Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right by Rosie Steppe

Chapter 473

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I'd only really taken a good look around this hospital room twice-once when I was searching for Hayden, and now, while trying to figure out what to pack.

Wayne crouched in front of me, his voice soft. "Rea, how are you feeling? Any discomfort?"

I was about to shake my head when a knock interrupted us. Jace walked in with the doctor.

"Let the doctor check you over. If anything happens on the plane, it'll be hard to deal with," Jace said, hist gaze briefly flicking to Wayne. I noticed the slight crease in his brow.

As the doctor moved closer, Wayne stood up and stepped aside, naturally giving him room.

The doctor listened to my heartbeat, took my blood pressure, and ran through a full exam. "You're recovering well," he finally said. "Everything looks normal."

"Thank you, doctor," Jace said, sounding genuinely grateful.

Wayne chimed in, "I'll walk the doctor out. I need to pack, too. Jace, stay and talk to Rea."

The door clicked shut behind them, and just like that, it was me and Jace. Alone.

Neither of us said a word. We just sat there, wrapped in silence. I stared into space, lost in thought, while Jace's eyes stayed fixed on me.

what felt like forever, he finally

turned to him, knowing my eyes were distant, glazed over with everything

to me. "If it weren't for me, you wouldn't

to save me... and Hayden wouldn't have misunderstood." I blinked, then lowered my eyes to the second button on his shirt. "There's

said softly, "why did you do it?

didn't look up, just gave a small, bitter smile. "Because if I didn't,

about yourself? I know what happened-if you

when I'd watched my blood fill the bag for him. I smiled again, but it didn't reach my eyes. "If you're gonna

you so much, might as well

what was the point of the

meet his. "Don't overthink it.

eyes narrowed a bit, "Really? Even for

a little too

disappointment in his

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was about to fall into. "I saved you because

that's why I'm in your life-to help when you need

up together, shared meals, lived under the same roof. How could I just let

you've built so many walls around yourself. You won't even give me a sliver of hope

let you hang on to hope, I'd

it. Only then could he understand that