“I own a company. I have hundreds of employees depending on me, and I control the wealth of every high roller in New England. Yes, it certainly is different.”

“So, wealth takes precedence over health? Is that what you’re trying to tell me?” I crossed my arms over my chest, knowing his shit day was the reason for this fight. The more I fed into it, the worse it was going to get. “Don’t answer that. I’m done with this argument. I have patients to care for.”

“Fucking ridiculous.”

“Would it be ridiculous if you were in the hospital, pounding on your call button and no one answered? Or you were screaming out in pain and no one came to help you? Something tells me, if that were you, you’d have a much different opinion about this.”

Instead of waiting for a response, I walked into the bedroom, locating my scrubs in the corner of his closet, and stripped off my clothes to put them on. My feet went into a pair of clogs, and I situated my workbag across my body, resting it on my hip.

When I returned to the kitchen, he hadn’t moved, and I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, intending to attempt to flush out the glass and a half of wine I’d had with dinner. “I’ll be back when there are enough nurses to relieve me,” I said and turned to leave.

“Don’t go.”

I took another step toward the elevator before turning to face him. “Don’t ask me to do that.”

“Then, I’m going to ask you to quit your job.”

My chest filled with air, as though there were a balloon inside and it was threatening to pop. “Caleb, stop.”

When he placed his beer down, the sound of the glass made me jump. “The one time I told you I needed you, and you’re walking out the fucking door.”

I felt like my body was being carved down the middle, both pieces so severed that I didn’t know which one would survive. “I’m sorry.” Tears were moving into my eyes, my hands squeezing the strap of my bag. “But I have to go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Maybe then you’ll be ready to put this relationship first.”

My feet halted, and I glanced at him over my shoulder. I could no longer hold them back, the drips quickly falling from my eyes. “How dare you say that to me.”

“Thanks for ruining our first night. It’s a memory I’ll cherish forever.”

Each drop felt like fire on my cheeks, burning their way into my skin.

I gritted my teeth together, knowing anything else I said would just goad him more, and I rushed into the foyer. When I got off the elevator and hurried through the lobby, I took out my phone, pressed a button, and held it to my ear.