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I crouched down to his eye level and grinned conspiratorially. “Tell you what, buddy. You do the same thing to Julian and we’ll call it even.”
He looked horrified for a moment before running off laughing. He really was an adorable little kid. Those dimples of his would be breaking hearts sooner than his mom would be prepared for.
I sat back as I watched the kids running around with the ball for another half hour before Julian called an end to the training. They were a pretty disciplined bunch, packing up after themselves and taking care of the training materials before heading off with their parents.
After the last boy had left, Julian sat down by my side and look at me with some concern.
“I know that look,” he muttered.
I laughed sadly. “Yeah, I’m pretty much screwed this time.”
“Screwed? Orgot screwed?”
“Both,” I shrugged. “I was lucky I left my phone in her house yesterday. Came in just as her bastard ex forced his way in, hollering at her and all that.”
Julian winced. “That guy is a piece of work.”
“He’s an out-and-out asshole, that’s what he is,” I growled, leaning back into the bleachers and looking up at the afternoon sky. “It shouldn’t have happened but I guess with all the excitement of that fucking bastard trying to force himself on Amanda, we just kind of fell into bed once more.”
For a moment, there was silence between us and I would have given anything for a bottle of cold beer at that moment.
“Seems like she really means more to you than you’re letting on,” Julian mused.
I grimaced. “Well, just because she means more to me doesn’t mean that it’s right. I’m going back to London in a few days, anyway.”
“Hmm…” my childhood friend nodded. “But have you ever thought of moving back here and staying in Georgetown?”
I laughed. “What? No! I mean, I have a whole life out there. There are people who need me there.”
“Ah, that was just a suggestion, though.”
I sat back and stared out into the sky. I had never really thought of leaving London before. Sure, I grew up in Georgetown but after graduating med school and training in cardiology, it just never occurred to me to come back home and start a practice here.
I’ve made a home for myself out there but…I didn’t really have a life back there either.
My days in London revolved mostly around work and my patients. I never even really left the city because I was always afraid something would happen to my patients while I was gone.
This was the longest that I had ever been gone.
This was the deal we doctor’s take—we had to give up our lives to save the lives of others...
But here in Georgetown, I have my family. I have my friends. There are people who know me here, who’ve been with me since I was a child. The memories I made here are forever a part of me.
“Well, it’s getting late and I promised Mom we’d have a barbecue tonight,” I grinned. I clapped a hand on his shoulder and stood up. “Thanks for being a great buddy, man. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to talk with anyone just like this.”
“Aw, that just warms the cockles of my heart!”
I laughed at him. “Shut up.”
Julian stood up and we both walked out of the field—him to his Range Rover and me back to my bike. As I looked back at the field, I wondered when I would be able to come back here again.
* * *
When I got back home, I turned to the garden, where Mom was already setting up the grill.
I really hoped she hadn’t added anything to fix my “vibes” this time, although I wouldn’t lie—I needed some kind of divine intervention.
“Hey, Mom,” I greeted her dully.
