“My dad assigned me.”
His expression freezes for a beat, then tightens.“Did something happen?”
“No.But I mean...”I glance around.“My dad’s watching us.We need to be more careful.At least until the chief position’s sorted.”
Brant’s jaw flexes.“Is that what you want?”
No,I scream inside.I want to tell him everything, that I can’t stand the thought of being the reason he loses this.But the words are stuck in my throat.If I say it out loud, it becomes real.And I can’t handle that.So I say nothing.
That’s all the answer he needs.
He drags a hand down his face, turning away for a second, like he can’t bear to look at me.
I step toward him.“I’m doing it to protectyou.”
His eyes widen as he breathes out hard, shaking his head.
I almost reach for his hand, but then I remember where we are.Anyone could walk in.“Won’t be for long,” I say.“Please tell me you understand.”
He looks at me with his eyebrows scrunched for a long moment.The kind of look that squeezes my chest and hurts.
Then finally, he nods.
“Alright.”I should feel relief, but instead, I feel empty that he agrees.Because it’s exactly what I don’t want.
I nod and force a smile.
He walks away before I can lose my nerve.
And just like that, we’re back to colleagues.
It’s safer this way.Better for him, but it doesn’t help the ache in my chest.
I head back to find Mason.He’s talking to a nurse, leaning against the counter with a grin.She’s laughing at something he said.He glances up when I approach, straightening.“There you are.Ready?”
I nod as he finishes his discussion about weekend plans.But I’m not really listening; my mind keeps replaying my conversation with Brant.
Suddenly, the air shifts, and I feel him.I glance back, and Brant is standing near the doors with his hands shoved in his pockets, his jaw like stone, eyes locked on me.
He’s trying not to look pissed.But he’s failing miserably.
It shouldn’t matter.This is what we agreed on a fling.Something temporary.
Then why does it feel so hard right now?
I try to ignore the weight of his stare and focus on Mason’s voice, but part of me still aches for him.
By the time my shift ends, the haze from earlier is long gone.I head back to Brant’s office to grab my bag, still hoping to see him.I need to explain better, that this isn’t what I want, that I’m just trying to protect him.
But it’s empty.
His chair’s pushed out slightly, the note still there on his desk, untouched.No sign of him.I take my time packing, moving slower than necessary.Maybe he’ll come back… but, I can’t drag it out any longer.And when he doesn’t come back, I step into the hallway, and my phone buzzes.My heart jumps, thinking maybe it’s him.
I pull it out of my coat pocket, thumb hovering over the screen.An unknown number.I ignore it when Mira calls out my name, and we walk out together.
Chapter 31
Regan
