"Jess, those labs you asked for are on the reception desk," I shouted through the gap in the door of the medical storeroom. "In the yellow pouch."

"Wait, wait." She elbowed the door wider, her arms filled with bandages, a section of her black hair flopping over her face. She blew it out of the way only for it to fall in front of her eyes again. "Bloody hair. Next time I want to cut it short, stop me."

I laughed, removed a hair clip from my pocket and secured her wayward strands out of the way. "Come here. I'll take some of those off you?" Grabbing a handful of the white dressings, I followed her over to the nearest trolley and dropped them on the top.

"Have a fab time. Don't get a sunburn and watch out for the spiders," she said, rummaging through the drawers to fit everything in. "What time do you clock off?"

"I did ten minutes ago."

"Oh my goodness, go or you're gonna be late for your holiday." She grinned and gave me a one-handed hug. "You better ring me if anything exciting happens."

I smoothed down the front of my blue tunic and pressed my lips together to suppress a smile. I wouldn't get my hopes up just yet, but I couldn't deny I had the same exact thought as her. Everything at home had been going so well. Better than well. Home. Silly how one word had me in high spirits so easily.

After reassuring Jess that she would be one of the first to hear if I had news, I said my goodbyes and headed for the staff room so I could change out of my uniform. The water pressure at work being awful, I preferred waiting until I got back to shower.

Stretching my muscles the moment the late afternoon sun hit my face, I thought of everything I had accomplished over the year; a new home, a solid group of friends, a job I loved and above all else, a sense of peace.

I twirled my keys around my index finger and skipped over to my car. It had taken a few more months to get me behind the wheel again after I drove myself to the hospital when Zaire had his accident. But seeing me now, you wouldn't know it. I slipped my sunglasses on, turned the radio up high and merged with the rush hour traffic on the dreaded, busy motorway.

The new apartment wasn't too far out of the city, but enough that the rent wasn't crippling on a nurse's wage. Having a boyfriend pay for half of it helped a lot too. It was said boyfriend I was in such a hurry to get back to.

The moment I parked outside the red brick front building, I rushed inside.

"Baby, you in yet?" I stripped my top straight off and shimmied out of my jeans. "I'm grabbing a shower before we finish packing if you are," I shouted to the seemingly empty apartment.

As I neared our bedroom door, the sound of running water echoed out of our en-suite. I removed my bra, followed by my practical panties, and balled all of my dirty clothes into the laundry basket. Two open suitcases and piles of neatly folded clothes sat abandoned on my bed. We had tried to finish them before I left that morning, but at five am, I could barely stand straight.

"Move over, sexy butt." I slid open the glass shower door and stepped under the warm spray. "Actually, stay right there." Wrapping my arms around Matt's middle, I lay the side of my face against his back and closed my eyes.

"How was work?" He twisted in my embrace, ran his hands down my sides, and cupped my backside. I pressed my ear to his chest and listened to the rhythm of his heartbeats. I loved this part of my day, when it was just the two of us and nothing or no one could invade our time.

"Exhausting! Two road collisions, one ladder fall and a severed thumb. And that was as I walked through the doors. Didn't stop after that. They had a quiet night, apparently." I let out a heavy sigh as Matt lathered shampoo into my hair.

"And?"

"Didn't even flinch. I just got on with it." I relaxed into his touch, his expert hands massaging my scalp. It really hadn't bothered me. Even when a young girl was the named driver in the last accident. I only wanted to help, and their wellbeing over mine was at the forefront of my mind the entire time.

"That's my girl. Have I told you how much I fucking love you lately?"

I scrunched my nose and gripped his shoulders. This man. As gorgeous as the day I met him, and just one look took my breath away. "Maybe once or twice." I smiled and stood on the tips of my toes for a kiss. His lips, soft and sluggish to start, knew the exact pressure to apply and when to pick up the pace. I would never tire of kissing Matt Quinn.

"Ready for this trip?" He said, leaving my knees weak and wanting more. He ran his fingers through the last soap suds in my hair and tilted my head back so they wouldn't fall in my eyes.

"Yeah. I'm excited." I paused and spluttered on some of the water as it entreated my mouth. "A bit nervous about meeting your parents for the first time but also can't wait for our first holiday together." I bit the inside of my cheek and traced over the scar on my left forearm as a reminder. Some habits were harder to break. "Sorry we couldn't go before when you got the tickets," I said, my voice barely audible over the noise of the shower.

"Hey, you're more important. It wasn't the right time, and that's okay. They'll love ya, babe. Trust me."

My gut tightened. "I know we made that choice together, so I didn't break my visits with Helen, but if it wasn't for me, you would have seen your parents and sister sooner. My parents treat you like family and I don't even know yours yet."

"Well, give it a couple more days and we'll fix that. And all these worries will be forgotten. You'll be sick of them and I'll have to fight my mum for you." He kissed me again, turned the water off and wrapped a large towel around me before grabbing one for himself. "I have big plans for us so she better not."

"Oh, bungee jumping type plans?"

He shook his head and chuckled. "Maybe crazier, my little adrenaline monsta." He tugged on my towel and brought me closer.

"You booked the parachute jump, didn't you?" I teased, hoping that his plans didn't actually involve a crazy stunt but perhaps a glinting rock and a promise we both were eager to make. Hints might have been dropped over the last month from a certain best friend of mine. "I knew I'd wear you down."

"Yeah, that's it. You nag," he laughed and swatted my arse as he chased me into the other room.

We fell onto our bed, our suitcases and folded clothes dumped on the floor. Matt covered my body with his and I traced his plump bottom lip with my thumb.

"I love you," I murmured into his ear. "Whatever happens, I'll love you."

Because in a world of uncertainties, my love for Matt would never waver.

***