“Hadley, thanks for everything.”
“Of course. It’s no trouble at all.” Hadley smiled.
Chelsey returned holding a blanket she had borrowed from the nurse, and Hadley gently draped it across Zane.
Still weak, Zane shivered a little, and Hadley made sure he was wrapped up warmly, as the cold from the air conditioning filled the entire room.
“It’s late,” Zane said, casting a glance at the glowing LED clock fixed to the opposite wall. He then faced Hadley and added, “You should probably head back and get some sleep.”
“You’re trying to kick me out again, aren’t you?” Hadley gave a gentle laugh and sank into the chair next to him. “Colleen will lose her mind if she hears I ditched her sick cousin at the hospital.”
For a moment, Zane looked surprised. Then her teasing pulled a laugh from him.
“You need to rest now,” Hadley said, her tone softening as her smile faded. “You’ve been there for me more times than I can count. Let me do the same for you this time.”
Zane could tell she wasn’t planning to budge, so he gave a small nod and said, “I appreciate it.”
“You don’t have to say anything more. Just close your eyes,” Hadley said, her voice calm and low.
“Okay,” Zane replied, drained from the long night and the sickness clinging to him.
With that, he let his eyes fall shut, finally allowing himself to unwind.
Just outside the infusion center, Eric remained still, taking in the scene through the glass. Nothing inside escaped his view.
Hadley was by Zane’s side, every movement of hers marked by quiet tenderness.
A cold, humorless smirk touched Eric’s lips. What was he hoping to find here? Was he searching for proof they were more than friends?
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If that was the case, then he had his answer. All he managed to do was put himself through unnecessary pain.
His fists curled with force, the veins on his hands standing out as blood surged beneath his skin.
Without another second of hesitation, Eric spun on his heel and walked away.
“Mr. Scott?”
Phillips hesitated, caught off guard, then quickly trailed after him. Was Eric really planning to leave just like that? He had come rushing in the dead of night, likely worried that Zane and Hadley might grow even closer. And now, after witnessing it for himself, he was walking away like none of it mattered?
Once the nurse saw the medication bottle had emptied, she quietly brought over a fresh one.
“Thanks,” Hadley muttered, just as a gentle vibration came from her pocket.
Her phone screen lit up. Phillips was calling.
What could he possibly want?
With a slight furrow in her brow, Hadley paused and decided not to answer. Almost instantly, a notification appeared.
.
.
.