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

Chapter 473

+25 BONUS

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

eyes were distant, glazed over with everything that had

you wouldn't have come to Houston. You wouldn't

me... and Hayden wouldn't have misunderstood." I blinked, then lowered my eyes to the second button on his shirt. "There's no need to apologize.

Jace said softly, "why did you do it? Risk your

just gave a small, bitter smile. "Because if I didn't, you'd

know what happened-if you hadn't

the bag for him. I smiled again, but it didn't reach my eyes. "If

given you so much, might as well finish

it, what was the point

crept in I slowly lifted my eyes to meet his. "Don't overthink it. Even if it hadn't been you that day-if it

eyes narrowed a bit, "Really? Even for a

I said, a little too quickly, a little

of disappointment in his eyes. I knew

#25 BONUS

whatever spiral he was about to fall

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

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

"Since we split up, you've built so many walls around yourself. You won't even give me

you hang on to hope, I'd be

any punches. He needed to hear it. Only then could he understand that the hurt he