Page 46 of Fractured Fear

“Spencer? Is that you?”

Hayes?Shit. What is he doing here?I breathe deeply, readying myself to handle the situation. But I can’t, all I smell is Zane. My brain is instantly scrambled. That’s all it takes for me to forget my current situation. Cedar with hints of citrus. His scent will be forever associated with safety and comfort.

Hayes makes eye contact with Rio and Zane. “What the fuck are you two doing here?”

“Hayes!” I scold. What crawled up his ass?

I move to extract myself from Zane’s arms, but he doesn’t budge.

“And what are you doing out of the hospital, Spencer? You shouldn’t be out yet.” Hayes presses. “I said, what the fuck are you two doing here?”

“Hayes, lay off.” What is his problem? I’ve never seen him so angry before.

“They shouldn’t be here. Do you even know who attacked you? It could have been one of them,” he accuses.

Rio steps forward. “You think we’d do that?”

“I don’t know you all that well to begin with.” I have never seen this side of Hayes. He’s like a protective little brother.

My head tips forward and I take a deep breath. “It wasn’t them, Hayes. That much I know for sure. You can relax.”

“You still shouldn’t be out of the hospital.”

“He’s right, Angel.”

I’m getting a little tired of all the mother-henning going on here. I don’t need anyone to take care of me. I’ve been doing just fine these last few years on my own.

Until last night.

I push that last thought away.

“How many times do I have to tell everyone that I’m fine? I really am fine.”

Hayes rolls his eyes. “Sure you are.”

“Hayes? Where are you? I brought lunch!” I hear Iris call from behind us.

Oh God. Please don’t let this be real.

“Oh! Spencer!” She scans the room. “What are you doing out of the hospital? Shouldn’t you be resting? At least you have your knights in shining armor with you.”

“What makes you think they’re my knights?” I snap.

“Well, he’s holding you…like that and Rio is standing there like he’s ready to slit anyone’s throat who gets too close.”

“Ella no está equivocada,” Rio mumbles.

“Did they end up helping you glaze your donut last night? Ordonuts.” Iris pretend whispers with a gleam of mischief in her eyes. Hayes frowns at her.

Regret fills my features. I realize I shouldn’t have snapped. They’re just concerned. They care.

“There was noglazing, so get that out of your head, and I’m fine. Zane and Rio were just giving me a ride home.”

“And spending the night,” Zane chimes in.

Hayes and Iris’ eyes go wide. “Oh. Ohhhhh,” Iris answers. “We’ll just leave you to it then. Come on, Hayes. Let’s go have lunch at my place and do some glazing of our own.” Iris waggles her eyebrows at me teasingly before grabbing Hayes’ hand and marching them out.

“Wait! That’s not what he meant,” I try to explain, but they’re no longer listening. I huff and glare at Zane. “You can put me down now.”

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