Page 41 of Fractured Fear

“Go back to sleep, Angel. I’ll still be here when you wake up.”

Why is Zane in my apartment? My mind is fuzzy, and sleep sounds good. It’s Sunday anyways so I might as well take advantage and sleep in.

When I wake latermy eyes still feel heavy. The annoying as fuck lights are still glaring overhead and that incessant beeping is still going strong.

Why didn’t Zane turn off my alarm?

I groan and try to roll over but am stopped by a tug on my arm and everything clicks.

The bar. Running away from Zane and Rio. Being pulled into the street, getting away, collapsing on my couch after I called…Oh shit. Zane.

Slowly sitting up, I realize where I am. The overwhelming stench of antiseptic, the rhythmic beep of the heart monitor, the indistinct chatter of nurses outside my door.

I’m in the hospital.

Zane is asleep in what must be the most uncomfortable chair known to humankind. It’s short, much too short for his tall frame. He’s slumped down with his head resting on the back. How is it possible that he looks just as beautiful sleeping as he does awake? I normally wake up with a dry mouth and drool crusted on my cheek, but not Zane. Of course, not Zane. He’s captivating even while unconscious.

“You’re staring.”

Startled, I snap my attention to a man in the doorway. I didn’t even hear him come in. He’s standing there leaning against the doorframe with a coffee in each hand looking perfectly rumpled in his slightly wrinkled, heather-gray T-shirt and straight leg jeans. Did he sleep here too?

“Rio. Umm. I wasn’t staring. Merely wondering how he looks so peaceful in that chair.”

“It’s okay, Spencer. Your secret is safe with me.” His smug grin causes my face to heat.

Rio chuckles as the heart monitor beeps quicken. Oh my hell. That machine has got to go.

“I like knowing how we affect you,” he confesses.

“Well I don’t like you knowing, so maybe I can just unhook myself and we can get going.” I go to remove the heart monitor but an inked hand settles over mine, halting my progress.

“Don’t you dare, Mama. We’re staying here until the doc gives us the green light.”

“Please, Rio. I don’t want to be here.”

“Hey. Babygirl, look at me,” Rio’s hand lands gently on my cheek and guides my gaze to his. Searching my gaze, he finds whatever it is he’s looking for. “I’ll go find the doctor and see about putting a rush on your discharge, okay?”

“Okay,” I nod. “Thank you.”

He turns to grab the coffees from the chair where he must have set them down. He places one on the floor next to Zane and makes a swift exit.

The door slams shut, jolting Zane awake.

“Hey, sleepyhead. Got some good rest?”

Yawning, he reaches high, stretching his muscles. I can’t help but notice how his shirt rises displaying a strip of hair that disappears into his pants. “I should be saying that to you. You’ve been asleep for over twelve hours.”

“What?” How did I not notice the time? I reach for my phone on the side table, but the forest of wires makes the action impossible. “A little help, please?”

Taking a sip of the hospital coffee, he saunters over without a care in the world. Thank God. Relief floods my system at his relaxed state. If he’s calm, it must not be that bad.

“Checking to see if your boyfriend called?”

“You know I don’t have a boyfriend.” With a roll of my eyes, I grab my phone.

“Oh really?”

“Yes. You saw me with Rio last night and we…you know…yesterday. Not to mention no one wants to deal with my mess,” I say as I gesture to the entirety of my being.

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