Believe me (RHEKKER)

Chapter 23

For most of the week, Connor's behavior was too different. He even missed Ava's hilarious comments when they did manage to work together as a team. Besides, Connor had become distracted - and Ava was keenly aware of all this.

"Connor, what's the matter?" she couldn't stand it when they finished working on the patient, collecting his entrails while working on his heart. Ava pulled off her gloves and threw them in the trash, stopping in the hand-washing room, blocking the door.

"What do you mean?" Rhodes was surprised, although it looked too fake, and most importantly, it was not the first time he managed to take off his dirty gloves, getting tangled in them.

"You look like you've lost the meaning of your whole life" Ava said with exaggeration, also putting on a mask of calm, while being very worried that something might have happened between them.

"Oh, no, Ava. It's obviously not, it's disgusting" he cut off flatly, chuckling in spite of himself as he finally got rid of his gloves, meeting Ava's eyes. "Honestly, nothing happened, and I'm fine, just the last few days such a blockage at work, probably just a normal fatigue".

"Are you sure?" biting her lip, exhaled Ava, always trusting his words.

"I'm sure, honey" Connor smiled, giving her a brief but too gentle kiss on the lips.

Leaning forward slightly, Ava was immediately in his arms, relaxing. Still, Connor was the same person, and everything was fine between them.

Ava felt a hand on her belly and smiled happily. Plus, her belly was showing a little, but only to Connor, and she liked the feel of it. 

"Avey, doesn't it hurt? No nausea or any other negative symptoms?" Connor muttered excitedly, constantly asking her about it.  

"Baby gave me a break, and I'm just full of energy" Ava laughed softly, nuzzling Connor's neck.

"You remember what we talked about, right?" Connor asked for an unknown time, ignoring Bekker's trademark look when she was displeased with overprotection but also deeply in love with her caring man.

"I'll be sure to let you know if I feel bad" Ava repeated, leaning her head back in Connor's tight embrace.

"Good girl" he approved of her answer, admiring her beauty. 

"Sounds like a tempting prelude to further sex" Ava noted, laughing when Connor broke down and rolled his eyes. "But Latham's waiting for me, see you tonight, cowboy!"

As Ava quickly ran out of the operating room, Connor exhaled heavily. He ran a nervous hand through his hair and threw himself into his work, knowing that otherwise he would burn with the excitement that had been with him all these days. It wasn't until the end of his shift, which he finished a little before Ava, that Connor stopped at his locker, holding a small velvet box in his hands. He never came up with an original place to propose to his girl. And now, thinking about it again, he wanted to postpone this event again for "later".

Connor knew Ava didn't like posturing, and neither did expensive gifts. She wasn't the typical girl who needed money attention. She was exactly homely, familial. And even though Connor wanted to propose to her in some very unusual place, he was stopped by the fact that it would not be the same, it would mean that he did not know his girlfriend at all, who did not need such a show-off.

After booking several restaurants, Connor realized that none of them would be suitable. Now he was standing in the empty locker room, wishing he could propose to Ava as soon as possible, but he hadn't prepared properly for the event. It was a complete failure.