Days Like This
Part 4
By Lisa
ERDrLewis@aol.com

Okay, here's part four. I'm sad to say it's the last part in this series. But
I'm already working on my next, don't worry! Normal disclaimers apply, no money
was made off this fic and the characters aren't mine. Thanks to Aly for editing.



Okay. It was six thirty-four. During my breaks in the ER and when I got home, I
managed to call every nice restaurant in the Chicago area. Turns out all of them
were full. Except for one, but the earliest they could take us was ten thirty. A
little bit too late for us. *Come on, Carter, you can't screw this up,* I
thought to myself. I frantically looked through the phone book to see if I had
missed any. Ah-ha! One left. I punched the numbers in the phone and crossed my
fingers.

"Hi! Thank you for calling the Riverhouse Restaurant."

Damn. A recording.

"For reservations, press one. To speak to a hostess, press two."

I pushed one.

"We're sorry, but there are no more open spots for tonight. To continue to make
a reservation for another night, press three."

I hung up the phone. I sure was in trouble. I had twenty minutes to take a
shower, get dressed, and figure out where to take her. Well, I better call her
and tell her I'll be a little bit late. I picked up the phone again and dialed
Lucy's number.

"Hello?"

"Hi."

"Hey," she said. "Everything alright?"

"Well, I got home late and I haven't even taken a shower yet," I said. I wasn't
totally lying. I hadn't taken a shower.

"Oh. So you're trying to say you're going to be late?"

"Yeah," I said. Could she read my mind or something?

"Well, how about I come over at seven and save you the trip? It's only a two
block walk."

"Okay," I compromised. That gave me seventeen minutes to be presentable. "I'll
leave the door unlocked for you, okay?"

I could hear the smile in her voice. "Okay. See you then."

I hung up the phone and quickly looked for a number I hadn't called at the ER. I
found one more. It was kinda far away, but I was desperate. I looked at the
clock. Fifteen minutes. I had better take a shower first. I circled the number
and ran downstairs.



When I came back upstairs, I lost all track of time. I guess. I didn't bother to
look at the clock when I came upstairs. I didn't want to waste my time, since I
still had to call the restaurant and put my shirt on. So, I picked up the
portable phone and tried to do both things at once. I got the shirt on, but when
I tried to button it, I accidentally hung the phone up. So, I dialed again and
prayed for them to answer. Just as I began talking to them, guess who walked in
the door? And she looked *good*. She was wearing a navy blue dress that came to
just above her knees. It had a high scoop-neck and she had her hair up in a bun.
The same response she got from her kisses-WOW.

"Nothing, eh? Well, thanks anyway," I said, hanging up the phone. I looked at
Lucy and she burst out laughing. "What?"

"Need some help getting dressed?" she asked, walking over to me, still laughing.
I looked down at my shirt. It turns out that the three buttons I *did* button
were buttoned wrong. "Whoops," I said.

She came over, unbuttoned the shirt, and re-buttoned it the right way. "There,"
she said. "So, Mr. Mysterious, where are we going tonight?"

"Uh, well . . . to tell you the truth, I'm not quite sure."

She gave me a questioning look and I continued. "You see, I called almost every
place in Chicago and no one can book us in so . . . "

She laughed at the flustered look on my face. "So that's why every time I looked
at you today, you were either with a patient or on the phone."

"Yeah," I said, giving her a sheepish smile.

"Well, then, we'll just have to make do. What time is Kerry off?"

"Uh, nine AM tomorrow, I think."

"I'll order a pizza and we can eat here tonight."

"Really? You don't mind?"

"Not at all. I mean, you're here. That's all that matters."

Okay, the old Lucy was back. I smiled at her.

"Sorry about this morning. I really was overreacting and being a jerk," she said
walking back over to me.

"That's okay. You're allowed one slip-up," I joked.

She came even closer and grabbed me at my waist. "Aww, does that mean you
forgive me so easily? I was planning on having to prove I was sorry to you," she
said raising her eyebrows.

Well, that one caught me by surprise. "Well then, maybe I don't forgive you," I
replied.

"We'll save that for later though. I'm hungry now," she said, letting go of my
waist and walking over to the phone book. "Pizza preferences?"

"Uh, whatever, I don't really care," I said, sitting down on the couch. If you
asked Lucy what her favorite pastime was, in a second she would probably say
messing with my mind. And she did it so well too. Often also, but I learned to
accept that. That's what made Lucy, well, Lucy.

"Okay, then, one large with pepperoni, sausage, and mushrooms okay?" she said,
dialing the number she found in the phone book.

"And extra cheese," I added. I listened while she talked to the pizza people.
Just then I noticed the back of her dress. It went low in the back-very low. If
it were any lower, I swear I would be able to see her underwear. And that would
be an interesting--

"John?" Lucy said, waving her hand in front of my face. I was so deep in my
thoughts I hadn't even noticed that she'd hung up the phone and walked over to
the couch I was sitting on. "What were you thinking about? It must have been
interesting."
"You," I replied. That's always a good answer, and it wasn't a lie.

"Oh really?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "What about?"

Always a good answer unless that question follows. "I was thinking about how
much I liked your dress." Best not to lie.

"Oh really? I thought you'd like it. That's why I wore it. The pizza will be
here in fifteen to twenty minutes," she said.

"Okay. Do you want something to drink?" I asked, getting up and walking to the
kitchen.

"Yeah, but something without alcohol. I don't want to be like you and end up in
your bed."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah, I'd much rather be in your bed if you're in it," she said, smiling slyly
at me

Yep, the mess-with-my-mind, flirtatious Lucy I knew was back. I smiled back at
her and opened the refrigerator. "Iced tea okay?"

"Perfect."

I pulled out the pitcher, which looked full. Kerry must have made some more this
morning. I poured two glasses and walked over the couch with them. "Here ya go,"
I said handing Lucy hers.

She took a sip. "This is good. Hey, see it's better we stayed home. You don't
even have to tuck your shirt in," she said, laughing.

"What are you laughing at?" I asked, pretending to be hurt.

"Just what you looked like when I walked in the door."

"Oh, come on, it wasn't that bad."

Lucy looked at me skeptically. "You were trying to get dressed and talk on the
phone at the same time, and you weren't doing either very well."

All of the sudden, the doorbell rang. "Pizza," I said, grabbing my wallet on the
counter.

"Here, John," Lucy said, fishing some money out of her purse.

"No, I got it. Even though we stayed in, I'm still technically taking you out on
a date."

I went to the door and paid the guy. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lucy
walk over to the table, carrying our iced teas. "Dinner is served," I said,
setting the pizza down on the table.



"Sorry I screwed up so badly," I told Lucy. We were sitting on the couch after
we ate.

"You shouldn't be," she replied. "This is the best date I've been on in a long
time."

"Really? I feel special."

"You should."

"I promise, I'll take you out for a nice dinner soon."

"It's a deal."

"But, you really had a good time tonight?" Always have to make sure.

"Yes!" she said laughing. "How can I get you to believe me?"

"Oh, I don't know . . ." I said, pretending to act stupid.

Her eyes lit up as she thought of something. She leaned in and gave me one of
those magical kisses. You can assume what happened from there.

Let's just say I'm happy Kerry was on until nine the next day.



So, that's how it all happened. And now, a month later, our *secret*
relationship is still a secret, and we're both still utterly happy. It's funny,
I mean, I'm with the woman I've been dreaming of for almost a year and she feels
the same way about me. That's a plus.

I've pretty much been staying at Lucy's for the past month. Kerry's probably
noticed, but I don't really care.

I finally took Lucy out for her special dinner last week. She wore the blue
dress again. Afterward she told me that she liked staying in better. Oh well,
who knew?

Yesterday, I went to go do a few errands before going over to Lucy's and when I
got there, I found a surprise. Lucy had dyed her hair brown. She said she wanted
to go one day without being my 'dumb, blonde girlfriend'. We had a nice long
laugh about that and I assured her she was anything but dumb. It's weird that we
can laugh about stuff like that now. She assured me that the dye would come out
in three washes. Although, after last night, I'm not quite sure I want it to
come out in three washes. Let's just say Lucy's more, ah, adventurous with brown
hair.

But more importantly, like I said before, we're both happy. I've been the
happiest I've been in a long time. And I hope it stays that way. Forever.

The End!