#bryce lahela x male mc

[justcallmefox89]

Irresistible Force Paradox - An Open Heart Fic

Rory O’Shea begins his first day at Edenbrook and learns that whoever coined the term ‘never meet your heroes’ was absolutely right.  Dr. Ethan Ramsey butts heads with the strong-willed intern, and battle lines are drawn as both men ready themselves to work together for the next three years.

September 13th.  11:30 a.m.

I hate him.  What a smug, condescending, arrogant, handsome… ugh!  How is someone with a personality that repulsive so attractive? He’s definitive proof that God really does have favorites -

“What are we staring at?” someone whispers in my ear, their warm breath tickling the side of my neck.

I let out a startled yelp and drop my charts, drawing the attention of the object of my ire.  Bryce chuckles and bends down to retrieve them while Jackie tries to hide her smile behind her own charts.  Dr. Ramsey glances over at us impassively, meeting my eyes for the briefest moment before turning away.  I continue glaring at him even as I swipe my charts out of Bryce’s hand, trying to telepathically implode his brain with my eyeballs.

“Why are we staring at Dr. Ramsey?” Bryce stage whispers again.

“We are not staring at him. I am trying to explode his big, stupid head with the power of my mind,” I mutter.

“Wow… he really got to you, didn’t he?” Jackie snickers.

I bristle, remembering the emergency thoracotomy in the waiting room earlier that morning and Dr. Ramsey’s subsequent condemnation.  “He did not get to me!  He’s a pompous asshole and I hate him.  I despise him.  I loathe him and his perfect jawline with every molecule of every fiber of my being.”

Jackie arches one eyebrow and smirks, clearly unconvinced.  “You sound like a supervillain right now, Rory.”

Bryce’s eyes light up.  “Dr. Ramsey could be your very first nemesis!”

“And Aurora my second,” I grumble, mentioning the prickly intern I’m partnered with.  

They both make a face.

“How’s that going?” Bryce asks.

I shrug half-heartedly.  “She went to her aunt’s office right after the initial consult with our patient and I haven’t seen her since.”

“Nice to know Princess Nepotism is already living up to her name,” Jackie says snidely, looking down as her pager beeps.  “My test results are in.  See you guys later.”

“So how long are we going to stand here and stare at Ramsey?”

I snort and fight back a laugh.  “You’re ridiculous, Bryce.”

“I’m not the one trying to set my boss on fire with my brain.”  The surgeon smirks at me, brown eyes glittering with laughter.

“Explode, Lahela.  I’m trying to explode him.”

We stare at each other silently for a few beats before we break into a fit of the giggles.

****************************************************************************************

11:30 a.m.

Ethan stands at the nurses station, pretending to look over his charts as he covertly watches the young man who is staring daggers at him from a little further down the hall.  Ever since their encounter that morning as they’d worked together to save the patient who collapsed in the waiting room, Dr. Rory O’Shea had been a distraction.  An insidious little wisp of smoke that continues to invade Ethan’s thoughts in his downtime.  

O’Shea is one of those people cursed with a face that perfectly expresses whatever they’re feeling, and right now he’s looking at Ethan like he wishes the older doctor would be hit by a bus.  Ethan remembers how the intern had look after saving that woman, his cheeks flushed and eyes bright with excitement, and how his expression had fallen after Ethan’s harsh criticism.  Hurt, then disappointment, and finally anger flickered over the young man’s face, before he was able to get control over his emotions.

“Maybe you can give me private lessons…”

Ethan’s lips twitch up as he fights to repress a smile at the memory of O’Shea’s words.  He’d flipped the switch from angry to flirty so quickly he’d nearly given Ethan whiplash, and the sultry look in his eyes that was clearly meant to catch Ethan off-balance had nearly drawn him in instead.

Such unusual eyes.

They stand out from behind the round wire-rimmed glasses O’Shea wears, those large, pale green eyes, the same color as the sea glass Ethan used to collect with his father when they would go to the beach.  

A crashing sound draws Ethan’s attention, and he turns his head slightly to watch as one of the surgical interns bends down on one knee and hands O’Shea a pile of charts with a charming smile.  An uncomfortable feeling begins to form low in Ethan’s stomach, but he quickly writes it off as hunger and hurries back to his office for a quick lunch before continuing his rounds.

******************************************************************************************

2:45 p.m.

“Argh!  Stupid, stupid, stupid!”  I aim a kick at a low shelf in the supply closest, nearly breaking a toe when it connects.  “Gah! Motherfucker!”  I swipe angry tears away from my face, still mentally berating myself as I remember Ramsey’s words.  

You need to have a long, hard think about whether or not your ready to be here…  Whether this girl lives or dies is on you…  Nearly killed her…

A sudden wash of fluorescent light interrupts my brooding.

“I feel like I’m interrupting something.”  Bryce says, gazing at me in curiosity and concern.

“In or out, Lahela!  I’m trying to have an existential crisis in peace and you’re distracting me,” I snap.

He steps into the supply closest and pulls the door shut behind him. “Hey, hey, hey.  What’s going on?”

I tip my head back and try to stem the flow of tears, internally cursing myself for being an angry crier.  And a stress crier.  And a sad crier.

Not the time for this.

“Nothing.  I just got reamed out by the man who used to be my medical hero and inspiration for the second time today and I almost killed my first patient.”  The words come out in a rush.  “Maybe he’s right.  Maybe I’m not cut out for this.  Maybe everything that I’ve been working for since I was twelve was all for nothing and I’m going to be the biggest failure Edenbrook has ever seen.”

Bryce blinks.  “Wow. You managed four years of med school, but four hours here and you’re surrendering?  Didn’t take you for a quitter.”

“You just met me.”

“True.  But if every hospital employee who ever hid in a supply closet quit, there’d be nobody here but the patients.”

I narrow my eyes.  “No offense, but what do you know about it?”

“Let’s just say this isn’t the first supply closet I’ve found a stressed out doctor in today.”

“Alright then, scalpel jockey.  What am I supposed to do?”

Bryce grins.  “You’ve got two options.  One, breeze through life with an unshakeable self-assurance like me.”

“I don’t think this hospital would survive two Bryce Lahelas. What’s option two?” I dryly reply.

“Ride it out,” he says, shrugging.

I stare at him blankly.  “That’s not quite the pearl of wisdom you think it is.”

Bryce places his hands on my shoulders and shakes me a bit.  “Of course you’re overwhelmed.  You’re a doctor.  It’s one of the toughest jobs there is, and you’re on your first day.  If you don’t give yourself a chance to make mistakes, to get better… nobody else will.”

I let out an enormous sigh and use the hem of my scrubs to wipe my cheeks dry.  “Fine.  I’ll try.”

“Good.  Because I’d hate to lose you so quick.  Is there anything I can get you?”

“A hug?” I ask tentatively.

“Alright, get over here.”  Bryce smirks and holds out his arms.  He has to stoop a little bit to match my much shorter height, but I manage to lace my arms around his neck and squeeze him gently, resting my head against his chest.  He wraps his arms around my waist and holds me tightly, the slow thumping of his heartbeat and the warm, comforting scent of his amber and sandalwood cologne soothes my frazzled nerves.

“This is nice,” I murmur.  “You’re a pretty good hugger.”

“One of my many talents.”  Even though I can’t see his face I can tell he’s smiling.  “Hey, wait a second.  Was this just a ploy of yours to get me in here alone?”

I tip my head back to look at him, taking in the cocky smirk on his face and the genuine kindness radiating from his warm, brown eyes. Before I can second guess myself, I pop up on my toes and quickly press my lips to his.  His eyes momentarily widen in surprise, but then he’s kissing me back hard, his hands gripping my hips as he pushes me against the shelves, knocking a few boxes to the ground.

“God you’re incredible,” he whispers against my mouth.  Suddenly he lifts me up, urging me to wrap my legs around his waist as he uses his body to pin me to the shelves.  I nip lightly at his lower lip and grind against him, earning a low groan. Bryce’s hands cup my ass, pulling me tight to him as we writhe together, our erections rubbing against each other through the thin fabric of our scrubs.  His tongue slides against mine and one of his hands creeps under my scrub top, warm against the skin of my stomach.  

The door suddenly swings open, light from the hallway spilling into the closet.

“Could we get some privacy, man?” Bryce snaps, turning his body to keep me shielded from whoever has interrupted us.  

“Oh, by all means.  I’m so sorry to intrude.  I’ll just wait out here ‘til you’re done,” an equally irritated male voice retorts. “Or, if I may be so bold… might you hand me a suture kit?”

Still holding me up with one hand, Bryce reaches out and snags a kit from the shelf and tosses it over his shoulder to the other man.

“Much obliged.”  The door slams and we’re alone once again.

Bryce slowly slides me down his body until my feet are back on the floor.

“Maybe we should get back to work,” I say, nervously adjusting my glasses.

“That guy did kinda kill the mood, huh?”

Feeling awkward, I repeatedly tug on a piece of hair at the back of my head as Bryce straightens his scrubs and runs a hand through his hair.

“Hope I cheered you up a little,” he says as he prepares to leave.

“Just a little,” I whisper, praying that the dim light in the supply closet hides my blush.

Bryce gives me wink as he exits the closet, leaving me alone to ponder my future at Edenbrook.

*****************************************************************************************

 9:15 p.m.

I didn’t let him beat me.

I follow Dr. Ramsey out of Annie’s room, grinning to myself.   “So, I’ll fill out a prescription for some extra-strength antihistamines -”

“Don’t bother.  I already have.”

I skid to a stop, my sneakers squeaking against the linoleum. “Beg pardon?”

He hands me a printed out prescription order for the exact medicine I was about to request.  My grin fades and I tilt my head back to stare up at the taller doctor.  

I swear to everything that is holy, his brain will be goo by the time I finish this internship.

“How long have you known?” I manage to grit out between clenched teeth.  “And when were you planning on telling me?”

Dr. Ramsey checks his watch.  “I’d planned to give you another forty-five minutes.  I pulled up Annie’s chart to diagnose it myself, in the likely event you blew it.  But I wanted to give you the chance to right the ship first.”

I am calm, I am a peaceful breeze, I am calm, I am a peaceful breeze… 

“You should have treated her right away.”

He scowls down at me.  “I was giving you an opportunity - ”

“I don’t give a shit about your opportunities,” I hiss, stepping closer to him until we’re toe to toe.  “And I definitely don’t want your charity.  I want my patients to get better.  So next time, take care of the patient first, doctor.”

We’re both breathing quickly, our eyes locked together, neither one of us wanting to be the one to look away first.  I’m intensely away of how much larger he is, and I can feel the heat of his body even through his lab coat and button-down shirt.  Something in his gaze softens and the tension in his body fades a little.

“Rookie…” he says, his voice soft.  “I respect how much you care about you patients’ wellbeing.  But if I don’t push you to grow, then how many lives will be lost down the line because you’re not ready?”

I hate to admit it, but I can understand his reasoning.

I’ll choke and die before I tell him that though.

“Believe me when I say this was not for your sake.  I need good doctors by my side.  There’s only one of me, after all,” he continues.  “But you showed potential.  Not to mention maybe the most important trait a doctor can have.”

I raise my eyebrows, silently prompting him to finish his thought.

“You listened.  You took the time to get to know your patient.  Their story, their hopes, their fears… Sometimes those are the key to saving their life.”

I nod along as he speaks, captivated by the intensity in his blue eyes and the deep timbre of his voice, unknowingly leaning even closer to him.  Aurora suddenly rushes up to us, looking flustered.  Realizing how close we’ve gotten I spring away from Dr. Ramsey, nervously shoving my glasses further up onto the bridge of my nose.  He, on the other hand, seems to be completely unaffected, which sends an irrational spike of annoyance through me.

She looks into the room and sees Annie sitting up and smiling, then turns and glares at me.  “What the hell?  You went ahead and presented without me?”

I widen my eyes and stare at her.  “Excuse me?  In case you - ”

“Annie was your patient as well, Dr. Emery,” Dr. Ramey interrupts me, his voice frosty.  He eyes Aurora with disdain.  What the hell have you been doing while Dr. O’Shea was making a diagnosis?”

Aurora hesitates, glancing over at me.

Oh, I know she doesn’t think I’m going to cover for her.

I clamp my mouth shut and stare her down as she squirms under Ramsey’s glower.  

“That was not a rhetorical question,” Ramsey barks.  “One of you needs to answer me.”

I smirk and continuing silently staring at her, refusing to be the one who breaks first.

Finally Aurora cracks.  “I was in Chief Emery’s office,” she admits sullenly.  “She paged me this morning after we examined Annie.”

“And you’ve been there all day?”  He looks deeply unimpressed.

Aurora gives him a short, stiff nod.

“Dr. Emery, patient assignments are not optional.”  Ramsey scowls at her one final time before stalking off, leaving Aurora and I standing in awkward silence.

“That’s really what you were doing all day?  Just sitting in your aunt’s office?”  I eye her curiously.

Aurora’s expression hardens.  “What do you care?  You clearly didn’t need my help.”

I allow myself a small, pleased smile.  “No I didn’t, did I?”

She whirls around, huffing in annoyance, and stomps away from me.

****************************************************************************************

10:00 p.m.

 After my shift ends I hurry to the locker room, taking just enough time to quickly shower and slip into a clean sweater and pair of jeans, before rushing to meet Sienna in the atrium.  

“You survived!” she exclaims with a big smile.  “Ready to hit the bar?”

“You have no idea,” I sigh, dropping my head onto her shoulder.   An easy feat since we’re roughly the same height.  

She pats my back soothingly.  “Let’s go then.”

Just a few blocks from the hospital, Donahue’s is dingy, dim, and completely packed with Edenbrook staff members.  Sienna confidently leads me through the throngs of people to a booth where Landry, Jackie, and Elijah are waiting for us.  

“Come on!” Landry urges.  “There’s still sixty-seven seconds left in happy hour!”

Elijah rolls his eyes good-naturedly.  “Who cares?  We’re all a hundred-k in debt anyway.”

“Relax, Landry.  I put in quite a few orders before the buzzers.”  Jackie grins as a barback arrives bearing a huge trays of shots.

“You are a goddess.  We lowly beings are not worthy of you,” I praise her as I reach for a shot.  I toss it back and sigh as it burns its way down, erasing some of the stress of my day.

I grab a second glass and the others join me.  We all raise them in the air.

“To the end of our first shift!  And ten hours off the clock!” Elijah proclaims.

We clink our glasses together and throw back our shots.  

Landry gags as his goes down.  “Don’t we have any salt?  Or limes?”

“Doctor up, Landry.  Lime and salt are for wimps,” Jackie retorts, pushing another shot glass into his hand.

We all raise another toast.

“How about… To new friends!” Sienna ventures.

Once again we clink and drink.

Jackie points at me.  “Your turn Rory!”

I grab another shot and raise it above my head.  “To the start of an amazing career, despite Ethan Ramsey’s best efforts!  And in a few years, we’ll take the jobs of every attending who ever treated us like dirt!”

My new friends and I whoop and tipsily giggle as we down another tequila shot.

******************************************************************************************

10:20 p.m.

Ethan quietly nurses his drink at the bar and unobtrusively observes O’Shea pound shots with a booth full of other interns.  Whatever they’re drinking has caused O’Shea’s normally pale cheeks to flush, and he’s taken his hair out of its neat bun, allowing the inky waves to flow over his shoulders and around his face.  The sweater he’s wearing may have been black at one point, but has been washed so many times it’s a faded grey and looks incredibly soft to the touch.  

“See something you like, Ethan?” Reggie asks, leaning over the bar and following the doctor’s gaze.

“Don’t you have other customers to bother?” Ethan responds, downing the last of his scotch.

Reggie just chuckles as he looks at something over Ethan’s left shoulder. O’Shea bounces up to the bar and takes a seat on the stool next to him, legs dangling and feet swinging aimlessly as he waits for Reggie to finish up another customer’s order.

Ethan takes the time to study Rory out of the corner of his eye, noting the way his jeans show off the litheness of his body and the faint smattering of freckles running over the bridge of his nose, making him look even younger than his 28 years.  Then those green eyes flit over to rest on him.

“Can I help you with something, Dr. Ramsey?” Rory asks, blinking at him owlishly through the thick lenses of his glasses.

“Just noticing how… different you look out in the real world.”

Rory leans a little closer, nearly tipping over into the older man’s lap.  “Do you like it?” he whispers playfully.

Ethan’s eyes widen in shock.  If he’d had any doubts before, now he’s absolutely certain the intern is at least mildly intoxicated.  But he can’t deny that the warm weight of Rory leaning against his arm and the smell of his grapefruit and vanilla shampoo is intoxicating.

“What’ll it be?” Reggie asks, tossing his bar rag over his shoulder.

Rory glances over at Ethan’s empty liquor glass, then beckons Reggie closer with a mischievous smile.  He balances precariously on the bar stool, stretching so he can whisper into the bartender’s ear.  In a rare moment of weakness Ethan glances at Rory’s back, admiring the flow of his dark hair over his shoulders, the smooth curve of his spine, and the way the denim of his jeans perfectly frame his high, tight…

Ethan is startled out of his thoughts as Rory’s thumps back down onto his barstool with a self-satisfied smile.  Just a few moments later he learns the reason for Rory’s smirk as Reggie sets down two colorful cocktails in front of them, each garnished with a paper umbrella, an orange slice, and a maraschino cherry.

Ethan physically recoils from the drink as Rory tries to hide his snickering behind his hands.  “What is that abomination?”

“A Sex on the Beach.”  Rory pulls his own drink closer and tastes it with a contented sigh.

The air around Ethan ratchets up a few degrees as he watches Rory’s full lips close around the tip of the straw.  “That’s not what I was drinking.”

“I know,” Rory replies, coming up for air, half of his drink already gone.  “You were drinking scotch, but scotch is gross.  So I ordered you something delicious instead.  You’re welcome.”

“You know I can’t be bribed into favoring you,” Ethan says, eyeing the cocktail with distaste.

Rory’s expression darkens and he visibly struggles to control his delicate features.  He eventually gives Ethan’s a crooked smirk.  “Don’t worry, Dr. Ramsey.  I already know exactly what you think of me.  Enjoy the rest of your night.”

By the time Ethan recovers from his shock Rory has already slipped off of his barstool and rejoined his fellow interns.

“Busy making friends, Ramsey?” Reggie asks, eyeing him curiously.

Ethan is momentarily lost for words.  “I don’t… I… I’m not sure what just happened.”

“I don’t believe that young man likes you very much.”

“I’m his boss.  He doesn’t need to like me.”  Despite his words Ethan feels a pinprick of something… disappointment? at the thought of Rory not enjoying his company.  Belatedly he also realizes that at some point during the evening he had start to think of the younger man as Rory, not just O’Shea.  

Reggie hums non-committally, clearing not believing his words.  Exasperated, Ethan signals for another scotch, hoping to chase away the lingering sense of uneasiness Rory has left him with.  Reggie sets the drink down in front of him and silently moves away, leaving the doctor to his own thoughts.

“Traitor!”

“Get it Lahela!”

Ethan looks towards the far side of the bar, back by the dartboards, just in time to see the handsome surgical intern from this morning dip Rory backwards and kiss him.  The kiss becomes more passionate as Rory threads his fingers through the other man’s hair, and the surgeon, Lahela, presses even closer, until there is no space left between the two.

The same stomach unsettling feeling from this morning comes roaring back, and Ethan turns away, grabbing the drink Rory had bought him. He takes a sip, the fruity drink leaving a bitter taste on his tongue, much like the sight of Rory wrapped up in Lahela’s arms does.

[peonierose]

Home is where the heart is

Book: Open Heart x Red Carpet Diaries Crossover

Pairing: Bryce Lahela (M!MC) x Luna Auclair (F!OC)

Rating: Fluff

Words: 3,000+

Summary: It’s Christmas time. Luna and Bryce get visited by Ethan & Hayley. But it looks like Luna gets to fangirl a little first.

A/N: I’m participating in the @choicesficwriterscreations Holiday Event as well as @choicesdecember2022 Day 7 - Middle of the Night

It’s that beautiful time of the year. Christmas. Though it is a very non-white Christmas in Hawaii. We still enjoy having a great dinner with family and friends. Sharing laughs and great stories. Exchanging gifts.

Our family loves to spend time at the beach. Going surfing, swimming, and having a great time with the family.

These are things that we want to do with our kids when they arrive in March next year.

When I think back to last year? So many things have changed.

Bryce and I were living with Keiki in Boston. I was working at that awful art gallery, which I’m glad I quit. I found something new and something better.

I proposed to Bryce. Which he still doesn’t shut up about. He says ”She put a ring on it“ I laugh silently at that.

B and I moved to Honolulu. We came back to where we both feel at home and alive. It’s our happy place, because home is where the heart is.

We’re carving our own path. Both B and I. While he works at the Kuakini Medical Center I accepted a job offer to teach art at the University of Hawaii.

Months later Bryce and I got our own little miracle when we found out we were expecting twins. Two girls. Can you believe that? It’s still insane to me and I have to grin at that.

We’re getting married, though we’re postponing it for the time being. We’ve both got so many things going on we just don’t want to get married in a hurry and without our close family and friends on our special day.

We also made some new friends. Two wonderful and amazing women. Meilani and Aubrey. Who are a great addition to our friend group.

”Luna?“

I get thrown out of my straying thoughts when I hear a deep male voice.

I sigh as I have to look up and up.

”So what’s on your shopping list? Did we get all the ingredients for the cookies, pies…and tartelettes? I don’t even know what that is, to be honest,“ Ethan says and moves the shopping cart further down the aisle. Past the bread and cereal. I have to grab some lucky charms for Bryce.

Ethan and Hayley are visiting us for a couple of days, before they fly back to Boston. Let’s not forget Jenner. Cutest dog in the world.

So I took Ethan grocery shopping. Best idea ever.

Damn, I hate the fact that Ethan is so tall. I basically have to run to catch up with him.

”Can you slow down? I’m way shorter than you and I’m also 6 months pregnant.“ I say and Ethan slows down blushing furiously.

”How’s the pregnancy going? Any weird food cravings that drive Bryce up the wall?“ he jokes and laughs.

”Does Bryce count as a food craving?“ I ask.

I am trying to act serious but I have to laugh at Ethan’s expression. He looks as if he bit into a lemon.

”I shouldn’t have asked,“ he mumbles.

I want to pat his shoulder but reach his midriff instead.

I grin.

”Don’t get your panties in a twist my little orange blossom.”

He sighs but endures my teasing.

”I know you love me too much to say anything about these cute little nicknames that I use. Between you and me I know I’m your favorite person next to Hayley.“

He just gives me a look and I grin.

”No weird food cravings. If you don’t count peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with banana slices inside as a food craving. Bryce makes a really good one. His pj and jelly sandwiches are the best.“

”Yeah because he can’t screw that up.“

Ethan laughs.

I pinch his arm and he rubs it afterwards.

”Don’t be mean. You don’t have to play the role of the grinch. It’s too early for that.“

I say and ask him to hand me the shopping list. To see what else we need.

We’re all going to make some delicacies this Christmas.

All of the Auclair family. Meaning me, my cousins Soraya, Evie, and Sky. My gran, my grandpa, mom and dad, my aunt Joe and my uncle Joseph.

Everyone is making a Hawaiian specialty. Can’t wait for that food fest.

Keiki and Bryce are going to help too. Although Bryce is just going to steal cookies and act as if the dog ate them. Nice try Lahela.

Soraya and her girlfriend Meilani, who is my OB/ Gyn and works together with Bryce and his other colleague Aubrey will join us too.

Maxi my best friend and her lover? Date buddy? Adam. I honestly don’t know the status of their relationship, but I’d say it’s somewhere between figuring things out and it’s complicated.

Maxi's mom Amara is going to be there too.

As for Maxi‘s brother Caelum? I don’t think he’s going to join us. Since he and Maxi have to meet again and start to patch things up. I just don’t think they are at that level yet. Rebuilding a relationship takes time. It doesn’t happen overnight.

But hey Christmas miracles happen all the time. I‘d wish they would be as close as they were before Maxi's dad died in a car accident.

Let’s not forget my brother and sister whom mom and dad recently adopted. It’s their first Christmas with all of us. It’s going to be magical.

A static voice sounds from the speakers above.

”Attention all customers. Don’t forget today is 50% off on all products from the produce and dairy aisles.“

Ethan and I move further into the condiments aisle.

”I need some cinnamon. For the snickerdoodles.“

I say and when I turn around I can see Ethan looks like a kid on Christmas morning. I smile and love the fact that he feels open enough to share his feelings. Whether he voices them out loud or just shows them.

We reach the produce aisle. Ever since I got pregnant with the twins I‘ve started to love fresh fruit and vegetables more and more.

I grab some mangos and look up when I almost drop said mangos.

I sigh and gently put the mangos into the shopping cart.

”Oh my god. Do you know who that is?“ I grab Ethan’s shirt.

Ethan looks around and tries to figure out who I could mean.

”Who?“

I take his chin and move it in the direction I meant.

”It’s Matt Rodriguez. Oh my god, I need to get an autograph. How do I look?“

Ethan eyes me as if I don’t have all cookies left in the jar.

”You look beautiful as always, but what about our ingredients for the cookies?“ he asks, looking down into our shopping cart.

”Who cares about cookies when you have Matt Rodriguez standing at the produce aisle.“

I say getting super excited.

”Who is Matt Rodriguez?“ Ethan asks.

”Have you been living under a rock E?“ I shake my head in disbelief.

”Does Bryce know you have a crush?“ he chuckles.

”Pfft. Please his guilty pleasure is Matt’s movie, Cactus Rose. We watch it together all the time.“

Ethan whistles.

”I’m seeing Bryce in a whole new light.“

I grin and can’t believe my luck. To meet an actor I admire and let’s be honest he’s hot. He’s got nothing on Bryce of course, but still, he seems nice and he’s a damn good actor.

I look up at the ceiling.

”Santa, if you're out there, thank you for making my wish come true. I promise I’ll make Bryce’s wish come true too if I can get Britney Spears to sign an autograph.“

Ethan snorts.

”Santa doesn’t exist.“

I gasp and look at Ethan as if I swallowed something rotten.

”How dare you, sir! I don’t even recognize you, Ethan Jonah Ramsey! I’d never think that these are the words that would come out of my male best friend's mouth.“

Ethan shrugs his shoulders.

”Well I was just honest. So how about that autograph?“ he asks and points to Matt who is moving his shopping cart away. I’ve got to go there and ask him for an autograph and maybe a selfie.

”Nice segue. Don’t think this conversation is over. But autograph first, cookie ingredients later.“

I breathe out and take all my courage to go over there and ask Matt for an autograph.

”Excuse me?“ I ask and Matt turns around flashing his megawatt smile. I swear I sighed a little.

”Yeah?“ he asks still smiling.

”I don’t want to be rude but my fiancé and I are big fans of yours would you maybe sign my…“ I ask and realize I don’t have anything for him to sign.

He smiles and gets out a card with the logo of his latest movie Cactus Rose to sign for me.

”Could you make it for Bryce and Luna? Otherwise, he’s never going to believe me I met you,“ I smile and Matt grins.

”Officially I’m on vacation with my wife who’s here somewhere. Here I’ll sign these for you Luna.“

I smile and just nod. Not able to form words.

”I’m sorry I’m usually not that starstruck. I think I’d be even more starstruck if I met Frida Kalo or Pablo Picasso.“

When Matt looks at me with a confused look on his face.

”I’m an artist and work as an art professor at the University of Hawaii.“

Matt’s eyes widen.

”No way! Really? You know it’s funny my wife and I are looking for an artist. We wanted to commission a piece for our new home here in Honolulu. Would you be interested in making an art piece for us? I wouldn’t want you to overwork yourself,“ he says and points to my stomach.

”Oh don’t worry I’d tell you if it was too much. But you know what? You can always check out my art pieces for art on the fence. It’s a non-profit group of local artists who present their work. You can take a look and even buy some art pieces. But if you’re looking for something specific I’m sure we can work something out.“

Matt grins and hugs me.

I must’ve squeaked like a mouse.

”Damn I’m sorry I didn’t mean to hug you too hard. Are you alright?“

He asks concern lacing his voice.

”I was just hugged by Matt Rodriguez. Santa sure was good this year.“

He smiles and we exchange numbers. He promises to reach out so we can meet and discuss the art he’d like to commission.

He walks away but then he comes back.

”Can I take a picture with you? I think you’re one of the prettiest pregnant women I’ve seen, including my wife, so I’d really love it if we took a picture together.“

Matt asks, smiling.

Again I just nod.

We take a pic and he waves goodbye. I must’ve looked like an idiot.

I stand there holding my phone and the autographs and just smile.

As I walk towards the shopping cart where Ethan is waiting for me, a grin on his face, I feel as if I’m floating on fluffy clouds.

”Happy?“ Ethan asks.

I nod.

”Very.“

He shakes his head and grins.

I can’t stop smiling all the way to the cash register. We pay for all the ingredients and go to the parking garage. Hopefully, we got everything, and in my fangirling haze, we didn’t forget any ingredients. If not I’ll just send Keiki or Bryce to the store.

When we reach home I almost rip the door open in my haste to get inside.

Jenner greets me, his tail wagging.

I pat him, walk further into the house and he looks with sad eyes at me.

”Sorry buddy I have to share some news afterward you can have as much Luna time as you want.“

He licks my hand I and I smile at him.

I look around for Bryce as Ethan gets the ingredients inside. He said he won’t let me carry the groceries.

My mom smiles at me and Hayley greets Ethan with a kiss.

”Bryce is outside with Keiki.“

Mom says and I nod. Jenner walks over to Ethan. Who showers him with love.

I spot Bryce and walk towards him and almost knock him over in his seat.

He laughs and steadies me so we both won’t fall over.

”Looks like someone missed me.“

”You’re a sight for sore eyes.“ I hug him, because despite my fangirling moment? He’s my forever love.

I inhale his scent of fresh laundry, the ocean, and Bryce.

He kisses my temple and I relax in his arms.

We hear footsteps and see Ethan walking outside, as he joins us in the garden. He hands me a glass of hibiscus lemonade. My gran made it fresh this morning and brought it over.

”Guys you won’t believe who I met.“

Bryce and Keiki share a look and shake their heads.

”Who?“ Bryce asks.

”Matt Rodriguez. At the produce aisle.“

”Come on there’s no way you met Matt. Pics or it didn’t happen.“

Bryce says and looks at me as if he doesn’t know if I’m making it up or not.

I grin and can’t wait for him to eat his words.

”Oh I got pics alright babe. I got a job for a commission for Matt freaking Rodriguez. He gave me his number and wants me to commission an art piece for him and his wife.“

Bryce and Keiki speak at the same time.

”What?“

They both scoot closer as I show them the picture of me and Matt. Both of us smile at the camera.

Ethan grins as Hayley walks out too.

”What are they all so excited about?“ she asks.

Ethan shakes his head.

”Luna met some guy called Matt Rodriguez. Don’t know who that is. So now everyone is fangirling over him. Even Bryce.“

Hayley squeals and joins the fangirling fest too. Ethan just shakes his head.

They all enjoy some time in the sun until they move back inside to prepare the sweet delicacies.

Three hours later….

”I know you love the British bake-off, but it looks as if you’re not very good at making pastries or sweets in general, am I right?“

”I don’t watch the British bake-off.“ Ethan replies but I just can’t take him seriously when he wears an apron with the face of the grinch. He lost a bet against Hayley and now has to wear it.

I laugh and Hayley joins me but tries to turn it into a cough when Ethan turns around to look at her.

”Even though he watched many episodes he can’t make a pie. Or cookies. Let’s not even talk about pancakes.“

Hayley laughs and steals a piece of apple that’s lying in a bowl for the pie filling.

”You can’t make pancakes? Oh, don’t feel bad pumpkin spice. Bryce can’t make them either.“

I say and roll out the dough for the pie crust.

”Hey come on.“

Bryce says flustered.

”You know it’s true B.“

I say and take the pie crust and put it into the tart mold. So I can pour the filling in and make a beautiful apple pie.

”You’re probably right.“ Bryce sighs.

Ethan grins.

”You folded so quickly.“

He says to Bryce.

Bryce just winks at him.

”Although I’d say Bryce is a little better at pancakes than you are Ethan.“

Bryce kisses me on my temple.

”Beat that Ramsey. Lunes knows her stuff.“

Ethan just stares at us until he smiles.

”I just can’t be mad at Luna.“

Ethan admits.

Hayley grins.

”He’s having a hard time saying no to you.“

Hayley grins and Ethan just sighs but nods.

”He’s not the only one. I meant myself if it wasn’t clear.“ Bryce grins and hugs me from behind.

Everyone laughs and has a great time.

I grin and we continue making pies. Cookies. Anything sweet.

Bryce steals cookies again and tries to blame Jenner.

Shaking my head at him, because we all know he ate most of the cookies.

4 a.m.

I walk down because I didn’t feel Luna next to me in bed.

When I walk down the steps I see a blue light coming from the tv.

Luna snuggled on the couch and enjoying some apple pie.

”So that’s where you disappeared to.“

I say and Luna almost jumps off the couch. Her apple pie flies out of her hand, but I catch it before it can land on the floor and create a mess.

”Oh my god you scared the hell out of me. Never do that again. It was just getting interesting.“

She glares at me.

”You look way too cute for me to be mad at you.“

I notice that Luna isn’t alone.

”Hey buddy. Why is Jenner on the couch? Shouldn’t he be with Ethan and Hayley?“

I ask and Jenner scoots closer to my hand so that he can get some pats. I grin and pat him behind his ears.

”He got kicked out.“

She replies and sits down again.

”Oh? Oh! Got it.“

We both grin as I join her and she leans into me. Jenner doesn’t want to feel left out so he joins us too.

Sprawled over our legs.

”I hope he’s potty trained.“

I smack him on his arm.

”Bryce! Poor Jenner is potty trained. If you’re going to watch tv with us, there are no mean comments allowed.“

”Am I forgiven?“ I ask and hand her apple pie back to her. She sighs.

”Sure.“ She says and I grin at her.

”So what are guys watching?“ I ask.

Luna swallows a bite of apple pie.

”Sailor Moon. Jenner and I are huge fans. It’s just getting interesting.“

”Oh my god. It’s been a while since I’ve watched Sailor Moon.“

I say and steal a bite from the apple pie.

”Wait, you've watched Sailor Moon? That’s really hot.“

She says and stares at me as if she’s seeing me for the first time.

I laugh.

”It was one of Keikis favorite animated tv shows of all time. Next to Scooby-Doo and Power Puff Girls. But Sailor Moon was Keiki's favorite. Every Sunday morning she’d get up early and tune in for Sailor Moon. At first, I didn’t want to admit that it was good but I started to like it. I even bought the mangas. They’re really good.“

Luna gasps.

”I love the illustrations. I’ve wanted to try myself at creating mangas. You know art is very widely ranged. So manga is a part that I haven’t branched out to yet but I’d love to.“

Luna gets all excited and I’m happy for her.

I love her, even more, when she’s all excited and passionate about a new area of art or a new art piece.

”You can borrow my mangas if you want.“ I offer and she nods.

I smile as we continue to watch Sailor Moon stumble upon a cute cat with a moon on her forehead.

Luna smiles at the cat and we keep watching episode after episode until we all fall asleep right on the couch.

It’s a beautiful feeling to fall asleep next to the person you love the most.

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[choicesficwriterscreations]

Throwback Fics #129

Open Heart

Baby It's Cold Outside | Tobias Carrick x F!MC - @jerzwriter

Here with Me | Ethan Ramsey x F!MC - @coffeeheartaddict2

Hottest Man Alive | Ethan Ramsey x M!MC - @dr-colossal-pita

Kokoleka Wela (Hot Chocolate) | Bryce Lahela; Keiki Lahela - @storyofmychoices

On the East Coast | Ethan Ramsey x F!MC - @potionsprefect

Still Into You | Ethan Ramsey x F!MC - @liaromancewriter

The Royal Romance

Cinnamon Spice | Unidentified Male character from TRR  x F!OC - @bebepac

Hinge: New Beginnings (Christmas in Valtoria) | Liam Rys x MC x Drake Walker - @angelasscribbles

A Winged Wish | Drake Walker x MC - @karahalloway

[gncrezan]

local surgeon the cause of his coworker’s bi awakening

[doriansapprentice]

Quiet night in

Ship: Bryce Lahela x Remy Miles

Words: 832

Warning: None

Disclaimer: All characters belongs to Pixelberry

A/N: A sweet Valentine story 😘 @eleanorbloom Another Bryce fic for you to read 😉 @choicesficwriterscreations I like this to be part of the fics of the week 😄 @choicesfebchallenge I am a bit late. Day 14 Valentine

Remy waved as the gang messy and loudly try to grab all their stuff and headed out the apartment door one at the time. Elijah were the last one out as he rolled to the living room grabbing his bag behind the couch, and turn to his room mate.

" You sure you do not want to come Remy? It will not be as fun without you." The doctor asked for about the ten time this evening.

The other doctor rolled his eyes but still gave him a smile, Eliajh and the others meant well, they always did. Tho Remy were tired of feeling pressure to go out clubing. A dinner were fine as it were the squad and maybe some of the surgeons or Raphael. But he got anixety and felt akward and out of places as they got to dance or just drink. It were just so much pressure being surronded by many people he did not know and constantly thinking how to talk and react to everything. At a dinner he did not feel as much pressure to talk and he could just listen opposite to getting drunk, and have to play drink games and watch the social cue changes.

" I am. Go have fun."

Eliajh snickered and rolled out the door who Sienna held up, teasingly shouted at Remy.

" Go is maybe not the greatest word for me!"

The freckled doctor snickered and looked how Elijah clumsy flirted with Phoebe and Sieena looked like her OTP became canon, before he shut and locked the door. The second he did, Remy grinned pleased over having the apartment all to himself all night, cause the gang would probaly come home in the middle of the night.

So the doctor put hot milk on the stove and mix in some cocoa powder and turn on the heat. While waiting for it to boil up he jumped out of his pants, and put on a couple of knee long knitted socks and moved out of his formal shirt to put on his cozy long sleeved ones. When it were halfway over his head and shoulder Remys blue eyes looked how the milk foamed and nearly poured over the saucepan. The doctor grabbed the handle and moved it aside and by some miracle he manged not to drop it as the long sleeved shirt blocked his sight slightly.

After a couple of minutes Remy had chopped vegetables and made a dip, and microwaved popcorn and grabbed several bags of capri sun, balance it all to table in the living room. Tho depiced his efforts he had to make two rounds to get the hot chocolate. Now he put on Disney plus and cuddle down in the couch. Ruffling his messy red hair to the side, liking how it settles even tho it happen when he had not shower for a long.

" Hey freckles!" Remy fliched holding the warm cup and his blue eyes turned dark and wide eyed when he looked upon Bryce outside the window on the fire ecspe. The surgeons else perfect hair were now covered in snow and the tip of his nose and ears were red, making Remy wonder how long he had stood there. Bryce grinned as Remy open the window. " Ooo a disney movie, I like that Cutie."

The freckled doctor blushed of cold when snow plowed in, and of the fact Bryce saw him in his boxershorts.

" Why are you out in the snow? You could get a cold. And why are you only in a jumper and scarf? And without a toque? Why would you not go to the door."

Bryce only grin as his newly boyfriend brushed away the snow of him.

" It were suppose to be romantic. Then it start snowing. So it got more romantic...for about fourty five minutes when your squad finally left. Now I am cold. But the champange is cold and the smoked scrimps had not changed." Bryce being as bubbly as the champange, tho it faded as he saw Remys sad blue eyes.

" I am sorry." Remy ruffled his hair looking away. " You probaly wanted to go out and do something grand on Valentines day, and I did not contact you. I just wanted to find a small restaurant where we could be a bit private first...but I looked to late and it were all book up... so I just assumed you would go with somebody else. I am just so bad at..." Remys rambled were shut with a sweet kiss.

" Remy. Its okay. I do not need a grand valentines evening out. Being home with you. Eating and watching a disney movie..." Bryce sweetly ruffled his hair. " That is as grand as it can be."

So the rest of the evening the doctor and the surgeon cuddle in the couch and when the squad came home they had doze of. Sienna try to muffle her happy screams as he snapped a picture of the cute boys.

[pbchoices-mlm-life]

Ahhhhhh Rafael 😤😭🥰💓 Finally! Latest chapter really made my day!

And wasn't expecting much of the physical part but ahhhh 😍 I thought PB was going to play my heart and Rafael be like, "Uhm... I don't think it's a good time" BUT DAMN THANK YOU PB 🤣 Nonetheless I'm still a clown for thinking so hahaha 🤡

Also yup, I'm settled with Bryce and Rafael that I no longer a hoe for Ethan (used to flirt with all 3 in Book 1)

Still a hoe for Bryce and Rafael bc WHY NOT! 🤣

[fandom-trauma]

Under My Lahela

Book: Open Heart

Pairing: Bryce Lahela x Gender Neutral!Reader

Genre: Fluff

T/W: None!

Summary: It’s raining after work, and Bryce and MC are goofy lovebirds who are head over heels in love with each other.

Word count: 1.1k words

A/N: Heyo! This lil drabble was written for the LPS Drabble Challenge we had over on Discord. My prompt was “Is kissing in the rain even that good? We should test it out... Im just curious!“ or smth to that effect lol. I also combined an old idea I had with the umbrella.

---

“It’s drizzling,” Bryce notes as he and [MC] exited Edenbrook; the bane of their existence. “You wanna rush it, or do you want an umbrella?”

[MC] extends a weary hand. “Doesn’t seem too heavy to warrant an umbrella. Let’s walk through it,”

Bryce raises an eyebrow. “Walk?”

[MC] shrugs, cheeks flushing gently in the cold air. “I mean, it’s kinda romantic, isn’t it?”

It certainly seemed so, with the two of them standing at the edge of the deserted parking lot in the golden light of the setting sun. The light pitter patter of rain and the distant sounds of traffic being their only company. Bryce smiles, but it’s not the dazzling smile he adorns whenever they were with others. No, he smiles a gentle smile; one reserved for [MC], and [MC] only.

“Anything’s romantic if I get to spend time with you,” Bryce glances down for a second to grasp [MC]’s hand. His smile evolves into a cheeky, uncontrollable grin when [MC] laces their fingers together.

“God, I- Bryce, do you know how much I love you?”

Bryce’s eyes momentarily flit down towards MC’s.  “I could always use a reminder,” He jokingly bats his lashes. “A kiss, perhaps? For your beloved?”

[MC] laughs at that, and gently cups his face, pressing their lips to his in a quick smooch. In the chill that surrounds them, it’s a quick reprieve as the warmth of Bryce’s lips stokes the flames in your heart, burning steadily for him.

“We’re almost reenacting a cheesy rom-com right now. All we need is to actually kiss in the rain now,” MC plays with the hairs on the nape of Bryce’s neck, and presses another quick smooch to his jaw. “Is kissing in the rain even that great? The rain would get everywhere, and I’m not too fond of riding the subway in wet clothes,”

Bryce has that jaw-droppingly gorgeous smile now, and it’s like the sun parted the dark clouds that hang so heavily in the sky. “Maybe we should test it out, see what all the fuss is about, hm? Purely out of scientific interest, of course,”

[MC] rolls their eyes at that, but the act is quickly dropped in favour of a grin and a tug down the path to the station. “C’mon, let’s add the variable and test this theory,”

“Oh? Theory? So you think it’s romantic?”

An exasperated sigh.

“Ok, fine. Hypothesis, educated guess-- as educated as one can be when the only evidence comes from Hollywood movies--” [MC] pauses. “You just wanted to see me ramble, didn’t you?”

Bryce casually shrugs his shoulders. “Whaaat? Can’t a boyfriend look at their partner? Especially when they’re adorable when they get passionate?”

[MC] opens their mouth to respond, when a raindrop falls on their nose. And their cheeks. Their lips.

“Hah, it’s getting heavier,” [MC] remarks rather obviously. “Better hurry up and star-- Mm!”

Bryce presses his lips hard against [MC]’s, cutting them off. His hands wander under [MC]’s shirt, pressing his warm hands to their skin. [MC] lets out a sigh, as their hands seek refuge in Bryce’s dandelion soft hair. Bryce pulls [MC] closer, as if they were miles away from him. He pulls them in so close, they almost seem like one being; a fusion born of a love so pure. A love for each other, for their flaws, their lives, and their families. One could not think of a love more whole, than that of the doctor and the surgeon.

And then something lands on their heads. A drop of rain. No, several drops of rain, with each impact being harder than the last. It doesn’t snap them out of their reverie, however, it immerses the two of them even more in their little world in each other’s arms.

It’s only when the light shower slowly turns into a torrent of rain, do they part.

And both would later recount, that the view that greeted them made them fall for the other all over again.

The sun had nearly set by now, and everything was cast in the deep golden of the sun’s last rays of the day. Tiny water droplets clung delicately to eyelashes, sparkling with every blink. They were Mother Nature’s fairy lights, hanging onto each strand of hair on their heads, and twinkling with each slight movement.

Bryce’s natural glow was only enhanced in the rain. It didn’t dampen his brightness at all. You might even say that he got blindingly beautiful, though. The light smattering of water across his cheekbones matched with the sun’s dying rays only served to highlight what an angel the man before [MC] was. He was heavenly.

He’d say the same about [MC] too. The rain might have weighed down and made [MC]’s hair a little frizzy, but it was worth it. Bryce could only stare in awe as he wondered. What did he do to deserve the blessings of the gods above; to have the privilege of viewing the resplendent person before him? Every day, he’d compliment [MC], saying they were the light of his world, but in that moment? [MC] truly, literally, was the light of his world.

“You are absolutely radiant, Bryce.”

“And you are my sunshine~”

[MC] playfully smacks him on the shoulder. “We were having a moment, and you decide to sing that?”

Bryce lets out a laugh. “Oh, admit it, you love it,” A cocky smirk settles on his face, before dissolving away into a goofy smile as [MC] smacks his shoulder over and over again. “H-hey! You know I’m right!”

The pair descend into childish giggles as the rain descends even harder around them. It was really becoming a problem for them, standing in the middle of the open air parking lot.

“You want my umbrella now, [MC]?” Bryce’s face is raised to the sky, letting the wind rush through his hair, splattering droplets of water across his face. He peeks open an eye. “Or are you still up for running through the rain?”

“As much as I’d love to run, I don’t fancy getting injured outside the hospital that I work at,” [MC] grins. “Hold the umbrella for us, pretty please?”

Bryce gives MC a little peck on the cheek before rummaging in his bag to retrieve his lavender foldable umbrella. He extends and opens it up with a flourish, offering [MC] his arm as he holds up the umbrella between them. [MC] loops their arm around his, and off they went.

…

[MC] giggles.

“What?”

“Oh… nothing. Just remembered Rihanna’s song. ‘Umbrella’?”

“Because we’re under an umbrella?”

“Yeah, but specifically… I’m standing under my Lahela~ Ela, ela, eh,eh-- BRYCE! Come back here!!”

 Bryce laughs in reply as [MC] begins to chase him, just as the moon chases the sun with each passing day.

[choicesmlm]

I would die for all of u

[perriewinklenerdie]

Married (Ethan Ramsey x MC)

Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x Claire Herondale

Word count: 2,4 k

Summary: Parts of Ines’s wedding told from Ethan’s perspective feat. E&C dancing, staring at each other during the wedding, basically being a married couple and everyone calling them out for it. OH3 Chapter 11 added content.

Warnings: None, it’s fluff town all the way

A/N: I feel scammed by PB. All the golden opportunities - wasted. So I fixed it.

His shoes sank a bit in the sand as he began walking towards the venue. More and more people were beginning to arrive, sounds of conversation and laughter increasing by the minute. He recognized his coworkers with ease and approached them. The first to notice him is Tobias, his eyebrow arching slightly at the sight of him.

“You came alone? Where’s Herondale?” he asked, looking over Ethan’s shoulder to search for the blonde resident.

“She helped me fix my tie, then kicked me out of our room. And refused to let me see the dress.” He explained, shrugging with a helpless laugh. Harper laughed along with him, clapping her hands gently.

“That’s wife behavior. Are you sure you two aren’t married?”

“Dude, if you two eloped, I’m not going to be working out with you anymore.” Bryce chimed in, acting as though he was offended, a serious look overtaking his face.

“Where would you- why would you- “ Ethan started stumbling over his words, realizing only after a moment that everyone was smirking at him teasingly. He huffed, fighting a blush that creeped onto his cheeks anyway. “I see. You all think you’re funny.”

“You make it too easy, Ethan.” Harper giggled, shaking her head.

“And we know we’re funny, Ethan.” His mentor put his hand on his shoulder sympathetically.

“Hilarious, even.” Baz added.

A small sound of an incoming message caused everyone to stop talking. Sienna unlocked her phone, her eyes scanning the screen.

“Claire just texted me a photo of her in a dress.”

Immediately, everyone jumped to her side, long before Ethan could even move his finger. Once he woke up from the daze, he took a step towards the young doctor that he considered his friend. Zaid stopped him in his tracks with a hand pressed to his shoulder.

“She said to not let you see the photo.”

“Why?”

Her voice rang from behind him. “I wanted to see your reaction myself.”

Ethan turned around and, at once, his breath caught in his throat. His gaze dropped to her shoes and dragged up her body slowly. The gentle flow of her skirt, pink silk that he knew for sure would almost spill through his fingers. The bodice, snug against her chest, accentuating her curves and making his male brain run wild. Careful to not linger on her chest too long – he would not get crap from their friends for this – he finally looked at her face. She was grinning smugly with a bit of a nervous spark.

He stepped up to her, resting his hand on the dip of her waist, tracing the floral patterns under his touch. With his other hand, he grasped hers in a gentle manner, raising it to press a warm kiss to her fingers.

“You’re taking my breath away.” he muttered, staring at her intensely.

“Hypoxia is dangerous, maybe I should go.” Claire teased, leaning away a fraction of an inch. He immediately pushed on her back to stop her, their personal spaces merging.

“Not having you by my side is fatal.” He dropped his voice to a low rumble, her grin melting into the soft smile. Their lips met in a slow kiss, no heat to it, just pure emotions.

They remained like that for a prolonged moment, his hands carefully pressing her to his chest. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, making their bodies move in a swaying motion.

Jackie burst their bubble. “You, lovebirds, the brides are about to arrive, cut it out.”

Ethan pressed his lips to Claire’s one last time, then leaned away. Their noses brushed against one another as their eyes met. He whispered gently. “I’ll come find you after the ceremony.”

She pecked his cheek sweetly. “Can’t wait.”

--

He wasn’t particularly a fan of weddings. He wasn’t invited to a lot of them, either. If combined with his dislike for big social gatherings, one would come to the conclusion that Ethan Ramsey was miserable right in that moment.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

As Ines and Angie exchange vows and talk about their love for each other, his eyes find Claire. Sitting in her chair across the aisle, she’s holding Sienna’s hand and passing her a tissue. She’s all anyone could ever ask for, and the mere sight of her makes him fall down into the void of memories.

How far he’s come as a person. A cynic that dreaded what a new year would bring along with a new batch of interns. A man that had only two people in his life that he could call friends. A man that went to the bar every night to forget the day behind him, only to go back to his empty apartment. All of that was so long ago that he barely recognized that version of himself anymore. He was so different now.

He smiled more. Laughed, even, and found that he didn’t find stupid jokes Lahela made all the time half as annoying as he once did. He didn’t spend every waking moment at work. Instead, he enjoyed his time off. Still at a bar, but not to drink away his worries. Not alone – not anymore.

Now, he had someone to come home to.

Claire shook her head as she laughed at what Zaid said and Ethan’s heartbeat quickened. They grew together as people too, and along with that, their relationship evolved.

From the night they spent together in the NICU, when her head slowly fell onto his shoulder and he couldn’t find a single cell in his body to tell him to lean away. Because he wanted her to be close. It was the first moment in which he thought that maybe this brilliant woman was meant to be more to him than just an intern – and right after that, he squashed the idea back down.

Every hold of her hand, every silent sign of support, he cherished it all. Unknowingly falling deeper for the woman that would become the center of his universe before he realized what was happening.

Their kiss in Miami would be at the forefront of his mind in his every living second until he kissed her again. Growing stronger with each time his resolve broke and their lips met, softly or with wild abandonment.

The first time he could call her his – the first time he had her to himself. He knew in that moment that he was ruined for everyone else. No one would ever make him feel that way, ever again. He knew it damn well – and yet, he still fought against it.

Absence makes heart grow fonder. He now knew it was true. Months he spent away from her, keeping her at arm’s length, taught him as much. How could he deny those words when the moment he pulled her closer to him outside his apartment and their lips touched, he felt his mind go blank and his heart stop. He vowed to never let her leave again. To never lose her.

And then he almost did.

The thought alone made his muscles spasm, and he was a millisecond away from running to her side, just to feel her warmth and hear her heartbeat. Leaving her side now, even if only for a moment, even to do their job, caused a silent voice to go off in his head. A wave of panic usually followed, staying with him until he saw her again.

Thankfully, nowadays, she was within his reach most of the time. She never asked why he sometimes needed to pull her close and just hold onto her – she knew.

He felt the corners of his lips rise on their own accord. She was radiant in every second of every day. In that moment, she was the most beautiful person there. The idea that it was him that she continuously chose to be with, day after day, only made him smile wider.

This was it for him. He found his one and only, as cliché as that sounded – he knew it for sure. Guess weddings really did make people reflect on love after all.

Ethan was very much aware of how lovestruck he must have been looking in that moment. With his eyes on Claire, he was a picture of a man in love – and he was finally ready to admit that he was. He loved her.

Almost as though she could hear his thoughts, she turned around to look at him. Their eyes met and a brilliant smile bloomed on her face. His lips moved as he mouthed the words, her smile becoming gentler.

“I’m yours.”

She mouthed it right back to him.

--

Music wasn’t as obnoxious as he anticipated it to be. That didn’t, of course, mean that he condoned every dance move he saw the guests do. He decided to not complain, though – it was a day to be happy, he wouldn’t bring anyone down with his opinion on their questionable choices of moves.

Currently, he was seated by the table, nursing his whiskey. Mirani twins, Tobias and Naveen sat beside him, all five men watching their colleagues party with wine glasses in their hands.

“How long, do you think, will it take for one of them to break a glass?” Baz asked, leaning out of his seat to see his friends better. Zaid grinned, taking a sip of his drink.

“Any second now. And my bet is on Varma.”

“Why?” Tobias’s face twisted in confusion as he turned towards him, intrigued. Zaid shrugged.

“Because she can.”

Ethan tuned their conversation out, choosing instead to look at his girlfriend. She danced with Sienna, laughing as they sang along to the song. Her dress moved with her, flowing through the air elegantly. He felt the urge to stand up and walk up to her.

“Ramsey, you do know you can just walk up to her instead of sitting here and pining for her, right?” Tobias snickered, punching Ethan’s shoulder playfully. He scoffed, leaning away with a hint of a burn in his cheeks.

“I’m not pining for her.”

“You are.” All four of his companions replied.

He was so distracted by their words that he failed to notice an approaching form. Her hand landed on his shoulder softly, the tips of her nails scratching the back of his neck. Knowing who it was, he leaned into her touch, breathing out deeply.

“Sorry, gentlemen, but I’m stealing him.” she mused happily, dragging her hand down his arm until her fingers tangled with his. Ethan let her pull her up, looping his arm around her waist.

“Stealing is bad, Herondale.” Tobias shot back, moving his eyebrows suggestively at the couple. Claire opened her mouth to speak, but Ethan beat her to the punch.

“She can’t steal something that’s already hers.” He grinned at them, then turned towards her. Claire’s jaw dropped in surprise at his boldness, her posture softening enough for him to pull her away from the table, smirking. Faintly, he heard Tobias’s words.

“Married. For sure.”

Ethan’s arms wrapped around her, fingers hooked onto her hipbones. She threw her arms around his neck, staring up at him with a soft smile. A slow song began playing and one look at where the DJ was situated told them who was behind this change. Ines grinned at them, giving them thumbs up and a cheeky wink.

“Is it just me, or is everyone trying to tell us something?” Claire giggled, nuzzling her nose against his jaw. He kissed her nose gently.

“So, you noticed it too?”

“Kinda hard not to. Girls said we’re acting like a married couple at least twice today.” she traced the lapel of his jacket, laughing quietly at the recognition in his eyes.

“Guys did it too.” Ethan muttered, tightening his hold on her. She laid her head on his shoulder.

“And how does that make you feel?”

He was silent for a long while. They swayed to the song, tuning out everything else. To her surprise, he didn’t tense up – nothing about his posture spelled out the doubts he once told her he had.

“Not as terrified as it did before.”

Claire leaned back to look at him. Their eyes met, tender understanding in them. Ethan leaned down, capturing her lips in a kiss, perfectly soft and not nearly deep enough. She clutched his lapel in her fist, creasing the fabric with how strong her pull was. His fingers dug into her back, skipping past the coarser material of her bodice and gripping the soft silk of her skirt. A voice in the back of his head told him to loosen up the hold or he’ll mark the fabric, but the overwhelming need he felt for her overshadowed everything else and he couldn’t bring himself to let her go.

The song ended and with it, their kiss. Foreheads pressed together, they caught their breath, standing in the middle of the dancefloor. Blissfully unaware of how much attention they gathered with their tender moment.

Ethan opened his eyes and finally allowed his mind to register the music again. Some sort of a fast tune that made people around them go mad. His girlfriend stared at him with an unspoken question, and he got the meaning perfectly well.

With a definite move, he dipped her onto the floor. She giggled, the sound breaking through the loud music to reach his ears. Ethan smirked, throwing her back into his arms. With his lips against her ear, he mused hotly.

“I have a few tricks up my sleeve.”

Her leg wrapped around his thigh, pushing their bodies closer. His voice broke off and his breath shuddered at the way their bodies clashed and the suggestive smirk she sent his way. His hand fell to her ass, all inhibitions gone.

“Ethan!” she exclaimed, laughing at the carefree smile he gave her. He moved his hand a bit, albeit begrudgingly.

“Can you blame me? You’re irresistible.” He muttered, kissing the shell of her ear. Claire hummed, then twirled out of his hold and back into it, jumping into his arms with her legs wrapped around his hips. Ethan groaned deeply in his throat, making her smirk.

“I have a few tricks up my sleeve too.”

Notes

This is a part 2 to the Mile High Club fic. As I said, PB could have made the chapter so good with all the wedding themes that I’d lose my wig. Writers apparently don’t know how to do basic research into fiction themes, but that’s okay (kinda). It just means I have more material to work with.

Round two smut is coming soon. 

Thank you for reading! <3

Tagging separately

[secretaryunpaid]

Almost was never enough...

Can we still be friends?

An Open Heart AU

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Pixelberry, Christa Rhinefield is my own personality created although (PBs MC in relation to canon)

Pairing: Christa Rhinefield x Ethan Ramsey, Bryce Lahela , Harper Emery

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Sadness, Anger, Sex, the usual...

Word Count: 1,800 approximately

She had never expected that when Bryce returned from his mandatory tour of duty that she would break both of their hearts. Their former unspoken feelings never received closure. They had made the purest form of love, almost to confess their emotions, only for him to receive his summons for deployment... It was the worst possible thing that could have ever happened... She had given up on her pursuit of her fantasy of having the Dr. Ethan Ramsey and had thrown herself completely into Bryce’s affections... never realizing how deep they actually ran...

It would be then that Ethan felt that he should give in to his desire for her... Rumors of her involvement with Bryce had prevented him from allowing them to progress... along with the fact that she reported to him... 

But before he could act in the way that he truly desired, he overheard other residents discussing their beliefs of how Christa always maintained her top spot on the roster. They had watched her remain under the top twenty five candidates for the opening on the Diagnostics Team for weeks... Witnessing her downward spiral and self doubt over her choice to become a physician... “She’s fucking Ramsey... she has to be. Don’t you see how he fawns over her every “success”?”  

That angry twitch of his brow began at the air quotes, but he began to calm as the male nurse Danny interrupted them. “I think if Dr. Ramsey were to walk up on this conversation, not only would you to shit yourselves, you’d be worked like criminals performing free labor until you didn’t have the energy to think, let alone compete for a spot on his Diagnostics Team... I hear some monitors beeping, how about checking those out before I have to file a complaint...” 

He looks at the offer letter in his hands that he was about to discard, and decides that giving her space would be better than hindering her career. So he tucks the letter into his pocket. He makes a show of walking up to the nurse’s station to ask Danny for Christa’s whereabouts, the two residents speed walking once they hear his voice ... assuming that he had heard their conversation, but not giving him the opportunity to scorn their behavior.

He finds Christa in the patient’s room, she looks tattered from all of the strain his assignments had placed on her... Feeling a sharp pang in his heart, he tells her that she can end her shift early... that he will finish up her case load. She doesn’t hesitate, because she feels as worn as she looks. He can see in her nervous look that he has ridden her way harder than the other residents, and not in the way that he wished that he could.

He couldn’t have any regrets over pushing her to excel to her potential... She was beautiful and he found her irresistible, yes, but he knew that she could become much greater than even he had if he gave her proper motivation... He wouldn’t let her waste her talents if it was within his control.

Christa sends a quick text message to Sienna and Jackie to see if they are at Donahue’s... She could use a couple of drinks to unwind, wanting the sleep assist that the alcohol would provide... If she was honest, she really needed the company. Her thoughts wouldn’t allow Bryce out of her head. Their last shift worked together had many supply closet foreplay sessions, with a lunch break spent locked away in the Resident’s Lounge, to a very daring sexcapade on the helipad after much bribing of the security guard to redirect the angle of the rooftop cameras’ views...

Remembering that last kiss for safe travels as she headed up to her patient’s room.

~~~~~

Now he had returned, immediately seeking her out to propose marriage... never wanting to be separated again... She never said the word, “I can’t,” she just began listing off the things that had transpired in his absence...  Once the name Ethan fell from her lips, his heart immediately cracked, slowly shattering until his chest felt hollow and void of any pulse from his beating heart... Either it was racing at hummingbird speed, too fast to be felt or heard, or he had died and could still hear the sweet melody of her voice... even confessing her love for another man... 

His mind couldn’t stop replaying visions of Christa straddled atop Ethan, playfully grinding as they talked about what they needed from each other before giving all of themselves to each other... his anger spiking, taking it out on the punching bag she’d bought him as a gift to help relieve the days’ woes... His punches didn’t cease until he felt the coolness from the blood building on his bruised knuckles... realizing only then that he had to pull himself together... His hands were his life...

His life... Why had it come to be solely his when he was just offering it to Christa to share for their lifetime...? As he slowly removed the wrapping, finally pulling his hands free of the gloves and icing them, he could hear her hoarse words, “I am so glad that you have surgical precision... because Babe... the way you handle me... that’s some rich ass cosmetic surgeon not fucking up reconstruction type of shit! It’s like I am a new person after each time with you...” 

The feel of her pressed into him as he laughed softly at how she always praised his skill as a surgeon, but never let him forget how valued a lover he was to her. It was what he loved most about her, she stroked his ego even though she teased him that he needed a clone to be able to contain all of the cockiness he exuded alone... The truth was... He knew that he was an excellent surgeon, he just doubted himself as a lifelong companion. He also knew that he was a very skilled lover, he just had doubts about being a good person... a person deserving of someone like Christa.

~~~~~~

She lay in his bed, starting her own foreplay as her mind raced over everything that she wanted to do to him... over everything she wanted him to do to her... Tonight wouldn’t include his fetish, just pure gentle lovemaking... that was her mood as she ran her fingers around her clit imaging his tongue tracing circles before feeling it slide delicately and intently between her thighs as he slowly peeled them apart to make room for him to lay lazily as he took his time drawing every ounce of desire from her... listening for every draw of breath, moaning of his name, plead for him to go where she was fired up the most...

She truly hadn’t even noticed what was happening on the 80 inch high performance television before her, mounted above a beautiful faux fireplace flickering and capturing her attention... her heat dancing through her almost in the same patterns as the flame prancing about, holding her in a trance as her imagination took her to the places he would once he joined her. Her eyes would roll towards the screen but immediately fall back to the flame...

“Christa, is this what you watch while I shower? See... this is exactly why I don’t allow you in the kitchen... It couldn’t be Gordon Ramsey or Emeril Lagasse, hell even Rachael Ray? I think it’s been too long since you’ve been punished.... Bedroom! NOW!”

“See, you always know what I want Ramsey!” Her hands moving away from center, she puts her fingers in his mouth, him biting them playfully before licking away the apparent need building within her.

“Oh, so we’re back to Ramsey? Okay, I see exactly how you want this night to go!”

“Is big bad Ramsey gonna crop me?”

“Christa... I’m gonna give you just one warning... You may not like where this goes if you don’t start behaving...”

Lip biting as a promise to continue being naughty, he pins her against the bedroom door, biting her lip harder than she expected before turning her, “Hands up, you need thorough frisking.” The thrill in her eyes as she peers at him over her shoulder sets him to new heights, roughly kissing her then pressing her face against the door as he runs his hands through her tresses, “Spread wide for me, Rookie...” His sultry whisper sends her into a tizzy of anticipation. 

“And if I don’t?” Expecting his every movement, she closes her eyes, relishing in the feel of his knee prying her legs apart, but more in the feel of his thigh grazing her minge, having been dressed in only his large white tee. She writhes along his thigh as his knee presses against the door, her moisture giving a clue that she needed his body in any form right now... He will allow this simple pleasure before he gives her no room for movement, taking full control to drive her nerves to their ends with pleasure in the slowest manner possible.

“Turn around, I need to search your front, then it’s to the bed spread eagle... is that clear Rookie?” 

In her euphoric state, she hazily responds, “Crystal...” 

“Oh Rookie, I plan to call your name all night, but I am positive that it’s Christa... To the bed with you!” 

The door swings open, sounding against the stopper, she turns to run for the bed, but he pulls her back to him, kissing her with a desire and smolder in his eyes that tells her sleep won’t be had by either of them tonight... Taking her hand, he allows her to feel how attracted he is to her as he slowly guides her to the bed... The tickle from him slowly removing the t-shirt from her, his fingers finding her completely naked underneath, sends cold shivers every place he ghosts or lightly touches.

Bumping the mattress, he stops, taking in the beauty of her backwards crawl teasingly summoning him towards her... Once center, she lays down slowly teasing her breasts, and slowly easing her legs apart, taking her splayed position as instructed, curved enough to watch his crawl to her... eyes dropping from his face to his very erect one-eyed monster curving and searching like an anaconda descending on its prey, water dowsing along the way.

~~~~~

Meanwhile...

Bryce lay in his bed, thinking of how he almost had the love of his lifetime... Would they have made it if he hadn’t been called to duty? Would he let go so easily? She was definitely worth fighting for... Or would he just let fate decide? 

He had heard that Ramsey ran off to the Amazon... How did he beat him out for Christa’s heart after a stunt like that? He concedes that he just never really had a chance... Friends with benefits is all that they would and could have been... but it doesn’t hurt any less...

[storyofmychoices]

First Impressions

[Bryce Lahela x Olivia Hadley Masterlist]

Pairing: Bryce Lahela x Olivia Hadley (OC) Other Characters (mentioned): Jackie Varma, Unnamed MC Book: Open Heart (Book 1, Chapter 1) Word Count: <1,400

Prompts: polaroid @choicesaprilchallenge2021; for anon who asked “First impression of each other? Was it love at first sight?” For Bryce x Olivia [Short answer: yes!]

Synopsis: Bryce and Olivia meet for the first time in the Edenbrook locker room on the first day of their intern year. Neither of them expected to feel what they felt about someone they didn’t even know yet.

Her smiling face stared back up at her from her new hospital ID badge. “Doctor Olivia Hadley”, she traced the first word with her finger, still in disbelief. It didn’t feel real. She was a doctor. All of her hard work and dedication had finally gotten her where she wanted to be: helping people. She had dreamed of being a doctor her entire life. Edenbrook was a big step up from diagnosing and treating her bears and dolls as a child. 

She was a doctor. She had made it! A little squeal slipped from her lips; her hand quickly clapped over her mouth, hoping no one had heard it. 

Her embarrassing slip seemed to go unnoticed. Two doctors in their underwear bickered while talking to another doctor who had just arrived; her scrubs were already soiled from triaging a patient on the way in. 

Olivia's gaze settled on the male doctor who stood almost proudly in his boxers, no modesty or shame. His confidence was overwhelming. Her heart fluttered as her she took him in.

His laughter was infectious. It melted through her nerves and worries. Something about it was calming. Behind the boisterous cock-sure tone, there was a genuine joy in its melody. His brown eyes glowed with a beautiful fire. It was a rare sight to see. 

The muscular doctor argued cheekily with a gorgeous female doctor. A pang of disappointment filled her as she listened to their spirited teasing Olivia wondered if they were a couple already or if they were on their way to it. She wasn't sure why she cared. She wasn’t there to engage in a fling; she was there because her life’s purpose had always been to help and to heal. She reminded herself that she didn’t even know his name, so how could she already feel for someone she hadn’t met. She thought herself better than falling for a party boy. Sure, he looked like his stomach and chest had been carved from caramel-colored marble and every inch of it was real and not photoshopped. She knew that meant nothing; although, her whole body warmed at the thought.   

Olivia took a deep, focused breath, turning back to her locker. He was so out of her league; there wasn’t even any use fantasizing about it (even though she could already tell it would be a fantastic fantasy).

She took a polaroid photo of herself as a child wearing a lab coat, dressed as a doctor for Halloween, and tacked it up to remind her how far she had come. If that little girl could see her now; a soft smile grew on her face at the memory and all those memories she had made on her journey to get here.

The playful bantering of the three doctors seemed to die down. She could hear the two female doctors' conversations fading as they left the locker room. She tossed her hair behind her shoulders and readjusted her lab coat. Taking one last look in her little mirror, she shut her locker quietly, hoping to slip out unnoticed. 

“Hi.” His cool voice greeted her, as the still shirtless doctor leaned casually against the lockers. He gave her his most charming grin. If this were a cheesy romantic comedy, his teeth would have been sure to sparkle.

Olivia shook her head, trying to remember what words were as his gaze drew her deeper. “Uh, hi.” 

“I'm Bryce.” He smirked, stepping closer and offering her his hand. 

She swallowed hard, reluctantly accepting his gesture.  “Liv. Olivia. I’m a pediatric intern. Pleased to meet you.”

He turned her hand in his own, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. Her skin was soft and inviting. He didn’t want to let go. His voice was smooth and sultry, “the pleasure is all mine.” 

She pulled her hand back, trying to hold in her slight scoff. She had heard him use that same line on one of the other doctors just a few minutes earlier. She cleared her throat. Weakly, she asked, “do you mind putting a shirt on?”

He raised his brow questioningly but threw his surgical scrubs on. “Better?”

“Immensely,” she rolled her eyes, unamused. 

“I aim to please,” he winked, moving closer once more. His gaze settled on hers as if he had something more to say, but no words came.  

The fire in his eyes drew her in like a moth to a flame. She had thought seeing him clothed would break the illusion and free her from his pull; but, she was caught in his gaze like she assumed so many others had probably been, completely enraptured by his beauty. For a moment, she forgot why she was there and the promise she had made to herself and her parents: no first-day flings. A blissful warmth washed over her as his smile widened. She wondered what he was thinking and if he felt the same odd stillness and warmth that she did standing there with him. It was peaceful, a quiet hope-filled moment with a whispered promise of something she couldn’t quite understand. Her eyes closed as her smile grew too wide, breaking the spell. 

Drawing in a deep breath, Olivia took a step back. "I should—" Her fingers pointed over her shoulder to leave, but her feet stood still. 

As if coming out of a trance himself, he shook his head letting the locker room shift back into focus. He noticed for the first time that all of the other interns had since left. "Me too." 

"We don't want to be late," Olivia lied; everything in her wanted nothing more than to stay in his warm glow. 

"Right." He agreed, turning back to his own locker and shoving his stuff in swiftly. He had planned to be the first surgical intern at the meeting to make a good first impression, but here he was still there with her. He wasn't sure how much time had passed or how he so easily let it slip away from him. "See you later, Liv?"

"I hope so," Olivia admitted softly, attempting to temper her smile. She was certain she looked like a bushing schoolgirl with a new crush.

"Until then."

Something about the quiet doctor pulled him into her. He first noticed her when her little squeal drew his focus momentarily. She was so happy to be there; it was endearing. He had seen her sneak a peek of his features earlier when he and Jackie were talking to the hopeful diagnostic intern. Her blushing cheeks were adorable. He had to know her name and why he couldn’t stop thinking about her, even when there were two stunning female doctors shirtless in front of him. 

As she moved to organize her locker, he snuck behind it. His heart beat a little faster as she tossed her hair back behind her shoulders, readjusting her lab coat. He waited patiently for her to notice him; but she didn’t. Not until she shut the locker. 

He cringed at himself at his cheesy hello and the awkward start to their conversation. She didn't seem to care for his state of undress. He was taken aback when she had asked him to put a shirt on, but he complied not wanting to let her go yet.

He drifted closer to her without thinking. He hadn't intended to stay like this, trapped in her gaze; however, there was something about the tenderness of her eyes that kept him there. It was comforting, like the warm breeze off the cool ocean on a hot summer day. Home wasn't a concept he had much faith in lately, but if he had to label it with one word, that's what this moment felt like, what she felt like—home. He laughed at himself for even thinking such a thought. 

She was just a beautiful woman with kind eyes. What made her so different? He tried to ignore the feeling, but it only grew the longer they stayed there. He didn't want the moment to end, but he knew it had to. He was grateful when she pulled away first, reminding them both they had somewhere they needed to be. 

Bryce watched her walk away, hoping for a reason he didn't yet understand, that he would see the pediatric intern again, and sooner rather than later. There was something about her that he needed more of.

Perma tags: @lilyoffandoms ; @raleighcarrera ; @mfackenthal ; @the-soot-sprite ; @virtuallytakenby ; @zeniamiii ; @whimsicallywayward15; ; @xjustin-ethansgirliex ; @caseyvalentineramsey; @trappedinfanfiction; @anotherbeingsworld​ ;  @tyrils-star ; @arnikki-2406 ; @princess-geek ;  @katrinegrey​ ; @lucy-268​ ; @schnitzelbutterfingers​ ; @gardeningourmet​

Bryce //  Open Heart Tags:  @thearianam​  ; @burnsoslow​ ; @mvalentine​  ; @rookie-ramsey​ ; @missmiimiie​;; @jamespotterthefirst​ ; @adrianadmirer​ ; @bitchloveskcbaseball​ ; @nyastarlight​ ; @doriansapprentice​ ; @brycesgirl​; @bratzlahela​; @ofpixelsandscribbles​;  @superharriet​ ; @loveellamae

[doriansapprentice]

Not a rookie anymore

Ship: Bryce Lahela X M, MC Remy Miles

Words: 785

Warning: Angst and alot of fluff 🥰

Disclaimer: All characters belongs to Pixelberry

A/N: A rewritten one shot on Open Heart book 2 Chapter 9 where June walks into Mc hiding in the supply closet. But now it is Bryce who walks in... 😏 @choicesficwriterscreations

The second year resident hurried of from the administration floor and wander quickly, glad that it were empty of people that could give him more jobs at hand or worse, asking if he wanted to grab a coffe or lunch and talk. It would be a nightmare if that happen. If people could see how vulnerable and weak he were. "For heaven sake I am not a rookie anymore. I can not just sob and hide away like a kid!" Remy scold himself quiently. Rubbing his runny nose and scorched eyes and frowned when it did not help and only resulted in making his sleeve wet.

Having no choice the doctor ran into the supply closet and just in time manage to close the door before he sank to the floor. It all poured out at once like a waterfall and he sobed his eyes out in his arms. Not a fully ten minutes later the door open, and Remy rubbed his swollen eyes looking up.

" Hey Freckles. What is it?" Bryce kind brown eyes searched for Remys blue ones that looked watered down and tired.

" Bbbryce..."

The surgeon played with the tousled red hair and wrapped a lock around his thumb and the other hand lightly as a feather nudge the freckles on his cheeks. Gladly he saw that Remys chest raised and lowered a bit more steady and that his adams apple stopped gulping.

" Its okay to cry, you know that right Remy?"

In respond the other man tried to get up but failing as his knees buckled under him.

" Its...itss nooothing..." Remy looked away from his boyfriend and once more tried to get up. " I have to get back to work... I got ton of thhhings to..."

Firmly but yet softy Bryce layed both his hands on Remys shoulders holding him back.

" No. Here is what you will do. You are going to cry it all out. Okay?"

" I am a grown adult I should not..." Remy started clenching his jaws and fists. Then absurtly stopped talking, muscles relaxed when Bryce wrapped his arms around him in a warm hug.

" Shyy. It will be none of that. If you are sad lay it on me I can take it. Its not only my hands who are magical Freckles. I am great at everything I do. Including comforting wayward doctors."

Remy curved his mouth upwards in a smirk. The nickname and the flirty comment were the best thing about his boyfriend among other million things. So gaving in, he sobed loudly in Bryce scrubs until it became wet. The surgeon just sat there holding his boyfriend in his arms and told him he were there. Firstly Remy stopped to sob, then shake and lastly he breathed normaly, blurring out how afraid he were that Kyra may die and that the hospital could shut down.

" Ethan will probaly wonder where I am." Remy mumbled muffled in the scrubs after being quiet for a long time. When his boyfriend kissed the top of his head, Remy sat up to face him. Ignoring how tears dripped from the tip of his nose.

" Dr Ramsey will surely understand that you are upset. You are only human after all. Its a lot of pressure being doctor and there are alot of bad things that are happening at the same time, so its not strenge to be overwelmed. You are a great doctor Remy Miles, you are kind and cares about people. Its not weak. I just finish my shift, so we are going to ask Dr Ramsey if you can have the day of. Okay?

Remy beamed hard ruffling Bryce hair who smirked wide. When other people ruffled his perfect hair he frowned and rolled his eyes at them. But it were kind of cute and feelt good when Remy did it.

"Okay, love. But only if we are going to your place and helps out to make a home cooked dinner and cuddle infront of a movie and eating dessert."

Not able or wanting to stop himself Bryce winked and raising one eyebrown.

" I like the dessert part."

" Flirty nerd." Remy giggled and shoved him lightly.

" We both know you love it."

Remy pretend to think and took Bryce hand to get up and winked back.

" Do not get to cocky. Maybe I just go to Rafael instead."

Bryce wrapped a arm around Remys shoulder and kissed his freckled nose, making the doctor moaned softly and burst out in giggles.

" Its okay. I just challange him to a duel at dawn to win you back Remm."

" Love you my hero." Remy mumbled into his mouth as he snog him roughly and sweet.

" Love you to Remm."

[codykosuckmytoe]

Results: Choices LI Survey 2021

Hi guys! Thanks so much for all the support and responses I’ve got from this survey x 

I started this survey because I am attempting to romance Bryce, Rafael, Aurora and Ethan (in order of preference) in Open Heart, which has become increasingly difficult and very expensive! I wanted to see if anyone was doing the same thing as me, so I made this survey.

the results should be under this read more :)

I’ll put any main conclusions (I’m a psychology and anthropology student, sue me) at the bottom and respond to any of the comments you have! If anyone needs closed captions, just reply to this post and I’ll happily write out the figures for you x

To that one submission, Baz wasn’t a character in book 1, but hey, I admire your tenacity.

Do y’all who say ‘none’ think that theres is enough representation already? (fyi I disagree)

Wow! if you scrolled all the way down, I’m pretty impressed!

That last question seemed more controversial than I imagined ahah maybe I should have asked ‘gender customisable ethan ramsey?’ instead? let me know what y’all think.

Overall, its pretty clear that I’m way in the minority with the whole romancing the entire friendship group thing. Maybe that’s for the best! But, still us serial romancers like to stick to our guns and romance the same amount of LIs across all three books, so uhh, go us?

(side note: I’m also very glad ES won as the best LI layout as it’s 100% my favourite book. all lovers of ES say aye!)

My response to any comments under here:

I am not a member of the ace community, and I would much rather hand the microphone to someone who is when responding to this, but I’ll explain my reasoning. I included asexual as a category because aces are still often very much interested in romance. To qualify as an LI in this study, I decided you hand to have a history with flirting with each other (diamond scenes often only go to canon-LIs and so eradicate Aurora, June and others as objective LIs), but I made sure people were free to enter any names they wanted to. There have been LIs we have not had 16+ times with, like Kyra and Aurora. Therefore, they to some extent could have been asexual, but we don’t know for sure. Therefore, Asexuals would still make great LIs!

Speaking of asexuality, can we all agree that this should be an option for all MCs? why should we have to be interested in one LI in a book? especially when some of them are so bland. by not including an ace option, pixelberry is pretty much disregarding ace/aro existence.

Pixelberry, if y’all needed a bigger sign to increase LI minority representation, you’re looking at it. 

‘need older female LIs’ - yes, I agree! pls let us date Harper I’m begging you

‘I would die for bryce lahela’ - mood 

‘We all know this, but as a non-Ethan romancer (Bryce 4ever) OH can be a bit disappointing. Of course, minority representation (especially in lis) would be amazing, but pb has to work on giving all lis equal screentime/diamond choices as well.’ - Yes anon! From romancing 4 people in OH it’s super obvious to me how biased screen time is towards white-passing male LIs, when POCs and members of other minorities seem more interesting as LIs! both equalling screen time and increasing representation is a must for later Choices books.

‘im gay man i just like men’ - my favourite comment. I like your point

-

Anyway, this has been a super long post, and it’s only my 4th post on tumblr lol.

I’ve really enjoyed the process of this survey, and how accepting the choices community has been to me! If anyone (seriously, just one) wants me to, i am happy to do similar survey on any topic requested (I’m thinking a POC survey looking at how many people romance POC LIs and why). 

I’ll try over the next couple days to share these results on as many platforms as possible, so everyone who responded can see it. So, any signal boosts, shares, discussions, replies etc. would be greatly appreciated.

Finally, let me know what y’all think about the results! Were you surprised?

All my best, Victoria x 

a.k.a. @codykosuckmytoe​

[alwaysmychoices]

I’m replaying book one and I was thinking what if Ethan had turned up to their housewarming party? Feel like doing a head canon/Fic ? 🤩

“House Party”

Synopsis: Tonight, Charlie and her friends are throwing a house party to relax after a tough week at work, and all Charlie wants to do is relax and have fun. She never expected to see Ethan Ramsey at the party, and she certainly didn’t expect to spend the night talking on the roof with him...

Pairing: Dr. Ethan Ramsey x MC (Charlie Greene) (prequel to A Weekend w/ Dr. Ramsey Series)

Choices Story: Open Heart (set during book 1 house party)

Rating: Teen

Words: 3.5k

TW: discussions of workplace sexism

Thank you for this ask! 

Ethan Ramsey didn’t attend parties, and he certainly never attended intern parties.

So, why was he making his way through a crowded hallway to this one?

He was asking himself the very same question. Of course, it was Naveen’s fault. Only a few hours earlier, they’d been sharing dinner in Ethan’s apartment. Over a glass of brandy, Naveen ordered Ethan to attend. Ethan initially refused, but with enough pressure, Naveen succeeded in manipulating his friend into attending.

Naveen said that he wanted Ethan to make more friends in the hospital, so he should go. Ethan suspected Naveen was up to something, but he hadn’t figured out what.

The second Ethan stepped through the apartment’s front door, he felt old.

Almost everyone was at least a decade younger than him. They moved through the crowded space with ease, and they stared at Ethan with apparent displeasure and shock. Ethan didn’t recognize the song playing or even the drinking games happening around the room.

He shouldn’t be here.

He resisted the urge to run away as fast as he could.

He could see whispers ripple through the party. Everyone knew he was here anyway. He was determined to stay for a while just to prove himself.

Pushing past a group of drunk pediatric interns, Ethan searched for the bar. He knew that the alcohol would be cheap, but he hoped it would be strong enough to ease his discomfort.

He didn’t recognize most of the attendees. Most of them were residents from other departments. The few attendings were young and interacted with Ethan rarely. He knew the nurses but only professionally, so he felt strange walking up to them now.

Ethan wondered who lived in this apartment. Should he be greeting them? Was he supposed to bring a bottle of something to thank them for their hospitality? Were they his interns? Would it be weird if he talked to them here?

Speaking of interns, he saw one of them.

His favorite, arguably.

Charlotte Greene.

She was in the middle of the room, surrounded by a crowd of people that seemed to adore her. Like the rest of them, Ethan felt captivated. Outside of work, she was different. Softer, more confident. Less afraid, certainly.

And… well, beautiful, too.

He already knew she was beautiful. Even sleep-deprived and dressed in frumpy scrubs, she was pretty. But nonetheless, seeing her so stunning now was shocking. He almost felt guilty for the thought. Like his mind was overstepping some professional line – a line that frequently felt faint with Charlie.

He liked her too much.

She was too similar to him. Too talented. Too promising. Too kind. And far too friendly.

She was dangerous but in a way that was easy to keep away.

But tonight, as Ethan approached her in a crowded party, she seemed… enticing. Impossible to ignore. He couldn’t stop staring. He even had an urge to talk to her.

He was close enough now that he could see the man standing next to her.

Bryce Lahela. A surgical intern. Very promising from what Ethan’s colleagues said.

And he was all over her. Lahela’s arm hooked around Charlie’s bare midriff, keeping her pulled tightly against him. His fingertips dug into her skin, squeezing her skin as he whispered into her ear. She bit her lower lip as she listened, and he finished whatever he said with a kiss on her lower jaw.

Ethan hated it. He didn’t want Bryce to flirt with Charlie, and he didn’t know why. Eventually, he likened it to some sort of protection instinct – like he wanted to protect Charlie from the wiles of some lothario.

Not that she needed his protection.

Or wanted it.

Charlie Greene knew precisely what she was doing. This was her party, and Bryce was her man for the evening. Though if Bryce wanted to skip out on their friends with benefits arrangement, she doubted she would have trouble finding someone to replace him for the night. Charlie never got to do this. She was always working. She never got to put up her hair, put on a push-up bra, and expose her skin. It was the first time since she moved to Boston that she got to have fun like this, and she was determined to do it all.

And she was.

She was the woman of the night. In her tight jeans and skimpy top, she knew she was hot. And finally, after months of ill-fitting scrubs and stressful work, she got to be hot!

Finishing off her beer, Charlie whispered her goodbye to Bryce and smoothly exited his arms to get herself another drink. She congratulated herself as he watched her walk away.

Everything was amazing.

She forgot she was an intern. She forgot about her tough job and her long hours and her shitty boss.

Until she saw him.

Charlie felt the color drain from her face as she came eye-to-eye with her boss from hell, Dr. Ethan Ramsey.

She was frozen.

She couldn’t believe it.

He was here?

He couldn’t be.

He wouldn’t go to an intern party! Who had even invited him?

As Charlie stared at him, she realized she had been frozen hunched over the beer cooler, meaning she’d been showing him her cleavage the entire time.

She felt like she was going to throw up.

He was walking towards her.

Why???

Suddenly, Charlie did not feel hot anymore. She was an intern again – and a frightened one at that. She felt exposed and embarrassed. And so fucking angry that her night had been ruined and that he might hold this against her forever.

All she wanted to do was feel hot! Not be held responsible by a sexist man for the rest of her residency!

“Dr. Greene,” Ethan greeted her and regretted it immediately. Why was he so formal?

It was really him.

Charlie stared at Dr. Ethan Ramsey in all his glory. Annoyingly handsome, as always. More awkward than usual. And thank God, not staring at her cleavage.

“What are you doing here?” Charlie blurted out.

Ethan was taken aback.

He didn’t know what to say.

“I was just-“ Ethan began but was cut off by Charlie.

“You shouldn’t be,” she said, the emotion high in her voice.

She didn’t trust herself to stay around him.

She was upset. Her night felt like a mirage, and the façade of the confident, hot girl had slipped away. She was angry and sad, and she just wanted to get away from him before he committed her skimpy outfit to memory.

She remembered the last time a male superior ran into her when she was dressed like this.

It had been her research professor. She saw him at a bar, and the look of disgust and disappointment was burned in her memory. He never treated her the same. From that point on, she was just a silly girl. He never gave her the good projects, nor any accolades. She moved to another lab at the end of the year.

Dr. Ramsey wouldn’t be the first man to allow sexist ideals to ruin her career. He would just have more power to do it.

Tears welled in her eyes.

She had to go.

Without another word, Charlie marched off, disappearing into a confused crowd that looked at Ethan with suspicion. They all wondered what he had done to her.

And Ethan wondered what he had done to her…

The sting of rejection prickled at his skin. Maybe he should have known that she hated him. He felt… silly for thinking otherwise. He was, after all, their evil, demanding boss. What had he expected?

He never should have come.

Ethan no longer felt the need to prove himself by staying at the party.

He wanted to go and give Charlie her party back.

Ethan tried to avoid others as he crept out of the party, but they stared anyway.

He let out a breath of relief when he made it out the front door. Seeing the line by the elevator, he headed towards the stairs.

He never expected to find Charlie.

There she was. Just trying to be alone in the stairwell, planted on the third step up as she tried to control the urge to cry. Once again, Ethan had found her in a place he was not wanted.

Now, it was his turn to freeze.

Should he leave without saying something? No, that felt wrong when she was visibly upset. But he knew she didn’t want to see him. She made that clear. What was he supposed to do?

Knowing it was probably the wrong decision, Ethan took a step in Charlie’s direction and said, “Are you okay?”

Charlie’s eyes snapped to him, suddenly alerted to his presence. The pain in her face shifted to disbelief. Was he everywhere now?

“No!” Charlie snapped, too shocked to control herself, “Men like you lose respect for women like me the second they see her as anything other than professional and virginal, and forgive me if I needed to leave so I don’t have to watch my career slip away because of a revealing shirt!”

Ethan wasn’t surprised she yelled at him. Frankly, he expected it the second he opened his mouth. But he was surprised at what she said.

He had never even thought of that.

Of course, he had thought of the revealing shirt – a thought he wasn’t particularly proud to have. But if he was disappointed in anyone, it was in himself. She was entitled to dress however she wanted outside of Edenbrook, and it no bearing on her performance. She could be a competent doctor no matter what she did in her free time.

“Charlotte, your clothing – and anything else you do outside of Edenbrook – have nothing to do with your competency as a doctor. It would take a true misstep for you to lose my respect, and I’m sorry if I gave you any impression otherwise. You shouldn’t have to fear that,” Ethan apologized earnestly.

He wondered who had mistreated her along the way – what sexist man had used his position of authority to impose his ideas of women’s role in society. He wasn’t sure what he could or should say. He couldn’t relate to the experience, and he didn’t want to cheapen or misrepresent it by trying to seem like some kind of savior.

An awkward silence followed as Charlie wrestled with his words.

Against her better instincts, she believed Ethan.

And even though the threat had passed, the overwhelmed feeling lingered.

“Well…” Ethan ventured, “Enjoy your night. I was just leaving.”

She didn’t know why she said what she said next.

Maybe she was thankful for reassurance. Or she felt bad for ruining his night.

Whatever it was, she said, “You don’t have to.”

Ethan was sure he didn’t hear her right.

“What?”

“You don’t have to go,” Charlie explained, her arms wrapping around her knees as she tried to soothe the remaining fear in her chest, “We’re okay, so you can stay, if you want.”

Ethan thought it over, imagining the party left inside. He couldn’t stomach stepping back into the spotlight, and if he was going to drink alone, he’d prefer to do it in his own home.

So, with a polite shake of the head, he said, “I don’t think so. I’m not sure if the rest of the party would agree with you.”

Despite herself, Charlie cracked a smile.

He was probably right. She knew that if her friends knew she was inviting Dr. Ramsey back inside, they’d never forgive her.

But something inside her begged her to not let him go.

She didn’t want to be alone, and somehow, Dr. Ramsey ended up being the person here with her.

“I’m going to the roof,” Charlie announced, “You can come. I’ll bring alcohol if that makes it better.”

“You want me to come?” Ethan was shocked.

He liked Charlie, sure. He even thought that she could be a mentee one day, but he never expected she would invite him to share a drink on a roof. Was this something he should say no to? It crossed a line. But looking at her now, he felt like he couldn’t leave her alone.

So, against his better judgment, he agreed.

He had so many opportunities to back out.

But 10 minutes later, he was up on that roof with her, staring at the Boston skyline with a beer in hand. In the dim glow of night, Charlie was even more beautiful than before. Vaguely, he registered that he had never been in a setting this intimate with her. Something about that frightened him, but like all the times before, he didn’t know why.

He didn’t understand the pull to her, nor did he understand the accompanying fear.

A breeze interrupted his thoughts, bringing with it a gentle chill. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Charlie shiver.

On instinct, he slid out of his leather jacket, and he offered it to her.

Charlie stared at the jacket with mistrust. Why was he giving it to her?

“You look cold,” Ethan explained.

“Are you just trying to hide my cleavage or something?” Charlie blurted out, and she regretted it instantly. Her cheeks flushed a bright shade of red, and she promised herself to never talk about her breasts to Ethan Ramsey again.

“No, you’re shivering,” Ethan chuckled.

Chuckled.

He was amused.

Charlie was both shocked and relieved.

And instead of acknowledging either, she took the jacket and accepted its warmth.

Another silence.

“So, why did you come tonight?” Charlie asked, deciding to satisfy her own curiosity.

“A friend insisted I come,” Ethan answered vaguely, taking a sip of his beer.

“If you have a friend in there, why did you look so confused then?”

“Oh, they didn’t come,” Ethan seemed humored by the idea of Naveen forcing him to come but ignoring the party himself.

“But they made you?”

“Yes,” Ethan affirmed.

Charlie hummed her confusion but asked no more questions.

“We’re throwing the party because it’s our first real night off,” Charlie explained, “And we wanted to make some friends who could commiserate with us. Every day, I feel more and more like a terrible doctor at work, so a successful party was supposed to improve spirits.”

“Terrible doctor?” Ethan repeated incredulously, and he scoffed, “No, you’re not. Young, yes. Inexperienced and naïve, of course. But you’re a good doctor. I knew you would be when I read your file.”

Charlie blushed, “You read my file?”

“You read my book!” Ethan tried to defend himself.

Charlie just smiled wider, and she averted her eyes to the skyline, trying to appreciate the fact that her hero not only read her file but approved of it. This was something out of a med school dream.

“You’re pretty far from home,” Ethan added. However, he released belatedly that he probably shouldn’t be so obvious with remembering the details of her residency application, “Not that I would have guessed. You don’t have much of an accent.”

“You look exactly like the kind of guy who grew up in Rhode Island,” Charlie teased.

“You know where I grew up?” Ethan was smiling, too. Like this was all some game where they admitted to knowing everything about the other. He felt close to her and free to say things he normally wouldn’t.

“Your bio is in your book.”

“Yet you didn’t know what I looked like.”

“I read your bio. I didn’t ogle a book jacket,” Charlie rolled her eyes.

Ogle. He was worth ogling?

“Besides, North Carolina is only a flight away,” Charlie insisted, just like she had to her mother when she moved to Boston a few months ago.

“Oh, and do you have winters in North Carolina?”

“We have mountains!” Charlie insisted, looking affronted, but she was still evading the question.

Amused, Ethan pressed, “And did you live in those mountains?”

“… No, I didn’t,” she confessed, “But to be at Edenbrook, I’ll brave any winter – no matter how cold and bitter.”

Ethan smiled. He liked her dedication, though he would also be entertained to see her trudge through the deep snow for the first time.

As they talked, Ethan began to see Charlie as more than a promising intern. He could see her on his team one day, by his side on cases. Her insight, though needing refinement, was rare. With his mentorship and connections, he was sure she would become something amazing – probably even surpass him.

They talked for what felt like forever. They both left a sip in their beer, not wanting to end the conversation by finishing their drinks. They talked about Boston, Edenbrook, their respective alma maters, and Ethan’s experience as an intern.

They weren’t best friends by any means, but… maybe they were friends?

Or at least they were acting like friends…

And there was a moment at the end of the night when they felt like… more than friends.

Finally giving in to the night, Ethan was walking Charlie down the stairs, and they were discussing their med school days. They were nearly at the door, and Ethan looked down at Charlie, watching as she laughed and told him a story about her sleepless nights in medical school. With her head tilted back and her eyes alight with humor, she looked… so beautiful.

Unbearably beautiful.

And all those dangerous feelings started bubbling up.

He liked her. He liked the intern. As a person and as…

Oh no.

He was trying to block out the thoughts as quickly as they came, but the urge was harder to ignore.

As they stood on the landing, looking straight at each other as Charlie finished her story, Ethan wanted to kiss her. He wanted to taste the lipgloss on her lips. He wanted to feel her soft, blonde hair in his hands. His thoughts were consumed with her.

And he was leaning closer.

He was too close.

Charlie noticed, vaguely.

She was still talking, but she didn’t care what she was talking about.

Because… she wanted to kiss him, too.

And when he finally stepped back, snapping them both out of the moment, she felt disappointed.

“I should get going…” Ethan said, talking mostly to himself.

“Yeah,” Charlie agreed, her voice soft as she tried to hide her dissatisfaction. Why didn’t she want him to go? “I guess I’ll just see you at work then.”

Work.

They worked together.

Ethan was her boss.

They both knew better.

“See you then,” Ethan nodded his goodbye, too afraid of his own impulses to give any other kind of goodbye.

As he walked down the stairs, Ethan thought to himself that Charlie Greene was very dangerous. He would need to be careful around her. Even if he didn’t want to…

From inside his cab, Ethan texted Naveen that he went to the party but that it was a failure of a night out. Yet, as he typed it, something inside him said that wasn’t true.

Charlie walked back to the party silently, wishing she was still back on the roof.

She felt ridiculous.

All she’d wanted was to be a hot girl in a crowded party, but now that she stood in the crowd again, she longed for the quiet company of Dr. Ramsey, a thought she never imagined she’d have.

“Where have you been?” Bryce called out, a drink in hand. A girl stood next to him, one he’d probably been flirting with only moments before, but he left her behind in favor of Charlie.

There were perks to their arrangement. Even if they were never going to be romantic, it was nice to have someone to pick you. But it didn’t bring her the usual comfort. Because Bryce was just casual sex. Most of their hookups were in the early hours of the morning when they hadn’t showered in days. All of their other interactions were just friendly.

They didn’t make her feel like she did on the roof.

“Oh, I ran into Dr. Ramsey, and we were talking,” Charlie tried to make it sound casual, and it was casual, wasn’t it? They were just talking, so why did it feel bigger than that?

“Boooo,” Bryce jeered, “Ugh, I can’t believe that jerk even came.”

“He’s really not that bad,” Charlie stood up for him instinctually, something she would have never done only a few hours ago.

“Ooooh,” Bryce grinned, “Do you like Dr. Ramsey?”

“No!” Charlie insisted defensively – too defensively.

“I think you do!” Bryce teased.

“The only doctor I want to sleep with is you,” Charlie asserted, stepping closer and wrapping her arms around Bryce’s neck.

Instantly forgetting his teasing, Bryce looped his arms around Charlie’s waist and pulled her flush against him, “Oh?”

“Mmmhmm,” Charlie murmured, her breath hot against his lips as she leaned in for a kiss.

“How about another drink and then back to my place?” he whispered, biting Charlie’s lower lip, and she agreed.

As she shared her final drink with Bryce and danced with her friends, Charlie was able to enjoy the rest of her night.

But something had changed. Something so small that she wouldn’t appreciate the significance for quite some time. But the thing was… she still wished she was back on the roof with Ethan.  

A/N: I hope you liked this. When I started, I was super excited to go back to pre-Weekend with Dr. Ramsey and show some of the FWB with Bryce, but when I introduced the sexism plot, I got nervous. If this was done poorly or you think it just came off weird, please let me know and I’ll go back to it. I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable. Maybe I’m just too nervous because I loved the idea when I started, but once the writing started, I became worried.

But if you’re interested in prequel stuff, hmu! Also, my asks are open for cool ideas like this! 

[jamespotterthefirst]

Ocean Eyes (Ethan x F!MC)

Pairing: Dr. Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Dr. Lilac Allende) Word count: 2,400 + Warning: Adult language, adult situations Premise: When Ethan posts a daring picture, she responds just how he hoped.  Part 2 of Lovely.  Tags: @openheart12​ | @ethandaddyramsey​ | @noboundariesplease​ | @silverlitskies​ | @the-soot-sprite | @infinitiestones |  @emotionalswift2 | @flyawayboo |  @paulfwesley | @hatescapsicum​| @myusualnerdyself​ | 

_______________________________________

Donahue's was far more crowded that night than its usual Friday night tally. The dance floor she had just inhabited with Bryce was brimming with twice the number of dancing couples, all drunker and louder than usual. Lilac didn't mind, though. Everyone in general seemed to be having a good time and the high spirits were almost contagious. 

Before she could stop herself, her eyes darted to the same spot at the bar where they had been wandering to all night. He was still there, completely disinterested in the revelry around him, his attention instead on the nearly empty glass of scotch in his hand. He seemed to sense she was looking at him because his piercing blue eyes locked on hers for the first time that night.

 Ethan's expression, as usual, was unreadable but the way he looked at her sent a spike of adrenaline through her body. It was almost painful, like looking directly at the sun. Lilac could not look away. 

“Lil?”

“Hmm?” she said, finally breaking away from Ethan's spell to look up at Bryce. 

Bryce, seemed unfazed by her distraction. If he noticed her exchange with Ethan, he didn't comment on it. “I was saying my surgeon buddies want a game of darts. Want to come with?” 

Just then, a tiny figure dropped down next to Lilac in the booth, breathless and flushed. “Don't even think about stealing her away into enemy territory, Lahela,” teased Sienna. “You've been hogging her all night.”

Bryce put up his hands in defeat with his signature, dazzling laugh. “No arguments from me. I know better than to mess with you, Trinh.” Giving them both a mock salute and a wink, he strutted off to meet his friends. 

Sienna laughed. Once Bryce was out of earshot, she took a hold of Lilac's arm and leaned in to say in a lovely sing-song voice, “You have an admirer.”

Lilac didn't have to look to know she meant Ethan. “My goodness, he is giving you some serious bedroom eyes,” her friend commented with wonder. 

“That's how he always looks.”

“That's how he always looks at you,” Sienna corrected. “Any updates?”

Lilac gave her a noncommittal shrug. 

“Things are still…weird,” she allowed, even though “weird” was a poor descriptor. Things between them were downright tense and miserable since their phone call a few days ago. 

Lilac cringed inwardly at the memory. Leave it to her to get plastered enough to desperately throw herself at him. Where had she found the courage? Was she really that desperate for Ethan Ramsey? She knew the answer to that immediately. 

Sensing the shift in her mood, Sienna rubbed her forearm comfortingly. “This calls for a round. You can tell me all about it over mind numbing alcohol. What do you want? The usual?” 

But Lilac shook her head, already standing up. “If I'm going to burden you with my dreadful love life, then drinks are on me.” And before Sienna could protest, she was off to the bar. 

Ten minutes later, Lilac thanked Reggie for the drinks, left as generous a tip as her salary allowed, and turned back towards her booth. She only made it half a step when she almost collided into a solid, cable sweater clad chest. 

“Oh,” she yelped, ready to apologize. The words were struck dead when her eyes met bright blue ones. She froze, internally hating the fact that someone could paralyze her entirely with just a look. 

“Dr. Allende,” Ethan said with a brief nod. 

“Dr. Ramsey,” she returned. 

The music blared just as loudly as before, bodies moving and dancing all around them, yet all she could hear was the ringing silence between them. Lilac bit her bottom lip anxiously, struggling to find something, anything to say for neither made an effort to move away. 

Ethan was giving her that same indiscernible look from before. It was driving her to the brink of insanity. Just when she thought she could decode what it meant, he opened his mouth, as if to say something. He seemed to think better of it because he shook his head so imperceptibly that she might have missed it. 

“Enjoy your night, Doctor,” he said instead, before continuing his way. 

Lilac blinked, so stunned that she did not even turn to watch him walk away as she always did. 

“Oh my God,” Sienna squealed when Lilac rejoined her. “That was the most sexually-charged interaction I've ever seen in my life.”

“He barely said two words to me.”

“It gave me Pride and Prejudice vibes. That scene where Mr. Darcy visits Elizabeth at Charlotte's house and he doesn't know what to say."

Lilac gave her an unmoved glare that did nothing to quell her friend’s amusement. 

"What have you done to poor Dr. Ramsey?” Sienna cackled with unconstrained glee.  

“Very funny, Sienna.” 

“Okay, okay,” she said, sobering up. “No more Austen references, I promise.” She took the drink Lilac offered. “Is he still stalking your Pictagram?”

“Not sure. I stopped checking,” Lilac lied. The last time she looked for the username "ejramsey" in her notifications was the previous night. 

“Only one way to find out,” Sienna told her, already scrolling through Lilac’s Pictagram feed on her own phone.  It didn't take long for Sienna to freeze, grab Lilac's arm with a sense of urgency, and almost shout, “Lilac, go to your last post right now.”

She did as instructed with some reservation. Her last post had been that very morning, a selfie of her in bed, carefully constructed to appear casual and offhand when the reality was that she took several shots before she settled on one she liked. Lilac had captioned it "good morning" for no particular reason. But then again, was there any real purpose to posting on anything Pictagram? 

 And there, among the comments mostly from people she hadn't seen or spoken to in years was his. 

“He liked it!” Sienna declared, victorious. “And he commented, too.” Her friend said this with a certain finality that suggested the deal was sealed. Lilac and Ethan could practically marry now. 

“Is this what made you almost late to work, Allende?”

She reread his comment, unsure what to make of it. In her mind's eye, she could see the small, carefully guarded smirk that would accompany such a comment in real life. A small indicative that he, regardless of what he might say, had a soft spot for her. 

“Call this wishful thinking but,” Sienna started, “he is totally flirting with you. In his own weird Ethan Ramsey way made even more bizarre by technology. But flirting nonetheless. ” 

Lilac would have immediately disagreed, dismissed the comment, and changed the subject, but her attention was robbed by a post on her Pictagram feed. It was from the man himself, time stamped only a few minutes after hers that morning.

She almost choked on her drink. 

-------------------

Ethan was weak-willed and a tad bit pathetic, he had to finally admit that. Nothing else could explain the uncontrollable grin spreading across his face when his phone pinged with the notification: "Pictagram: dr.allende commented on your post." 

“Unfair,” was all she had commented. 

His grin broadened. God, he knew then why people were so addicted to social media. The thrill of instant gratification he felt then could be sold profitably in doses if it could be bottled.

No, he had reached the ultimate low of weak when he decided he had had enough of being tormented by her posts. He wanted to turn the tables on her and hope he had the same effect on her. The thought that he might have made his stomach swoop. 

He took a swig of his drink. What was wrong with him? 

When Reggie kicked everyone out a few hours later, Ethan retreated to his favorite lounging area in the now deserted beer garden. 

It did not surprise him that she joined him a few minutes later. At her brief hesitation, he nodded, a silent invitation for her to join him. 

“You win,” she said by way of greeting, taking a seat next to him on the sofa. 

Their bodies were so close that her thigh almost skimmed his. As if that wasn’t enough to wreck his sanity, she was looking at him with a glint in her eye that was telling of the effect his picture had on her. 

“What did I win?” he asked, humoring her. In his state of absolute abandon where his defenses had been rendered useless by her mere presence, he could give her anything. 

“You win at Pictagram. I could never top that picture.” There was that look of longing again, unmistakable in the golden lights of the beer garden. 

She was going to be his demise. 

“You’ve already done so,” he said quietly. “Many times.”

Lilac looked up at him, a quirk in her brow. “The green dress?”

There was a moment of silence in which they both remembered that night. 

“Yes, but also the one this morning. It was…” again, he was at a loss for words. “Nice,” he finished flatly. 

He almost laughed at the inadequacy. The picture inspired this male brain to fantasize about waking up next to her, kissing her neck, making his way lower and lower until her body twisted in pleasure against his mouth. Ten years of higher education proved inefficient at the sight of green eyes, full lips, and bed sheets. He was reduced to the simplest of beings. 

“Yours was very... nice too,” she returned, allowing a small pause before the insufficient word. “I miss that sight,” she confessed with no filter. 

An all too familiar tug in his chest. 

“Earlier, at the bar, when we bumped into each other,” she started when he failed to respond. “You wanted to say something.”

It wasn't a question but an observation. 

She knew him so well. Ethan had been arrogant enough to believe he had concealed his intentions so masterfully. Yet, she always saw right through him with the same precision that made her a brilliant doctor. 

“What did you want to say?” she asked in the softest of whispers, eyes locked on his. 

Ethan himself was not sure what he meant to say. He had seen her, suddenly in front of him, and he wanted to desperately say something. Anything. There had been no point. No words would be sufficient aside from the three that tormented him everyday. 

They were fully facing one another now, bodies mere inches apart. Before he realized what he was doing, he raised his hand to brush a strand of hair away from her face. His thumb lingered, stroking a feather light touch on her cheek. 

Her eyes fluttered closed and when she opened them again, they dropped directly to his lips. 

That was all it took for the last bit of his resolve to break. 

“Ethan, I—” 

Fueled by weeks of yearning, Ethan interrupted, filling in the distance between them and pressing his lips to hers. 

The kiss started with a rough force that she matched at once, their pressed bodies swaying Lilac back and almost toppling him on top of her. She didn't seem to mind, too entranced by moving her lips against his, arms clasped securely around his neck. 

Ethan was a fool for ever thinking two months in Brazil would be escape enough when what he wanted the most was right there, on Lilac Allende’s lips. 

“How do you do this to me?” he whispered gruffly against her neck, where his lips had found refuge. 

Lilac’s response was a soft moan. The things he'd do to hear that sound repeatedly, preferably echoing every wall of his apartment. 

Not breaking his lips' ministrations on the ridge of her collarbone, his hands fiddled with the front of her dress. In his eagerness, he struggled with the damned contraption. 

“Need help?” she teased breathlessly. 

Ethan broke apart to give her a wolfish smirk. She was going to pay for that.

Without warning, he moved his hands to her hips and in one swift movement, he flipped her on top of him. Her skirt rode dangerously high as her thighs straddled him. Lilac's little yelp of surprise gave way to another maddening moan when his fingers lazily brushed the inside of her thigh. 

“I can manage, Rookie,” he whispered hotly against her ear. The old nickname had its desired effect for her legs quivered in response. 

His small triumph was short lived, however. Her small revenge was swiveling her hips against his entirely. The pulsing, straining front of his trousers came in full contact with her and Ethan groaned. 

“I'm not a rookie at this,” she whispered defiantly, moving against him again with agonizing steadiness. “Lucky for you, I know what I'm d—” she broke off, biting her lip in a futile effort to repress a small cry. Ethan had lifted his hips off the sofa with ease, suspending her entire weight against him. 

“I know a thing or two as well,” he growled. His fingers moved higher up her thigh. 

“I remember.” 

“Do you remember moaning my name?” 

 His hand roughly moved the lacy fabric of her underwear aside.

“Yes,” she gasped. 

His fingers teased her. 

“Make me scream it,” she begged in a whisper.

Ethan groaned again. 

“Lilac,” he muttered huskily, any other coherent thought interrupted by the way she took his lower lip between her teeth. 

“I want— ” she started, but was far too distracted by his expert fingers. She buried her face against his shoulder, desperate to stifle her moan. 

“What do you want?” he asked, his voice a husky sound deep in his throat. 

Before she could answer, however, Reggie's voice called from inside the bar, “Ten minutes, Ethan.”

Thank God Reggie had not bothered to come outside. Otherwise, Ethan would have spent the next five minutes trying to find a sensible reason why his colleague straddled him shamelessly, his hand lost in the depths of her skirt. 

They looked at each other through hooded eyes, skin flushed bright. 

“Any chance that's enough time for you?” she joked. 

Ethan attempted to shoot her a look dripping of indignation, but the effect was ruined by his own chuckle winning out. “You insult me,” he said dryly. 

Lilac laughed out loud at that. When she sobered up, she regarded him with a very serious expression. Wordlessly, she pressed a tender kiss against his lips. 

“Lilac,” he said softly when they at last broke apart. 

“I know,” she said in a small, defeated voice. With that, she carefully climbed off him.

 She fixed her dress in thoughtful silence. “You know what this means, right?” she asked, a hint of a mischievous smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “You posted a devastatingly hot picture on Pictagram to bait me. You won't be able to stop now.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Presumptuous of you to assume it was for your benefit.”

“I'm your only follower.”

Ethan rolled his eyes but he smiled regardless. 

“Don't worry. I'll post for you too,” she assured him. “Hope you're ready.”

He laughed despite himself. “Is that a challenge, Dr. Allende?”

Lilac matched his laughter. “Game's afoot, Dr. Ramsey.”

_____________________

AN: THANK YOU for all your wonderful comments on my last one. I appreciate everyone who read, liked, and/or commented! 

Masterlist

[openheartfanfics]

Bryce x F!MC: Smut & NSFW

One Shot 

A Night to Remember - @julia-highstorms  Kinktober: Drunk Sex set in 2.18

Adore You - @eleanorbloom  Kinktober: Breasts Worship

After Hours - @eadanga  Gabby and Bryce sneak off for a quickie.

All I Ever Wanted - @eleanorbloom  2.12 Rewrite

Alone At Last - @tmarie82 Blake and Bryce finally get some time alone together and things get heated real fast.

Assistant - @omgjasminesimone AU where MC is Bryce’s assistant. 

Catch My Breath - @bitchloveskcbaseball Rewrite of the Book 1 darts diamond scene. 

Charming Personality - @mynotsohealthyobsession 

Conception - @omgjasminesimone  Kinktober: Breeding

Cozy - @omgjasminesimone​ They get cozy while Keiki’s in the other room. 

Dessert to Go - @walkerismychoice​ The way she licks an ice cream cone gets him all hot and bothered. 

Domestic - @omgjasminesimone Bryce needs Casey’s help to pick out a new bed.

Eight Deadly Sin - @eleanorbloom  Kinktober: Hair pulling and swallowing. Set in a supply closet during their shifts.

Fashionably Late - @storyofmychoices  Kinktober: penetrative sex, mirrors, lingerie, formal wear, and nipple play.

Forgetful -  @lahamseiroshoe​  They blow off some steam while on the clock.

From The Very First Day - @eleanorbloom  Kinktober: Lingerie. 2.17 Rewrite. 

Frustrations - @lem-20  Frustrated that Ethan won't let their relationship develop, will MC find alone time with Bryce too much of a temptation? Rewrite of 1.11 Bryce scene. Feat. Ethan x MC

Giving In - @walkerismychoice​ Charlie thinks she just wants to be friends with benefits but Bryce wants more. Will Charlie give in?

If Only He Knew - @kelseaaa  Kinktober: Face sitting. And Jealous Bryce. 

If we meet again - @zigtheeortega ♥  Bryce & Spencer meet again and again, each time more complicated than the last.

Insomnia - @eleanorbloom  Kinktober: Booty call 

Masters of Sex - @omgjasminesimone They have hate sex. 

Part 2

Nights Melt into Sequels - @writinghereandthere  Bryce and Casey are more than just friends…right?

Nothing As Calming As - @chocopeppermintcake  Change is everywhere but a few things are able to survive anything. Hopefully

NSFW Alphabet - @lahelable MC does a magazine quiz with Bryce. “Are you and your partner sexually compatible”. Things get rude.

Observing Procedures by @lahelable​ The one with Ethan watching

Only Fooling Myself - @walkerismychoice​ This picks up when MC leaves Dr. Ramsey’s office after applying for the fellowship. [Book 1 Baseball Chapter Rewrite]

Passing Ships in the Night - @writinghereandthere  Elena’s and Bryce’s schedules just don’t seem to coincide.

Private Party - @tmarie82 1.6 Housewarming Rewrite. 

Rise and Shine - @argylemnwrites Kinky Cards: Finding sexy ways to wake up, even at 4 in the morning

Role Call - @lahelable They do it in Ethan’s office. 

Stop Desire - @julia-highstorms  An intake on Bryce's point of view during his and Rei's first time, after the house party at her apartment. [1.7]

Surf Trip - @glamtori  Takes place in early December of book 2, not long after the attack.

Swelter of the Night - @pixelsandkink  F***buddies with feelings.

That Messy Vegas Threesome - @utterlyinevitable ♥🍘 Later on the balcony after Jackie’s asleep on the couch, Dr. Love Lao finds herself in another sort of threesome with Bryce and Ethan.

The Loudest One - @julia-highstorms  Kinktober: Against a wall. 2.18 rewrite. 

The Loudest One (The Sequel) - @julia-highstorms  A different take in the Garden’s scene in chapter 1, Book 3.

The Morning After -  @omgjasminesimone 2.12 rewrite. 

The Old Switch Up - @romewritingshop​  TW:  Smut, Oral (Male recieving), Dom/Sub dynamics, dom!MC, Sub!Bryce, edging, orgasm denial, fingering, slight masturbation, slight choking, use of lingerie, cockwarming, cowgirl, praise kink, slight dirty talk, breast play, finger sucking, fluff and fluffy aftercare

The Stripper Cookie - @chocopeppermintcake 🎄 The roomies, Rafael and the Lahelas come together to bake Christmas cookies.

The Very First Night - @utterlyinevitable​   Following An Evening in December, Bryce & Hannah are alone in his hotel room making up for the insecurities of their past.

Think a little less  - @annekebbphotography​  Bryce pulls her into a supply closet.

Untitled - @raleiighcarrera He pulls her into a supply closet. 

Untitled Prompt (Lay back) - @omgjasminesimone

Wedding Toast - @omgjasminesimone   It’s their wedding day. 

What If - @utterlyinevitable​ 🛸 They were something to one another years ago, and now they’re back in the same old town with the same old friends wondering ‘What If’.

Yes, Dr Lahela - @annekebbphotography​  Keiki tells him he’s gotta lock her down as his girlfriend, so he does.

_

Extended Series

Stripped Bare - @walkerismychoice

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Mini Series

A Part of the Cure - @burnsoslow 

Part 1 | Part 2

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