should focus on just healing, so that I can get back to work. Not that I can do much about it anyway. 

I had a minor surgery the day before, and the fact that I am not in pain proves that it went well. 

I insisted that Luis had to do the surgery or I wasn't going through with it. 

It was a little embarrassing when he said he was already going to do it, and there was no need for me to get worked up.

My God, it's like every time I think of him, the size of my crush on him doubles over.

"Oh, you're awake," said the same nurse who had tried to give me food just a few days ago. "I'll go get Doctor Garza."

"Wait," I'm actually a little nervous. "What's your name?" 

"Ruth," she says looking a little surprised. 

"You look lovely, Ruth." I tell her. 

"How flattering, thank you," she says while smoothing her hands on her scrubs. 

I hope she doesn't think I am flirting with her. I just usually run my mouth a lot. 

"Uh... I don't mean–"

"The crush you have on Doctor Garza is painfully obvious, don't worry about it," she answers before I can finish.

I almost swallow my tongue. "How..."

"Quite a handful of people have a thing for him," she says. "Which is why he likes to work with me," she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm more interested in another doctor he works closely with though, she makes my organs... ugh never mind."

I smile widely. "I know how you feel! So as two comrades in the struggle, give me some tips."

"I don't know..." she starts. 

"Come on, help me out," I insist and she sighs. 

"Dr Garza is a difficult one to read. He's actually obsessed with his work," I listen with everything I have. "No one can tell what he's thinking... and there's the fact that he never gets personal."

"He must find me irritating then," I tell her.

"Weirdly, no," she said. "But it isn't allowed for doctors to have relationships with their patients."

"What? Who the fuck made that rule?" I ask, then remember my foul language. "Sorry."

The door suddenly opens and the man I am going to marry gets in. 

"Luis!" I try not to look guilty at the fact that we were just talking about him.

"Aidan," he says calmly. "You look lively. That's good." 

"I missed you," I blurt out. 

Everyone in the room stops, including me. It's so tense in the next few seconds that I want to swallow back my words. 

That was until Luis' expression morphed into a smile. "I guess... I missed you too."

Ruth lets out a breath, so do I. Even with all the butterflies swarming inside me. 

After that, Luis checks up on me as I try not to break out in sweat. As I try not to make it a point of inhaling his scent.

In the next few weeks, the casts come off. 

It is quickly becoming my worry that I am getting better everyday. 

I've been using crutches to make a few movements here and there, but today I am supposed to try again and walk on my own. 

The other two times I did, were really unsuccessful but all I can can remember is Luis' voice in my head saying 'baby steps'.

I also think about the horror that I could have lost my legs just like that. It was high time I took my life more seriously. 

My legs are shaky as I try to walk. I honestly just hope I don't look stupid in front of Luis. 

I'm actually doing much better than before, but they are just a little wobbly.

The goal is to walk back and forth and back again to where Luis had shown me. 

The last walk is the hardest, but I don't know why I'm so determined to prove a point. I start to feel sweaty as I try harder.

But no matter how hard I try, I still can't do it. No matter how much I curse my self internally. 

I can't take the last step and I fall forward. It is going to hurt like hell, but there's nothing I can do to stop the fall. 

That is until I hit a hard chest instead, and a strong hand wraps around me, supporting me.

My hair is continuously smoothed back as my heart flips ten times over. 

"You did great Aidan," Luis says. "You did great, I'm so proud of you."

I feel the biggest lump suddenly wedged in my throat. I try to hold it in but my eyes decide to act on their own and get wet. 

I can't stop the tears that begin to fall.

Luis holds me tighter and continues to run a hand down the back of my head. Somehow it makes the crying worse.

But I feel warm, and safe. I don't ever want to leave his arms.

# 7| Late Night Visits

It has been more than half a day, and my eagerness to see Luis does not wane. 

He hasn't come to see me today. Not even once, it honestly feels a little annoying. 

Only Ruth keeps checking up on me, until I can't bear it. 

"Where is Luis?" I ask frustratedly. "Is he busy?"

"I don't–"

I suddenly gasp in fear. "Is he avoiding me?"

Ruth sighs. "I think he's just busy, don't sweat it," she replies. "He said to keep checking on you."

I am pretty sure I'm pouting. It sounds to me like he is avoiding me.

I can't bear it anymore when it turns to night, I can't even sleep. So I make a decision. 

I decide to escape from my room. 

By now, I can walk well. Not perfectly, but I didn't fall anymore. I am so grateful. 

I get off my bed and remove all the things that would otherwise restrain my movement.

I notice that the hospital is a really, really busy place. It is swarming with all sorts of people. Luckily, no one seems to pay much attention to me. 

I comfortably move around. It is big. But I finally find Luis after peeking through several doors.

He is seated behind his desk focusing on his work. He doesn't even look up at me when the door opens until I am close.

"Aidan?" He suddenly says when he looks at me. "What... what are you doing here? Why are you not resting?" He asks me. 

The words barely register because all I can do is stare at his handsome face.

"I missed you," I tell him and he stops momentarily before he continues once again.

"Does not mean to put yourself through so much strain," he says and I can hear it in his voice. He is genuinely concerned about me.

I don't know what I'm thinking, but I walk towards him. Before he can do anything, I sit on his lap and lean against his chest.

My own heart beats like crazy, but I don't entirely understand why I went through with it, being so bold all of a sudden.

I hope to the heavens that he doesn't notice just how scared and nervous I am.

"What do you think you're doing," Luis asks me.

"I'm your patient and this is making me feel better, what's wrong with that?" I answer boldly.

"Your bed would be more comfortable," he argues but doesn't move an inch, as if afraid he would upset me.

I'm so happy about it.

Before I know it, there is a sort of calmness around him and I start to feel sleepy. I am shocked that Luis still hasn't pushed me off him. 

The warmth and comfort are a little overwhelming. 

I am suddenly asleep in Luis's lap and I might have imagined it. But before I completely drift off, Luis pulls me closer and rubs his hands over my arms to keep me warm. 

I am definitely going to marry him.

# 8| Changes

When I wake up, I am back in my room in my hospital bed. My best guess is that Luis carried me back here after I fell asleep on his lap.

I still can't believe he let me, but it makes my insides flatter just to think about it. 

I lie still on the bed, waiting for him to come in and check on me. I'm giddy as I try to wipe the smile off my face. 

Ruth comes in to check on me and my smile widens upon seeing her. "Good morning!"

"Afternoon actually," she answers and smiles back. 

Afternoon? 
Had I slept that much?

"Where's Luis?" I ask and her smile falters. 

This time she sends me a half fake smile. Something most probably happened. "Dr Garza is... uh... most likely on his way now."

"Okay," I say a little skeptically, still wondering why she'd answered like that.

I want to see him so badly it feels like a craving. Ruth leaves after she is done and I lie back down, a little uneasy.

It is probably a few hours later that a stranger enters my room. 

He strides to my side looking sharp, professional, and so very not Luis. 

"Are you having a good evening, Aidan?" He smiles at me. "I'm Dr Ian..."

Everything he says after that becomes lost because I can't hear him anymore. Why is he here and why is he talking to me?

He checks up on me and asks a few questions. After making sure I'm alright, he leaves. 

I stay on my bed, holding out hope that Luis will walk in through that door at any minute. But even as it turns to nightfall, he doesn't come. 

Until I can't take it anymore.

I decide to do exactly what I did the night before. Yet again, I escape from my room. I wouldn't really call it escaping because no one ever stopped me anyway. 

It is easier this time because I know exactly where Luis is, so I go to him. Hopefully he isn't checking on another patient.

I look at him through the glass on his door. He really does look hot when he's focused and concentrating on his doctor stuff. 

This time around though, there seems to be a troubled look on his face. I want to kiss it away. I want him happy.

I already feel better just looking at him. It feels like a tight knot just loosened in my stomach. 

He startles when he sees me this time, and I might be totally mistaken but he doesn't say anything as he stares at me for a beat too long. 

Like a habit, I walk over and climb onto his lap. 

"Let me guess," he says in his sexy voice. "You missed me?"

"I did," I say. "You didn't come to check on me, even though I wasn't feeling...you know... well."

I strangely get the feeling that he sees right through my lie and wants to laugh but he doesn't.

I feel his hands firmer, pulling me closer to him. My insides turn to jelly. 

"You weren't?" He asks. 

"What?" I ask back because I'm too distracted. 

"You weren't feeling alright?" He asks again. "Were you hurting? Where?"

I take his hand in mine and he lets me. I wonder if I'm the only one who feels it, who feels a thousand things just because I held his hand. 

I bring it over to rest on my chest, where he could feel my heartbeat. "Right here," I tell him. "It's been hurting here because of you."

Even I didn't know I had it in me to be so cringe. 

Luis sighs and takes his hand away. "Listen, Aidan..."

Oh shit, here comes the 'I don't like you' talk. 

"What?" I ask.

"I'm not your doctor anymore," he says and if he wasn't holding me, I might have collapsed. 

"What?!"

"I can't..." he doesn't finish his sentence and I quickly get off him. 

Can't what? See me? Stand me?

"You can't do that!" I yell at him. "I need 
you 
to be my doctor. I don't want anyone else, it has to be you!"

He clenches his jaw and actually avoids meeting my eyes. "Aidan, relax."

"No, you can't tell me what to do right now, you're not my doctor," I say bitterly. 

"Please stop, you are exerting a lot of pressure on yourself," he says calmly while getting up. 

I continue to yell at him, feeling so hurt. He gets closer to me and I shove him away weakly. 

He doesn't even budge. He only wraps his arms around me and holds me close. "Please stop," he says. 

I let out a shaky breath against his shoulder. I feel my consciousness slip away slowly as I take deep breaths. 

The last thing I hear is him calling out my name.

# 9| Flirt With Me

My head hurts when I open my eyes. It doesn't take even five minutes and I'm angry again. 

I refuse all help from anyone who tries, there is no way in hell Luis wouldn't be my doctor. I can't bear even the thought of it. 

I am really hungry, but I'll gladly sacrifice my food if it means a chance to see him. 

It is worth it, because soon, my Luis is walking towards me. "Sure you aren't hungry Aidan?" He asks and my smile is immediate. 

"I am now," I say. I am still angry because of what he said the day before, but I can't stay mad for long just looking at him.

He sits close to me at the side of my bed. "You really are stubborn, you know that?"

"I'm really not," I try to defend myself and by mistake, I let the cat out of the bag. "I just  like you." I tell him, realizing that I can't take it back anymore.

Luis wipes the corner of my mouth with his thumb and I pray that I'm not blushing. "I like you too," he says.

"No," I correct him. "I like 
like 
you. Does this mean you are still my doctor?" I ask excitedly.

He nods and shrugs. "You 
were 
pretty upset yesterday."

"So you changed your mind?" I ask him.

"Honestly, I feel like I have no choice," he chuckles. "I don't like you fainting because of me."

"Ever heard of the phrase 'Drop-dead gorgeous'?" I ask him rhetorically. 

"Are you calling me hot?" He asks and to my innocent ears, it sounds seductive.

"Do you want me to call you hot?" I ask back. "Because yesterday already proves it."

"I'm fairly sure you didn't lose consciousness because of my looks yesterday," he says.

"And I'm fairly sure I can lose consciousness because of your looks right now," I reply boldly.

"Aidan," he grips my hand and squeezes. Luis is so close to me I can feel his body heat. 

"Luis?" I smirk and yet inside, I'm just crumbling under his gaze.

"I'd advise you not to flirt with me," he says.

Or what? 
The question is at the tip of my tongue but I don't voice it. For both our sakes. 

"I like flirting with you," I say instead. "Although... I do have a problem." I cast my face downwards. 

"Do you feel alright?" Luis asks immediately, sounding genuinely concerned. I hold the sigh that threatens to escape my lips.

"Not exactly," I reply. "See, I can't really taste my lips, could you do it for me?"

He suddenly chuckles when he catches onto what I'm saying. "Oh, really smooth."

"You think?" I feel excited. "I found it on google and I've been dying to use it for a long time now."

I laugh back and just stare at him staring back at me. 

"Is that so?" He asks without taking his eyes off me and I shyly look away. He sounds like he is about to growl.

"Well... y-yeah–"

I don't get to finish what I'm trying to say because Luis kisses me. Fervently. 

Kissing him feels like my lips were created for this very moment. It is too much; everything I feel at once. But I can't let go. 

My hands close around the front of his scrubs and seconds later, I feel his hands close around mine. 

He pulls them away and puts them around his neck, then he deepens the kiss. 

My brain is short circuiting because Luis is kissing me, and I'm kissing back. I feel hot, my mind feels blank, and my heart threatens to pound out of my chest. 

I look down when the kiss finally breaks, unable to meet his eyes. Not with how hot my cheeks feel. 

He doesn't let me. He lifts my chin up, forcing me to keep looking at him. I don't know if he does it on purpose but Luis licks his lips without breaking eye contact with me. 

I am never going to recover from the sight. 

I send him a pleading look and he finally lets me go. He gets up immediately though.

"I shouldn't have done that," says Luis. "I'm sorry."

"I'm not," I say before he can leave. 

"You don't get it, Aidan," he says before finally slipping out the door.

# 10| Recovery

I'm hurt. Luis is acting like we'd be better off if we pretended like the kiss never happened. 

He's been acting cold, distant and absolutely annoying. 

"Why are you being like this?" I ask him.

"I'm just trying to keep a professional doctor-patient relationship," he answers simply.

"I think we already crossed that line yesterday," I shoot back at him.

"Which is why I'm trying so hard..." he says and drifts off.

Did that mean it affected him? I suddenly feel better. I thought he was avoiding me because he didn't feel anything but this actually takes some of the stress away.

"You've recovered really quickly," he says.

Weirdly, it is the worst news I've ever heard. Little do I know that it would turn into one of the worst days of my life. 

"You're going home today," says Luis. He smiles but it doesn't reach his eyes. 

"What? No!" I answer. 

"You should be happy," he says.

"No, I feel so sick I could puke," I tell him.

"You feel sick?" Luis smiles sadly at me like he knows exactly what I'm doing. "What is it?" 

"Uh, my feet hurt..." I say, clutching at straws. "And yeah, my... my head is swimming. I'm going to sleep, you should recommend me at least one more month here," I say. "I think I'll be fine after that."

"Aidan," Luis says patiently. "You're discharged. Your sister is already on her way."

"No," I whimper and fasten my hand on his wrist, I hear a sharp intake of breath.

Luis pulls me to his chest and hugs me tightly. He hugs me for the longest time and we just stand there in silence. 

I suddenly feel him laugh before I hear it. "What?" I ask. 

"Nothing," he says. "It's just... I've never really hugged a patient before."

"Good," I tell him and he chuckles again. 

"I'm not your patient anymore right?" I ask. 

"No, you're not," answers Luis. 

"So... we can go on a date right?" I ask, still tucked in his arms. 

"We can't," he answers. 

"Why not?" I question, a little annoyed. 

"Stop pouting," he says then kisses the top of my head. He didn't even look to see if I was pouting but he was still right. 

"Well?" I veer him back to the matter at hand. 

Luis tries to detach from me but I hold him tighter and he gives up. I smile inwardly in victory. 

"I can't date," he says. "It never works out... not with how busy I am."

"You were just dating the wrong people, thank God," I tell him. "You do understand how much I like you, right?"

That, in itself isn't true. I am falling for him. From the first time I saw him. Part of me thinks I already did.

Luis doesn't answer me. I broke the hug and looked him in the eye. "Don't worry," I tell him. "You will."

Luis stares at me like he just wants to lock the door and throw me onto the bed. But I could be wrong. 

I walk away from him to hug Penelope, who was just getting in.

# 11| Desperation 

I've decided and come to terms with it. I'm in love with Luis Garza. 

It is every passing second that the man inhibits all parts of my brain. I simply can't get him out of my mind. 

Considering the fact that I said I'd make him understand how much I liked him, I am going to stick to my word.

All it takes is a little wiggling here and there, a little help from Ruth and I book an appointment under a fake name. An appointment with Luis of course.

"Aidan?" He asks while looking at me in disbelief. 

"Hey," I say while I can't stop staring at him.  "I missed you."

I ignore the fact that it has only been less than a week since I last saw him. I move over and curl up on his lap. 

"You can't keep doing this," says Luis even as his hand rubs over my thigh. "As far as I know, I could be treating someone who actually needs it."

I feel guilty at that. "Sorry, I didn't know any other way to talk to you. I can't keep away from you," I tell him honestly. 

"Eat an apple or something," he replies. 

"You know, the first time I saw you, it shocked me so much I thought I was going to have a heart attack," I confess.

"Shocked you?" He asks calmly. "Wait, is that why–"

"Yes," I cut him off. It was why I blacked out, and maybe coupled with the pain. 

Luis let's put a breath that fans my forehead. I move my hands and stroke his chest lightly. I feel his heartbeat and it's erratic. 

It puts me at ease to know that he too, is affected. Even if he tries not to show it. 

"Luis," I almost whisper. 

"Hmm?" He answers like he's distracted and thinking a lot. 

"Will you kiss me?" I ask. 

"I'm not sure that is really a good idea," he answers while angling my face until we were only a few inches away. 

"Huh?" I whisper. "You want this too."

"You're still a patient," he says while closing the gap between us ever so slowly. 

"When did that ever stop you?" I ask and he slowly rubs my nose with his own.

"There's that stubborn nature," he says before finally touching his lips with mine. 

It is a slow brush of his lips first that chases prickles of pleasure down my spine. 

It is almost like I can feel his frustration through the kiss. It quickly turns desperate. He claims my lips more forcefully as I arch my back.

I moan into the kiss and he groans. Luis grips me and pulls me closer to him, even if it isn't possible for me to get any closer. 

I have never wanted anyone so desperately in my life. My fingers curl into his hair and tug while our lips just can't stop. 

It feels so good I moan again, and then I moan harder when he goes ahead to kiss down my neck. I tilt my head to expose more of it to him. 

Luis stops right before he gets back to my lips again. My lips feel swollen and I'm sure my cheeks are blown out when he stares at me. 

I nervously lick my lips as my eyes dart to his. He quickly pecks me. 

"Now you've done it, Aidan," Luis says before kissing me again. "I'm not letting you go."

# 12| Bend Me Over

It's been just over a week and Luis and I made plans to have dinner together today. It is nothing fancy, just the two of us. It made me giddy. 

I'm currently in my office working and trying to finish up faster so I can rush home. 

Someone knocks at my door and I tell them to come in. I only look up after I hear his voice. 

"I missed you," Luis says before taking long strides over to me. 

And just like that, my work is forgotten. 

I get up and move quickly to give him a hug. "What are you doing here?" I ask as my hands wrap around him. "We're supposed to meet later."

"I got some extra time off," Luis says and lifts me up into his arms. "I needed to see you."

How does he know exactly how to turn me into a puddle? I lick my lips and smile shyly. 

Luis kisses me lightly and walks to my desk, then sets me down on it. 

I feel my face flame when he parts my legs and steps between them. Luis gives me a once over before bending a little. 

"How was your day?" He asks. A simple enough question, but I fall harder for him.

"Boring," I reply. "Until I saw you."

"I love it when you speak like that," he says while kissing his way up my neck. 

I gasp. "How... how was yours?"

"Very distracting," he says and shrugs. 

"Really?" I am amused. 

"Hmm, no matter what I did, I couldn't stop thinking about you," he replies.

"Luis..." I complain. 

He laughs. "It's the truth."

The kiss that follows is sublime. He holds me protectively as he explores my mouth. It never gets old; every time our lips touch. 

I put an end to it before I can completely lose my mind. It tends to happen a lot every time Luis kisses me. 

"As much as I'd love for you to bend me over my desk and have your way with me," I tell him while putting a finger against his lips. "We have dinner."

"I know," he says while sighing. "He's right in front of me."

My blood quickens and I still, which causes him to laugh. I poke him and push him away. Of course he'd tease me at every chance he got. 

"Okay, let's go," he holds his hand out to me and take it immediately. "We have plenty of time after dinner anyway."

# 13| The Pager

As cliche as it is, it is a candlelit dinner, right in the middle of Luis' living room. 

I'd watched as he did and prepared everything. He is a little different from when I was still at the hospital; I've never seen him so happy. 

When it is all ready, I sit across from him and just stare. At both him and the food. 

"Everything looks delicious, Luis," I say while looking directly at him, never taking my eyes off.

He looks a little surprised before he smirks. "I'd advise you, Aidan, not to flirt with me."

I don't know what I'm thinking but I crawl towards him. "Or what?" This time, I have the courage to say it out loud. 

Luis literally grabs me and pushes me down beneath him, until both his knees are on either side of me, and he's looking down at me.

"Say that again," he growls.

"Or. What?" I simply take my time. 

He cups my jaw and our lips collide a little aggressively. As Luis kisses me, I feel his hands making their way inside my clothes. 

I did not get time to change because I was straight from my office to his place, so I am still in my suit, minus the jacket and necktie.

He unbuttons my shirt as he keeps kissing me and I too, start trying to tug his clothes off. 

I shiver when Luis' hand skims over my bulge. I am so hard for him. He does it again and I break away from the kiss to bite my lip in frustration. 

My eyes are closed, so I don't see him, but I feel his kisses everywhere. His little touches threaten to set me on fire and I let out a gasp when I feel his hardness against mine. 

We rub against each other as our lips find themselves again, moving like it's our first time. 

"My clothes," I whisper impatiently while returning small kisses. "Take... everything off."

"Gladly," Luis groans before he grips my thigh and his hands slide upwards. 

Before he can do anything more, the sound of his pager sets off. 

We both stop as he looks at it. His phone rings immediately and he picks up after I nod at him. 

I watch him speak to whoever is on the other side of the phone. He looks angry as he listens and complains a little. 

"Fuck," he says after he's cut the call. 

"What is it?" I ask and he looks at me, his expression immediately softening. 

"They need me to perform a surgery right now," he says while pulling me up and closer to him. "I'll ask someone to fill in for me, I need you."

I am freaking melting inside as he draws his lips closer. 

It takes so much will power to say what I say next, but I manage. "Stop," I tell him before he can kiss me. "I need you too, trust me, but this sounds like an emergency. Someone could lose their life."

Luis doesn't reply but he won't stop staring at me. So I make the first move, I start to button up my shirt again. "Get in the car," I say. "I'll drive you." 

The drive is just silent until Luis finds his voice again. "Will you be my boyfriend?" He asks. 

"Ouch. Shit, I thought I was," I reply.

He rubs the back of his neck and smiles sheepishly. "Well, I just didn't want to assume."

"Oh," I reply. "Okay. We're official now, okay?"

"Fuck yes," he agrees.

We reach the hospital in the shortest amount of time possible and we both get out. After lightly kissing him, I lean against the car as I watch him disappear through the doors. 

•••

My eyes crack open when I hear a knock on the car window. I lazily unlock the car and get out, yawning and stretching. 

Luis looks really tired. "You waited for me," he says, sounding dumbfounded. 

"I did," I reply. 

"It's like three in the morning," he says and I don't know if he's complaining. "That was a six hour surgery."

"And?" I can't see what the big deal is. "Don't give me credit, I slept through it."

"How are you so perfect?" He asks me and my insides flutter. 

"Like I said, you've been dating the wrong people. Thank God," I part my hands and shrug.

"This might be tough," he looks down. "Making this work."

"I know," I answer.

"I'm still scared of fucking this up. Which is why I tried so hard to resist you. You deserve someone who'll–"

"I'll work with what I have," I cut him off.

"You're too good for me, you know that?" He asks.

"Oh shut up," I fold my arms. "You make it sound like being stuck to you isn't heaven."

"It really isn't, I work crazy hours–"

"Luis," I say. "I'm going to need you to shut up, okay?"

He nods and I quickly peck his lips. "Good. Now let's get you home, I'll draw you a nice bath, then you can relax and let me take care of you," I tell him. "Are you hungry? Because I think I can–"

I don't know how, but I am suddenly backed up against the car, and Luis is kissing me so passionately my toes curl. 

I feel everything at once, my brain turning into fireworks as I try to hold myself together. Just when it feels like it is getting too much, he stops and pulls away to look at me. 

"I love you," he says desperately. 

It takes like a whole minute for my brain to get back online. It feels like I didn't hear him right. 

"No!" I reply. "I wanted to say it first!" I whine. 

Luis chuckles. "Well too bad," he says. " You never should have crawled onto my lap in the first place."

I laugh when I understand. "But I really did miss you, and it seems like it worked."

"It worked alright," he smirks and holds my hand. "They were the most trying moments of my life."

I chuckle again. "You don't know how happy I am, to hear that."

"Of course you are," he says. 

"Luis?" I call softly to him. 

"Yeah?"

"I love you too," I tell him and he breaks into his most sheepish smile yet, like he can't help himself.

Luis sighs when we get back in the car. I don't think he even notices that he is humming to himself. 

"The surgery," I start. "It went well?"

"Mhm, the patient's condition is stable right now. She's going to wake up just fine," he answers. 

"I'm glad," I tell him, relieved at hearing that. "Okay, let's go home."

"Home..." he says. "I like the sound of that." Luis hangs his head back. "Now I want to tell you again."

"Tell me what?" I ask as I start the engine. 

"I love you," he says and looks at me like I'm the only thing he can see.

"Pfft," I reply. I just know I'm blushing. "I love you too."

# Epilogue

Six months later

...

It is no surprise that I've come to crave these afternoons we share. 

I look down at him and wonder for the millionth time, how someone could love another so profoundly. 

I look Aidan in the eye and get carried away for a little while. His lips are moving but I can't tell what he's saying. 

"Hey!" He pokes at my bare chest and frowns adorably. "I know when you get like this, you aren't really listening to me."

"Like what?" I ask. 

He is lying down on his back and staring up at me. I'm staring back down with my elbow at the side of his head, using my fist to support my cheek. 

We're both in our underwear and doing nothing else but lazing around and just talking.

I always make sure to get time off for this. At least once a week. It is our time, and I don't  want anything to get in the way of it. 

"You said, you don't like French beans because you once choked on one," I chuckle and lay on my back, pulling him to rest his head on my chest. 

I join our fingers together and raise them up. "Yeah," he says. 

"See?" I say. "I was paying attention."

"Hmm," says Aidan. "You win this time."

I smile contentedly, just feeling him breathe against my chest. 

"I still want to know why the first time I saw you, there was a dollar in your ass," I tell Aidan. 

He bursts out laughing and I feel my insides become weightless. My insides churn and I have to close my eyes for a second because I'm too overwhelmed. 

"There's this club..." Aidan starts. "...I can't show my face to the bartender again."

"What did you do?" I laugh.

"Well, let's just say I think I tried to buy a bottle of Scotch with that dollar, I was drunk as hell." Aidan chuckles as he tells his story. "He said no and it didn't go well after that. You understand right Luis? Every time we go out, it can't be to that club."

"I hear you, love," I reply. "So will you marry me?"

Aidan gets off me and turns quickly, shock swimming in his eyes. 

I pull out the ring I've been carrying around for the past two weeks, trying to find the right moment to propose. 

I open it and Aidan gasps, his hands move to cover his mouth. 

"These past few months together have been the highlight of my life, and they've been enough for me to know that I want you for the rest of my life. I want us," I spill my heart out. "You're the best thing to ever happen to me, my love. I'm in love with your smile, your laugh, your kind heart... God, you're so adorable–"

Aidan throws his hands around my neck and sobs. I wrap a hand around his waist.

"Yes," he whispers. "Yes, I'll marry you." 

He breaks away from the hug and snivels. 

"I love you so much Aidan," I tell him because I just want him to know. 

"I love you too," he laughs and wipes his eyes. "You're making a mess of me."

"Give me your hand," I say softly to him. Then I slide the ring onto his finger. 

Suddenly, I can't look away from him as he admires his hand. He catches me looking. "You're so beautiful," I let out.

He kisses me before I can say anything cheesy again. I can't help it; he's just made me the happiest man on earth. I trace a line on his back and he recoils. 

"I still don't know how you found such a sensitive spot," Aidan says. 

"I'm a doctor," I reply. "I specialize in knowing my way around the human body."

"I'm not convinced," he says cheekily, returning back to lie on me. "But you can try and change my mind."

"I'm so going to change your mind," I assure him. 

"So you say," he replies and fake-yawns. 

Aidan giggles when I suddenly trap him between my arms. "There's that stubborn nature."

•END•

Thank you for reading the first book in the Cherry series. 

I hope you'll like the rest. 

The next book in this series is titled: 

O____ F_______

(Good luck guessing

, 

and be on the lookout for it)

Again, thank you. 

🍒