DreameNovelChapter 184
"How long have you been awake?" Rayna asked, her eyes narrowed suspiciously after the door clicked shut
behind the others who had conveniently cup with various excuses to leave them alone. "I, uh... woke up
when everyone cin," Ethan lied, unable to meet her gaze. There was no way he was admitting he'd been
awake long enough to witness her... less-than-graceful moment earlier.
He didn't think there was any reason to embarrass her or himself by telling her he had woken up long enough to
hear her fart or perceive it.
"Really?" She folded her arms, unconvinced but hoping that was the truth since she didn't want to imagine he
had been awake before she went to the restroom. He nodded slowly. "Really."
She stared | at him for a
"l was...
a beat, clearly weighing his honesty. Finally, she exhaled. "Why did you pretend to be still unconscious?"
embarrassed, he he admitted, his voice softer. "I didn't exactly plan to end up here. It's not the most heroic
look."
Rayna's lips parted in disbelief. "Heroic?" Rayna dropped her hands and glared at him. "It was stupid. What were
you even thinking?"
"Maybe | wasn't thinking much. What was | supposed to do?" he shot back, his frustration surfacing. "I saw the
car coming straight for you. | couldn't just-stand there." "You could've done anything but throw yourself into
harm's way like that. You could've shouted atto move!" She exclaimed.
"You
"You saw the car and didn't move, Rayna"" he countered, his voice firm but not angry. "At that moment, all |
could think about was saving you. That's it. Nothing else mattered." could have died," she pointed out with a
frown.
You could
"That would be much better than watching you die," he said with a shrug, trying not to wince as he adjusted his
broken arm.
Her heart skipped a beat at his words, but she refused to let it show. "You'd rather die than watch someone you
despise die?"
"I don't despise you, Rayna" he said softly, causing butterflies to flutter in her belly at his use of her name, and
before he could say more, she shook her head.
She didn't want to feel this way about him again. "Well, thanks for savingeven though you didn't have to.
Since you are awake now, | will head out," she said, and Ethan frowned. "Wait. Don't | go."
Rayna's brow furrowed. "Why not?"
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"We should talk, he said, and she shook her head.
"There's nothing left to say. And if you're awake and feeling chatty,
you clearly don't needhovering over you. I'll be going hto freshen up and get srest."
There's plenty
to say," he argued, sitting up a little straighter despite the pain that shot through his body.
"If you woke up when Derek and the others cin, then I'm sure you heard everything | said to Melvin," she
said, and he nodded.
"Yeah. |
"Good. And that's
Pretty mu, you didn't. And now | don't want to...
| insist that there is nothing else to say.
When | wanted to |
"I'm sorry for everything. | know | took things a bit too far," he cut in.
She shook her head. "It's too late for apologies, Ethan. Do you think if any of those women you went on dates
with had been what you wanted, you'd be saying this now? | don't think so." Her Her words stung more than he'd
expected. "That's not fair," Ethan said with a frown.
"Maybe not, but we both know it's the truth." Her voice cracked, betraying her emotions.
it's not. | don't even remember a word that any of them said
"No, it's not.
‘cause | was thinking about you the whole t| was with them," he said, and Rayna shook her head. "You told
to grab her phone, but Ethan reached out with his uninjured hand, his fingers brushing hers. "Rayna, wait."
Her eyes widened in alarm as she stopped him. "Are you crazy? Do you want to hurt yourself more?" She
carefully pushed his hand back onto the bed, glaring at him.
"I'm already hurt," he said dryly. "What's a little more pain?"
"Don't be ridiculous," she hissed, pulling her hand free gently.
"I just want us to talk," " he insisted.
"I don't want to talk to you," she snapped, stepping back.
Ethan stared at her, his expression resolute. "Well, | do," he said stubbornly. "And the least you can do is stick
around and helpuntil | recover. I'm in this bed because of you, remember?" Rayna's jaw jaw dropped in
disbelief. "Excuse me?"
“mj
just saying, | got t hurt because of you," Ethan pressed, his voice steady.
"I didn't ask you to help me," she reminded him angrily.
"That doesn't change the fact that I'm here because of you. | can't bother Melvin and Sarah- not with her
condition. That leaves you.
You're stuck withuntil my arm is healed."
"I will hire a nurse to assist you," "she said flatly.
"I don't want a nurse. | want you," he said stubbornly. You could
move into my place or taketo yours. Whichever is easier," he said, and she scowled.
"You're unbelievable," she muttered, clenching her fists. "Why are you doing this? Why were you there last night
in the first place when you were supposed to return to work?"
"Last night was supposed to be our first date," he reminded her.
Despite the flutter in her belly, she shot him a glare that could have melted steel. "I don't have the tfor this.
And I'm not staying under the sroof with someone as insufferable as you," she said, and Ethan nodded. "I
deserve that "Yes, you do.
0. And just so you know, | know that cereal was yours and not for Sarah," she said, and Ethan groaned.
"How about we start over? You messed up; | messed up. Let's forgive each other and start afresh," he suggested,
his eyes softening.
Rayna exhaled slowly, her resolve crumbling slightly. "I'm going hto freshen up and rest," she said, heading
for the door. Before she could leave, Ethan called out, "Can you at least feedfirst?" He asked with a pitiful
expression.
She turned, glaring. "You were doing fine before | got here."
"It's harder than it looks," he a
Rayna stared at him, her admitted, giving her a pitiful look. "I just didn't want Melvin feeding me, but everything
hurts."
hands curling into fists. "You're impossible."
Ethan smiled. "I've been told."
a hesitated, her irritation warring with her sense of responsibility. He did get hurt saving her, she reminded
herself grudgingly. Finally, she sighed and sat down. "Fine."
Rayna hesitate
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I knew I could count on you," he said, trying not to sound too triumphant.
oy
As she began feeding him, her stomach let out a loud, traitorous growl, and she froze. Her cheeks flushed as
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
"You need to use the restroom again, don't you?" He asked when he noticed the beads of sweat that coated her
brows despite the coolness of the room.
"I'm fine. I don't need to she lied, her voice stiff.
You sure? The
I said I'm fine," she snapped as she glared at him.
He chuckled softly. "Rayna, | heard you say you had an upset stomach earlier. You should go to the restroom if
you need to.
There's nothing to be embarrassed about.
Her face turned a deeper shade of red. "Do you want to eat or talk?
so | can
Finish up so
leave,"
she snapped.
Ethan bit back a laugh as she fed him, her movements jerky and
rushed. The room was quiet for a
a while, save for the clink of the spoon against the bowl, until the door swung open, and Melvin poked his head
in. "Well, well," Melvin teased, grinning when he saw Rayna feeding Ethan. "Looks like no murder's been
committed. Ethan's still alive. You must be an angel, Ray," Melvin said as he walked in.
"I'm beginning to think so, too," Rayna said as she rose from her seat.
"So, have you forgiven him yet? Or are you still planning to move on?" Melvin asked as he watched Rayna set
the bowl down. "Melvin," Ethan warned, glaring at him.
Melvin chuckled, shaking his head. "I like s."
"You are still here, right? | am leaving," Rayna said, and Melvin nodded.
"You're coming back, right? Don't forget our arrangement," Ethan said, a small smile playing on his lips as he
watched her go, but Rayna didn't say another word to him as she strode out. As she stepped out into the
hallway, she sighed inwardly, wondering if she should forgive him easily and give him a chance... or make him
sweat a little more.
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