Chapter 4 Untitled Chapter
The fluorescent lights had been buzzing overhead for hours. Sloane's eyes felt like they were full of sand. Her neck screamed from the angle she'd slept at, if you could call it sleep. She'd been dreaming of blue eyes. Cold, piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through her. She didn't want to remember what the dream was about.
Seth was still asleep, his face pale against the white pillow. The machines beeped in their steady rhythm. She reached out and touched his hand, just to feel the warmth of his skin, to know he was still here. His fingers twitched slightly in his sleep, and she held on tighter.
Ryan and Abigail arrived at eight, carrying coffee and fresh clothes. They looked as tired as she felt. Dark circles shadowed their eyes. They had been here late last night, and they were back early this morning. They were good friends. Better than she deserved.
"How is he?" Abigail asked, her voice soft. She set down a bag with Sloane's clothes and a fresh toothbrush.
"Still sleeping. The doctor said he'll be out for most of the day."
Ryan put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about the shop. We'll handle it. You focus on Seth."
Sloane wanted to argue. She wanted to say she could handle it all. But she didn't have the energy. "Thank you. Both of you."
They stayed for a while, talking in low voices, their presence a small comfort. Ryan made a joke about the hospital coffee being worse than theirs. Abigail rolled her eyes. Sloane laughed, a tired, broken sound. Then they left to open the shop.
She was alone again.
Around noon, Seth was still sleeping. Sloane's stomach growled. She hadn't eaten since yesterday. She couldn't remember the last time she had a proper meal.
She walked to the cafeteria, her mind somewhere else. She was thinking about the bills. The debt. The way her father's face had looked in the casket. The way her mother's hand had felt cold in hers. She was thinking about blue eyes and almost kisses and the way her heart had pounded in that garden.
She almost didn't see him.
"Dr. Lucas," she said, surprised.
He smiled. He was handsome, she supposed. Kind eyes, warm smile. He'd asked her out several times. She'd said no every time. He was safe. Boring. Predictable. Everything she didn't want right now.
"Sloane." He fell into step beside her. "How is Seth?"
"Sleeping. He's doing better." She kept walking. He kept pace.
"Good. That's good." He hesitated. "Let me buy you lunch."
She didn't have the strength to say no. "Fine."
They sat in the cafeteria, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead. Dr. Lucas did most of the talking. He asked about the shop. He asked about her. Sloane answered with short sentences and small smiles. She knew he had a thing for her, she wasn't blind, she just wasn't interested. He was cute, and nice, and for a few minutes, she almost forgot about hospital bills and debt and a certain man with blue eyes who had almost kissed her.
Almost.
He walked her back to Seth's room.
"If you ever need anything," he said, "I'm here."
"Thank you, Dr. Lucas."
"Please. It's Lucas."
He smiled and walked away. Sloane watched him go, then turned and went inside.
Seth was awake. His eyes were open, watching the door. He smiled when he saw her.
"Hey, little bear," she said, sitting beside him. "How are you feeling?"
"Much better." His voice was still weak, but stronger than yesterday.
She hugged him gently, careful of the IV. He felt so fragile in her arms, all bones and sharp angles. She held him like he might break.
He pulled back and looked at her. His eyes were tired but guilty. "I'm sorry you had to come running. I ruined your night."
"Don't say that, Seth. You mean everything to me. I'd leave anything and come running."
"But I'm tired, Sloanie. I just want to rest. It wouldn't be so bad if I joined Dad and Mum. I know the bills are expensive. I'm making you suffer. I hate seeing you cry."
Her throat tightened. "Now you listen to me, young man. You are not going to die. We are going to start your treatment soon, and you'll get better, and you'll become a software engineer like you've always wanted. Leave the bills to me."
"But Sloane, you—"
"Don't worry about anything." She pulled him close and put his head on her chest. She swallowed her tears. "Just promise me you'll try."
"I will. Promise."
They pinky swore like they did when they were kids. Their fingers locked together, a promise she would do anything to keep.
Seth got his medication. A few hours later, he was discharged. They went home to the small apartment, and Sloane spent the rest of the day on the couch with him, watching old movies, pretending the world outside didn't exist.
Later that night, she texted Katie.
"I'm sorry I disappeared. Something came up with Seth. I'll explain later."
Katie replied almost immediately. "Is he okay?"
"He's okay. I'll call you tomorrow."
"Get some rest. And Sloane? Mr. Voss kept looking for you after you left."
Sloane stared at the message. She could feel his eyes on her again. Cold. Blue. Demanding. She put her phone down and didn't respond.
Elias sat in his office, surrounded by pictures of a woman he shouldn't care about.
Mark had done his job. The entire desk was covered with photos. Sloane at her shop, laughing behind the counter with flour on her apron. Sloane at the hospital, holding her brother's hand. Sloane at her apartment, walking up the stairs with groceries. Every detail of her life laid out like a map.
Elias knew everything about her now.
Her name was Sloane Brown. She was twenty-five years old. Her parents were dead. Her father had been killed by a hit and run driver three years ago. Her mother had died of the same illness that was killing her brother now. She was alone. Completely alone.
He traced her face in one of the photos, his finger hovering over her smile. Looking at her, something stirred in his chest. Something he didn't understand.
He shoved the thought away. He didn't think about the emptiness inside him. He'd spent years accepting who he was, and he wasn't about to change for a woman he barely knew.
He looked at a photo of Sloane laughing behind the counter. Flour on her apron. Head thrown back. Carefree. Happy. She had no right to be happy. Not when he couldn't stop thinking about her.
He wondered what she would look like smiling at him.
His pants tightened.
He'd never reacted to a woman this way. Not once. Women were bodies. Transactions. Warm holes he used until he got bored. But Sloane Brown had haunted his dreams. His every thought. The way she'd looked at him in the garden. The way she'd said his name. The way her lips had parted when he touched her face.
He needed to get laid. He knew that. But he also knew that any woman wouldn't do. He didn't want any woman. He wanted her.
He wanted Sloane Brown.
And he would have her at all costs.
