Healing Hearts

Chapter 7: Unlikely Allies

Emma sat in the bustling hospital cafeteria, stirring her coffee absentmindedly as she listened to her friend, Dr. Lily Crawford, ramble on about her weekend. Normally, Emma would be fully engaged in the conversation, laughing at Lily's stories about her chaotic family dinners, but today her mind was somewhere else. Or rather, someone else.

"You're doing it again," Lily said suddenly, snapping Emma out of her thoughts.

Emma blinked, her spoon clinking against her cup. "Doing what?"

"Zoning out." Lily narrowed her eyes at her, leaning across the table with a mischievous grin. "Let me guess. You're thinking about a certain billionaire who's been hanging around here lately?"

Emma's face flushed, and she quickly looked down at her coffee. "I'm not."

Lily laughed, clearly not convinced. "Sure, you're not. Come on, Emma, you've been acting weird all week. Spill the beans."

Emma shook her head, trying to play it off. "There's nothing to tell. We've talked a few times, that's all."

"A few times? More like he's practically glued to your side whenever he's here," Lily teased. "I've seen the way he looks at you. It's like you're the only person in the room."

Emma's stomach twisted at the thought. Liam's attention was overwhelming sometimes, and as much as she tried to downplay it, she couldn't deny that it affected her more than she wanted to admit.

"Lily, he's just being nice," Emma said, trying to sound casual. "He's grateful for everything I did for his father, that's all."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "Nice? Emma, billionaires don't just hang around hospitals for fun. He's into you. Big time."

Emma rolled her eyes, though she felt her heart rate pick up. "Even if he was, it doesn't matter. I'm not interested in someone like him."

"Oh, please," Lily said with a laugh. "Don't act like you're not even a little interested. He's handsome, charming, and, you know, a billionaire. That's not exactly a bad package."

Emma groaned, sinking back into her chair. "You sound like a tabloid."

Lily shrugged. "Maybe, but you know I'm right. Why are you fighting this so hard?"

"I'm not fighting anything," Emma said, though she could hear the defensive tone in her own voice.

"You totally are," Lily insisted. "Look, I get it. He's not exactly the kind of guy you'd normally go for. But maybe that's a good thing. Maybe it's time to shake things up a little."

Emma sighed, knowing Lily wasn't going to let this go. "It's not that simple. He's... complicated."

"All the best guys are," Lily said, smirking. "But seriously, Em, what's the harm in getting to know him better? It's not like you have to marry him tomorrow."

Emma hesitated, her mind flashing back to the way Liam had looked at her that night in the car, the way he had asked her not to shut him out. She had been so careful, so determined to keep her distance, but the more time she spent with him, the harder it became to stick to that plan.

"I don't know, Lily," Emma said quietly. "I just... I don't want to get hurt."

Lily's expression softened, and she reached across the table to squeeze Emma's hand. "I get that. But sometimes, you have to take a risk. Not everyone's going to hurt you."

Emma appreciated Lily's words, but the doubts still lingered. Her past relationships had taught her to be cautious, to guard her heart. And with Liam, there was so much at stake. He wasn't just some random guy; he was someone who could upend her whole world if she let him in.

"I'll think about it," Emma said, though she wasn't sure she believed her own words.

Later that evening, Emma sat in her tiny apartment, curled up on the couch with a book. She had been trying to lose herself in the story, but her mind kept drifting back to her conversation with Lily. Maybe her friend was right. Maybe she was overthinking everything. But at the same time, she couldn't shake the feeling that getting involved with Liam would complicate her life in ways she wasn't prepared for.

Just as she was about to get up to make tea, her phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at the screen, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Liam's name.

Liam: I hope you're not still at the hospital.

Emma hesitated before replying, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Emma: Nope, I actually made it home early for once.

His response came quickly.

Liam: Good. I was thinking about you.

Emma stared at the message, her stomach fluttering. There it was again—that directness, that effortless way he had of cutting through all the noise and getting straight to the point. She wasn't used to it. Most of the men she had dated in the past had been guarded, hesitant. But not Liam. He didn't seem afraid of putting himself out there.

Emma: Why?

She regretted the question the moment she sent it. It sounded too casual, too dismissive, but she didn't know how else to respond. Liam's answer, however, caught her off guard.

Liam: Because I can't stop thinking about you.

Emma's breath caught in her throat. She had expected something flirty, something playful, but this? This was different. It felt real. And that terrified her.

Emma: Liam...

She paused, unsure of what to say. Part of her wanted to tell him to back off, to give her space, but the other part—the part that had been growing louder over the past few days—wanted to let him in.

Liam: Look, I know this probably feels like a lot. I'm not trying to push you into anything. I just want to spend time with you. Get to know you better.

Emma's fingers hovered over the keyboard. Lily's voice echoed in her head, urging her to take a chance. To stop shutting him out.

Emma: Okay. Let's start with that.

She hit send before she could change her mind. The moment the message went through, a mixture of relief and nervousness washed over her.

His response came almost instantly.

Liam: Dinner tomorrow night?

Emma smiled despite herself. There it was the next step. She knew that agreeing to dinner meant stepping further into whatever this was, but for the first time, she found herself wanting to. Maybe it was time to take a chance.

Emma: Okay. Dinner it is.