I melted right there as I peered into Reid’s worried expression, dark bags underneath his eyes that were almost completely hidden by the low brim of his black baseball hat. He stood in a plain, dark t-shirt and jeans that were beginning to look worn.
“Brooklyn,” he breathed, and my heart shattered in my chest. My eyes grew wet, and I clenched my teeth, even though it hurt my head.
Cara stood up quickly and left the room after giving me a pleading look.
If only she knew that Reid King had fooled me into thinking we had something special and fucked me on his living room floor before telling me to get out of his house. Then, maybe, she wouldn’t be siding with him.
I gulped as I sat up a little taller in the uncomfortable bed, staring at the metal rods lining each side.
“How are you feeling?” Reid asked. I could hear his heavy footsteps as he approached closer, but I didn’t dare meet his eye.
“I’m fine, considering,” I mumbled, my hands twiddling back and forth.
Silence passed between us, and it made me uncomfortable. I wanted this to be over with as quickly as possible. The hurt was still there, along with the betrayal. I felt silly, really. As if Reid King and I would ever be a thing. As if Reid King felt what I felt.
“I don’t want you paying for my medical costs,” I said, finally bringing my attention to his. Reid reached up and took his baseball hat off his head, angling it backward. He looked overwhelmingly attractive, even with the tired lines along his face. “I appreciate you bringing me here, but I can pay for it on my own.”
Reid inhaled a deep breath and smashed his lips together. But I stopped him before he could argue.
“Just finish the album, and hopefully V will still pay me, even though I’m now”—I looked around the sterile room as bright lights shone down onto the sparkling floor and a glimmer of the sunset radiated through the far window—“in a hospital, technically unable to collaborate with you.”
“I’ve finished a few songs. You’ll get paid. Don’t worry about that. I wish you would have told me that you had some medical stuff going on. I would have demanded you get your side checked out further, even if it’s not the reason you’re in here today.”
My head flew over to him as pride hit me sq
uare in the chest. He finished a few songs? Shaking myself out of my pleased daze, I said, “It never came up, and it’s not a big deal to begin with. So what? I have one kidney. There are tons of people with one kidney, but anyway… congrats on finishing some songs. I guess... um, take care?”
He snickered, and the monitor that checked my heart rate began to beep louder and louder until I ripped the thing off my finger and threw it across the room.
“Is this really how you want to end things?” he asked, stepping another inch closer to my bed. I wanted the entire thing to swallow me whole.
I mumbled under my breath, shoving myself into the bed. “You’re the one that wanted to end things, so yeah, I guess so.”
“Brooklyn,” he pleaded, his voice sounding as if I’d just broken him in half. I couldn’t help my gaze as it trailed up his torso, landing right on his face. “Just…” He looked away momentarily. “Give me time to make things right. Please.”
My brows scrunched. What? Days ago, he wanted me to leave—no, he begged me to leave—but now he wanted to make things right?
“What changed?” I asked, my eyes bouncing back and forth between his. “You said that you wanted me to leav—”
“I know what I said,” he interrupted, taking another step toward my bed. His legs were now touching the silver railings. “And you want to know what’s changed?”
I slowly nodded my head, unsure if I really wanted to know.
“Everything.” Reid’s voice shook as he bent his strong arms down onto the bed, causing my entire body to dip down. “Everything has changed after seeing you on that floor, unconscious.”
I didn’t say anything. I was too confused, and maybe even a little afraid.
“But…” My voice could barely escape my smashed lips. “But you said… even if there wasn’t the drama with your past, that you and I would never work.” I breathed out a sarcastic laugh. “I mean, look at us, Reid.”
“I am looking at us,” he hurriedly said, peering down into my face. His eyes were determined, unwavering from mine.
I rolled my eyes, and then cringed when my head began to throb.
“Lie down, Brooklyn,” Reid urged, bringing one hand to my hair. I slowly sunk back into the bed, taking a deep breath.
“I’m a plain-Jane elementary school music teacher…”
“I know what you do for a living, Brooklyn.”