The soft roar of the plane's engines filled the air as Lindsay and I settled into the leather seats. She had a worried expression, though she tried to hide it.
"I can't believe I lost my iron pills," she murmured, crossing her arms. "Right when I needed them most. This is a disaster."
I smiled to reassure her, though I knew it wasn't something to take lightly.
"Relax, Lindsay. We're minutes away from the hospital. There's nothing to worry about. Besides, your parents are there; they'll help you without any issues."
She sighed, looking out the window at the clouds.
"I know, but I hate depending on them so much. You know how I feel about that."
I nodded, understanding her point.
"Yes, I get it. But this time it's not your fault. It was an accident. Plus, you're not alone in this. I'm here with you."
Lindsay looked at me with a small smile.
"Thanks, Sack. Sometimes I wonder what I'd do without you."
I shrugged, trying to downplay it.
"Probably just as well, only a little more stressed."
She laughed softly.
"Maybe. But I don't think anyone else would fly with me on a private jet just to get some pills."
"Hey, these aren't just any pills," I said, pretending to be serious. "They're vital for you. And if I have to fly on a private jet to make sure you're okay, I'll do it without hesitation."
Lindsay shook her head, amused.
"Sometimes you're too over-the-top, you know?"
"Only when it comes to you," I replied, winking at her.
She rolled her eyes but couldn't help laughing.
"You should stop saying things like that. You're going to make me think I'm special."
"Well, of course you are," I said teasingly. "You're my girlfriend. The future genius doctor who's going to save lives. How could you not be special?"
Lindsay threw a decorative pillow that was on the seat next to her.
"Enough! You're going to make me blush."
I laughed, catching the pillow.
"Too late. You're already red."
We fell silent for a moment, enjoying the moment. Finally, Lindsay broke the silence.
"You know, sometimes I wonder how we got here. A few months ago, we were just classmates, and now… well, all this."
I looked down, thoughtful.
"I guess things just happened. We got to know each other better, shared tough and good moments… and here we are."
"And do you regret anything?" she asked, looking directly at me.
I looked at her, surprised.
"Regret? Of course not. If anything, I regret not realizing sooner how incredible you are."
Lindsay smiled widely.
"Well said, Sack. I think I'll keep that line."
Before I could respond, she leaned toward me and kissed me gently on the lips. It was an unexpected but warm gesture that made all the stress of the day seem to fade for a moment.
When she pulled away, she smiled shyly.
"That was for taking care of me."
We both laughed, and the rest of the flight passed between light jokes and trivial conversations.
When we got off the plane, a car was waiting to take us to the hospital. As we entered the main lobby, Lindsay approached the reception desk. The same receptionists who had been there during our learning visit months ago immediately recognized us.
"Miss Grove!" one of them exclaimed, standing up with a radiant smile. "What a joy to see you again! And you must be young Steele, right?"
I gave a polite nod.
"Yes, ma'am. It's a pleasure that you remember me."
The other receptionist chimed in, excited.
"It's amazing to have you both here again! The last time you visited was so inspiring, seeing you interact with the doctors. You three, along with Miss Hart, left a lasting impression."
Lindsay smiled, though I noticed she was uncomfortable with all the attention.
"Thank you. Listen, I need to talk to my parents. Are they available?"
"Of course, Miss Grove," the first receptionist responded. "They're in their office on the top floor. I'll let them know you're here."
"Thank you," Lindsay said, giving them a small smile.
As we walked toward the elevator, I said:
"Looks like you left a lasting impression on them."
Lindsay sighed.
"I don't like being treated differently just because my parents run this place. I want them to see me as just another student."
"I know," I replied. "But you also have to admit you're pretty impressive."
She shot me a quick glance.
"Careful, Sack. You're going to make me blush again."
Upon entering the office, Lindsay's parents were seated behind a large desk. Both looked up when they saw us and smiled. The atmosphere was formal yet warm, as it always had been when dealing with the Groves. Though Lindsay often felt uncomfortable under their attention, I knew her parents adored her deeply.
"Lindsay!" her mother said, standing up to hug her. "What a surprise to see you here. Is everything okay?"
Lindsay nodded.
"Yes, Mom. I just came to get more iron pills. I lost mine."
Her father frowned, concerned.
"Are you feeling okay? You know you can come whenever you need something."
"I know, thank you," Lindsay responded. "I just wanted to make sure there was no issue getting more."
Her mother was already searching through a drawer.
"Of course not. Here you go. Take these for now, and we can send you more if you need them."
Lindsay accepted the pills with a smile.
"Thank you, Mom. I also wanted to ask you something. Do you remember Ellie Miller? Her younger sister can be discharged now, right?"
Her father nodded.
"Yes, that's right. Little Charlotte is much better. In fact, she should be leaving the hospital today."
Lindsay looked at me excitedly.
"Great. Sack and I wanted to meet her. Maybe we can take her with us to the Hart estate. It would be nice for her to get out a bit."
Her parents exchanged a glance.
"That's a good idea," her mother said. "Just make sure she's comfortable. She still needs rest."
"We will," Lindsay promised.
Lindsay's father, Thomas, turned to me with a kind smile.
"Sack, it's a pleasure to see you again. Thank you for accompanying Lindsay. We know how much your support means to her."
I nodded, feeling a bit nervous but honored.
"Thank you, Mr. Grove. I'll always be here for Lindsay. She's important to me too."
Amelia, her mother, smiled warmly.
"We know you take good care of her, Sack. It gives us peace of mind."
Lindsay interjected, changing the subject before the conversation became too emotional.
"By the way, Dad, Mom, speaking of plans… I heard you want to organize something big for my birthday."
Thomas nodded enthusiastically.
"That's right. We were thinking of hosting an event at one of the exclusive resorts on the coast. We'd invite prominent figures from the medical and business worlds. It would be a perfect opportunity for you to network with influential people in your career."
Lindsay made an almost imperceptible grimace.
"Dad, we've talked about this. I don't want anything too ostentatious. Besides, Olivia is already organizing something for me."
Amelia arched an eyebrow, visibly surprised.
"Olivia? What kind of event is she planning?"
Lindsay let out a nervous laugh.
"Well, let's just say with Olivia, it's never exactly 'simple.' But she insists it'll be something special and memorable."
I looked at Lindsay with a teasing smile.
"She mentioned something about a floating dance floor in the middle of a lake. And maybe fireworks."
Amelia's eyes widened.
"A floating dance floor? Fireworks?"
Lindsay glared at me, though she couldn't help laughing.
"Sack, thanks for sharing that."
Thomas chuckled.
"Well, it seems we'll have competition when it comes to memorable events. But, Lindsay, we just want the best for you. An event at the resort could open important doors for you."
Lindsay sighed, trying to stay calm.
"I know, Dad. But I want something more personal. Something that reflects who I really am. Plus, Olivia has put a lot of effort into this. I don't want to disappoint her."
Amelia placed a hand on Lindsay's shoulder.
"It's okay, sweetheart. We understand. If you prefer something more intimate, we'll respect your decision. Just make sure it's something you'll truly enjoy."
Lindsay nodded, visibly relieved.
"Thanks, Mom. I promise it'll be special."
Thomas looked at me thoughtfully.
"And you, Sack, what do you think about all this?"
I shrugged, trying to keep a light tone.
"Well, Mr. Grove, I've learned that when it comes to Olivia, it's best to let her do her thing. But I'm sure she'll make it incredible. After all, no one throws parties like she does."
Everyone laughed, including Lindsay.
"Exactly," she said. "So please, trust me. This birthday will be perfect."
Thomas raised his hands in surrender.
"Alright, alright. We'll back off. But if you need anything, anything at all, don't hesitate to ask."
Lindsay smiled, clearly grateful for their understanding.
"Thanks, Dad. I will."
After a few more minutes of conversation, we said goodbye to her parents and left the office.
Back in the lobby, Lindsay looked at me excitedly.
"Are you ready to meet Charlotte?"
I smiled.
"Of course. Let's make her feel welcome."
We headed toward the elevator, ready to meet Ellie's younger sister.