Aching for His Discretion (The Discretion Dynasty #1)

47. Teegan

Chapter forty-seven

Teegan

S itting in the breakroom, I ate my lunch and watched the boys together on FaceTime as they talked amongst themselves. Digging my fork into my broccoli, I took a bite and tilted my head, confused at the conversation as it was being done solely in Italian.

“Guys, I am enjoying our time spent together just as much as you are,” I began, and they paused as they looked over at me simultaneously. I gave them a tight-lipped grin as I pointed to my plate. “But you three are speaking in another language… First of all, it’s unfair because I can’t understand, and second, I want to finish watching my show while I have the time to enjoy my break.”

“No. You’re not hanging up,” was all Elliot said, and I whined.

“Why not!!” I said, annoyed.

Nico leaned back as he tilted his head. “Because we said so. Argue with that, and we’ll cancel your Netflix subscription.”

“You wouldn’t,” I gasped, and he shrugged.

“ Try me .”

“But you guys are being annoying and ignoring me too,” I pouted, and Micah sighed.

“We’re sorry, Little Mama. We just wanted your company for a while before you went back to work,” he apologized, and I smiled softly, holding back an audible “aww” that wanted to surface because I knew they’d get embarrassed.

“ Now that you have our attention… how has this last week been? ” he asked, and I knew he was referring to Levi springing back into my life unannounced.

Pushing the food around on my plate, I bit my lip. “I dunno,” I whispered, and I sighed as I continued, “It just feels weird, I guess.”

“ He’s been taking his therapy very seriously, you know, ” Nico said, and I nodded.

“I know… he’s changed a lot,” I admitted, and Elliot tilted his head.

“You think so?” he asked, and I shrugged.

“I mean, from my perspective, he has… It’s almost like he’s a different person at times. More understanding, less reactive… I don’t know. If it were the old Levi, he would have to work harder to gain my trust again, but now,” I trailed off, and they listened intently.

“ Now? ” Micah asked, and I sighed.

“Now I don’t know what to think. I was manipulated by him before, and even after seeing the signs, I ignored them. What if it’s happening again? What if I fall into the same kind of relationship that drove us apart?” I said.

The boys shared a glance toward one another as they remained silent.

I went to speak again when I heard a gasp behind me. Turning, I noticed Abbie and Emma coming in with their lunch, and I rolled my eyes at them.

“Aren’t you two supposed to be in the clinic?” I asked, and Emma shrugged.

“We wanted to come have lunch with you. Besides, it’s slow anyway,” she said.

I would have responded if I hadn’t been so focused on Abbie, who was making googly eyes at the guys.

“Hi, guys,” she said, smiling, and they gave her a wave, used to her tactics. I narrowed my eyes as Elliot, in particular, seemed to have trouble keeping his eyes on her as she moved into the camera. I turned my phone away, and she gasped once again.

“Abbie, what are you doing?” I asked, and she shrugged, feigning innocence.

“What, Teegs? I’m just making conversation,” she said harmlessly, and I rolled my eyes as Emma sat across from me.

“Conversation, my ass…”

She rolled her eyes, and Abbie glared at Emma for making a sly comment.

“Abigail, you know you’re basically flirting with my brothers right now,” I said, confused.

She groaned as she crossed her arms. “It’s not my fault your brothers are hot!” she reasoned before she dejectedly sat beside me as she took a bite of her lunch with a pout.

Reluctantly, I sighed and placed her back into the camera’s view.

Her face immediately lit up, and I rolled my eyes as they began to converse. Emma pretended to stick her finger in her mouth to mimic the action of wanting to throw up, and I giggled at her antics as the chaos continued.

Needing to step away to run to the bathroom, I handed Abbie my phone. “Try not to scare them off, Abnormal.”

She gave me a look. “Scare them off? Please, they love the attention. Am I right, boys?!” She smiled, and Elliot took a sip of water as Nico and Micah agreed with mischievous smiles on their faces.

Deciding to let it go, I walked out of the breakroom to do my business. On my way out and back to the girls, I stopped in my tracks as I noticed one of the physicians who constantly checked in on me.

“Hi, Dr. Lombardi.” I smiled, and he looked up from his phone as he heard my voice. He returned my smile as he approached me, placing it in his pocket.

“Dr. Monroe. Hiding away from the clinic, I see?” he asked, and I sighed.

“Would you tell on me if I was?”

“Oh, I could never rat out my favorite resident.”

I hummed. “Hmm, well, in that case, the truth is I am on my lunch break, but my coworkers are running from the clinic.”

“Why am I not surprised?” he uttered, shaking his head as I laughed. “Did you have breakfast this morning?” he asked, concerned, and I sighed, the smile still on my face. This was a very regular occurrence with him. He always wanted to know if I had eaten, rested enough, felt stressed or overwhelmed, everything.

I made the mistake of telling him I was hungry once, and he forced me to take my lunch early. Yeah, he was a bit overprotective of us residents, but I appreciated him for it.

“Yes, I did. And I had dinner last night. I also have three protein bars on me currently,” I said, and he chuckled.

“Atta girl. Keep me updated if you guys get busy a little later. I’ll be in my office.”

“Will do. Thank you, sir.” I smiled, and he nodded.

“Anytime, Dr. Monroe,” he said before heading back to his office.

I rejoined Abbie and Emma, who were still engrossed in their conversation with the guys on my phone.

I wanted to interject, but I didn’t. I simply smiled as they bonded. It made me happy knowing my relationship with all five of them has grown so much. They’ve been my brothers and sisters in my times of happiness or crisis, and I couldn’t have been happier to have them in my life. Even if Abbie was starting to scare them as she fluttered her eyelashes. Yeah, I need to put an end to this now.

Walking out of the hospital, I furrowed my eyebrows as Levi was standing somewhat nervously by the car door. As I walked over to him, I tilted my head.

“Levi, is everything okay?” I asked, concerned, and he nodded as he opened the door to the car for me. I watched him cautiously as he grabbed my bags and placed them inside the back seat. As I sat down, he came back around and sat in the driver’s seat, still slightly anxious.

“Levi—” I began, but my words were caught in my throat as he reached into the backseat and pulled out a bouquet of red roses. Am I getting déjà vu? Usually he only brings out roses when he apologizes…

“Teegan, I’ve been thinking all day about what you said, and I do want us to start slow and take things easy. So I won’t get angry or upset if you decline, but I wanted to ask if you’d like to get dinner tomorrow night. Just to talk a bit more and see where things go,” he said, his eyes optimistic.

Hesitating for a moment, I stared at the flowers for a short while as memories flashed before my eyes again.

This is why he was nervous?

As I looked up at him, I bit my lip. This felt… different . I hated admitting it, but Levi had genuinely changed. He gave me space when I needed it, didn’t force me to agree to what he wanted, made sure I was comfortable, respected my wishes, and did his best to calm himself when he was getting angry. I was beyond baffled as the “old” Levi would tell me we were getting dinner while the “new” Levi was practically begging me to.

Back then, I accepted it because I was falling in love. I fell in love with his demeanor, his possessiveness, his affection, and his attention. It made me feel alive, no matter how manipulative or toxic it was to our relationship or my mental health. Now, I felt as though I appreciated his effort in making me choose and not being so controlling. I felt safe like I used to back then. I felt heard and understood.

Taking a deep breath, I smiled as I grabbed the flowers.

“I’d love to, Levi,” I said, and I could immediately see relief wash over him. He grabbed my hand, and I held back a giggle as he placed a small kiss on the back of it like he was silently thanking me.

I thought back to my conversation with the guys, and I looked up at him as he caressed my hand while starting the car.

I know… he’s changed a lot.

You think so?

Elliot’s voice rang in my ears, and I internally sighed. Being an overthinker has its perks, but in times like this, when I want to enjoy the moment, I despise it. Still… I couldn’t help but wonder. I didn’t miss the old Levi per se, but I wondered what happened to him.

What made him change into a man who took deep breaths and voiced his frustration instead of using his fists and anger…? I didn’t want to think about the consequences that could come from an overthinker dating a past manipulator.

So I didn’t. Instead, I enjoyed the car ride home and pondered the outfit I’d wear for our date.