"Mr. Peterson!" A deep voice says, and I'm brought back from my daydream.

"Yeah?" I say, alert again.

"Is everything okay?" Dr. Raymond asks, staring at me.

"Yeah, everything's perfect." I say.

"I need you to run this file down to orthopedics to Dr. Aldridge right now before you go on break, okay?" Dr. Raymond asks, and I instantly nod.

"Of course, Dr. Raymond."

I take the file from his hands, and I walk quickly to orthopedics. Once I get there, I make my way into the room and I see Dr. Aldridge with a patient.

"Dr. Aldridge," I say, knocking on the door. "I have a file for you."

"Thanks R, just put it on the desk. I'm kind of busy with this patient." He says.

The patient turns around, and my heartbeat accelerates when I see her. Alex sits in the chair, and she gives me an awkward smile.

I totally forgot that she had an appointment today.

"Alexandrianna," I say, winking at her.

She lets out a shy laugh, and she greets me back. We stare at each other for a while, and I don't want to tear away from her gorgeous eyes.

"How's her knee doing?" I ask curiously, even though I know how it is because I check on her knee at my flat.

"This is her last orthopedic appointment, and it's back to normal. Just don't put a lot of pressure or stress on it because it can't handle as much as it could before it was dislocated." Dr. Aldridge explains, and Alex nods her head.

"So, I can get rid of my brace now?" Alex asks, her face lighting up.

"Yes, you can." Dr. Aldridge says, smiling at Alex's excitement.

Once Alex leaves the appointment, I walk side by side with her down the hallways.

"I went and got your Christmas gifts today, Alex." I say, and she smiles up at me.

"What did you get? Please tell me you didn't break the bank getting me things, I'd feel horrible." Alex says.

"I guess you'll just wait and see in a couple of days."

"I have no idea what to get you, though." Alex whines.

"I actually don't really want anything for Christmas this year. I know my parents got me something but that's because they're my parents and always feel the need to spoil my siblings and I." I explain, and she literally pouts and I smile at her cuteness.

"If they can get you something, why can't I?" Alex asks in a bratty voice.

"Spending Christmas with you is all I want, and I'll be content with that. Nothing materialistic can satisfy me, and I'm not an acquisitive person because I grew up wealthy. I truly don't want you to buy me anything because I already have who I want, and that's you." I clarify, holding her shoulders gently as I finish my soliloquy to her.

"Rian, you make me realize a lot of things. One of those things being that I am actually quite grateful for dislocating my knee because if I hadn't, I wouldn't have met you. I can't wait to spend Christmas and New Years with you, I know it'll be the happiest I've been in a while." She says, and her chocolate irises are burning into mine.

"I'm grateful that they assigned me to you, Alex. I know that 2016 will be started off right with you." I say, unable to stop smiling.

"Me too."

"Where are you off to, now?" I ask curiously, caressing with her thumbs.

"Probably off to the mall to get your gifts." She says, and I groan.

"Alexandrianna, didn't I just tell you why I didn't want gifts?" I ask playfully.

"Yes, but I'd feel bad if you got nothing while I was being showered with gifts. I guess it's just something in me."

"Your munificence, Alex. That's what's in you. You're seeming to be indebted to me for all I've done, huh?" I smirk.

"Yes! You've helped me non stop since I fucked up my knee, and I haven't done a single thing to repay you." Alex says, imploring me.

"Alex, babe, you don't need to. I think we can both repay each other on New Years." I say, and my body feels like it's been set aflame.

Alex's eyes widen, and her cheeks turn scarlet.

Shit, I probably shouldn't have said that. Considering the fact at how she's still uncomfortable with intimacy. My contempt for Austin is through the roof, because he messed her head up so much that she doesn't think she'll be able to love again. Alex believed that it was all her fault, and that she isn't worthy of love, but she couldn't be more wrong. Alex deserves nothing but love to heal up the wounds and stitches of every single time she's felt nothing but heartache.

Alex needs love to heal up the wounds that her mother has put on her body physically, and in her head mentally. To heal all uncertainty that's produced in her tall body, and to release it all out. Hopefully we can start the new year right, and that's what I want her year to start and end with. No doubts, no worries, no regrets.

Just love.

"What about you, Rian? What're you about to do?" Alex asks, quickly changing the subject.

"Well, I have to attend to my patients and then I have one final exam and then I'll be finished." I say.

"Oh, yeah! Well, I know you'll do great. You're a pretty intelligent, knowledgeable man. What degree are soon expecting?"

"Well, I already hold a Masters degree, I am now trying to reach my Doctorate. I've been studying my ass off because I'm really zealous about my career." I explain, and Alex smiles brightly at me.

"I know you are, you told me. Just know that I believe in you, and you'll have to believe in yourself as well." Alex says, and my body feels warm and fuzzy.

"Thank you, Alex." I say appreciatively.

"You're welcome, now, I have to go before you get in trouble or something."

"Alex, I'm basically on my break now. You want to go get lunch?" I offer.

"That sounds nice." She says and smiles.

~~~

Rian and I walk out of the hospital, hand in hand, and he opens the passenger side door of his Mercedes Benz for me. I smile at him before sitting inside of it, and he drives me to a bistro that's a few minutes away. Rian holds the door opened, and I thank him before I'm welcomed with the warm, cozy environment of the bistro. Rian grabs my hand again while we walk to a table.

"Let me guess, you come here a lot and have a usual here too?" I ask, and he lets out a chuckle.

"You know me so well, Alexandrianna." He says and winks.

"Why do you sometimes say my full name?" I ask.

"It's a beautiful name, and I like how it sounds." Rian says, and I smile sheepishly at the complement.

"Thanks, my dad came up with combining the name Alexandria and Anna together. That's what he told me, anyway." I say, and stare down at the menu.

Rian grabs my hand across the table, and he runs his thumb over my knuckles carefully. I smile at the gesture, and I place my hand on top of his. His eyes are attentive, like he's inspecting my face for any trace of dolor. I decide to do the same, and I study his face. The sharp jawline, stormy blue eyes, thick lips, the perfectly arched brows.

This man was sculpted by God himself.

"What can I get you two today?" A woman asks politely.

"I'll get the grilled halibut with a side of arugula salad, please. I'll just have the cappuccino." Rian says.

"I'll take the shakshuka with the Greek salad on the side. I'll have the mint lemonade, please." I say quickly.

"Okay, I'll be out with your food shortly." The woman says and takes our menus before disappearing into the back.

Thirty minutes pass, and the woman sets down our food on the table. Rian and I dig into the food and continue to talk about our plans for Christmas and New Years.

"Alex, thanks for accepting my offer for lunch. I really wanted to spend some time with you, I just needed some stress taken off of my shoulders from today." Rian says.

"You're welcome. What's wrong?" I ask.

"Pressure of exams weighing down on me, I had to give some bad news to a patient, and I've been thinking about my dad lately." Rian says, and I feel a twinge of pain in my chest.

"It'll be okay, Rian. Just think, it'll be Christmas in a couple of days, and then New Years."

"Yeah, I'm going back home for Christmas. Don't worry, though, I'll be with you before I go to Sacramento." Rian says.

"What'd you get your family for Christmas?" I ask.

"I'll show you when we're at home tonight." Rian says.

Rian sips on his cappuccino, and his stare makes my body feel jittery. My heart takes off, and I begin to get lost in his eyes and my thoughts.

I want to end this year with a bang, and with Rian. I want to put everything behind me, and start fresh with him. In almost two months, I've been given honesty, joy, protection, and best of all, love.

I want to reciprocate my passion for him. Repaying him on New Years for everything he's done is the only thing on my mind.

In almost two months, I've realized that I shouldn't be afraid to love. Especially with a man as chivalrous as Rian.

I've realized that the wall I built up after Austin hurt me was inconsequential. Irrelevant.

You can't hide those type of emotions. The feeling you get is indescribable when you've finally met someone who might be the one.

And I think the one is sitting right in front of me.