Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 839

I glanced over at Hayden. He was already awake, his gaze soft and knowing.

"Dr. Lane," I shot back, "are you slacking off lately? You're an OB-GYN, but you're throwing around lines like that? Who's really got the dirty mind here?"

Lena's laughter exploded through the phone. "Me? All I said was 'love paradise'! You're the one who made it sound X-rated. Don't blame me for where your mind went!"

I was speechless for a moment, then blurted out, "How are you? Are you hurt?"

This was what worried me most.

Even though Hayden had promised me Lena was fine, I needed to hear it from her directly.

"Didn't your Hayden already tell you? Or did you not even let him talk and just went straight for the jugular?" Lena teased, knowing me all too well.

When it came down to Hayden or my best friend, I was always picking her.

"I want to hear it from you," I said, noticing it wasn't a video call.

"Fine, I'll call you on video. I didn't start with that in case I interrupted something... intimate. You know, a live show," she said, her words dripping with innuendo.

camera on," I huffed,

video.

I waited, Hayden asked,

and he got up to grab it just as

Hayden?" she asked

me water. What, you miss him already? Catch feelings after all that time together?"

anyone's heart skip. If I'd been around him for a year, I might've been in trouble," Lena said casually,

he'd taken care of her during those days-every move calculated to keep her safe and, yeah, probably to make me go easier

only picks the cream of the crop. Have I ever gone for

the confidence!" Lena

1/2

a plug Menket. Her fare was brierovy, alive a huge

for me $uh, squinting at the screen like I was trying to spot

T

next? Want me to strip while

you're not hiding anything," I joked,

get to see this?" she tugged her

bit of my anxiety, Hayden had told the

behind her. "Where are you? That doesn't look like a hotel* "Uncle Aaron brought me here. No idea where this is," she said nonchalantly. Hearing she was with Aaron brought a wave of relief. "Good. If he's with you, I can finally stop worrying. But come back soon,

promised, but there was a pause before she added, "You didn't give Hayden