The bed dips when he returns. I don’t move at first. When I finally look over, he’s mirroring my position, on his back with his arms at his sides. His eyes meet mine. It feels right, everything between us. Comforting yet thrilling, never uncomfortable or forced. Warmth unfurls in my chest when Gray spreads his arm away from his side in a silent invitation. I take it, resting my head on his chest and tangling my legs with his.

“How did you know I love carrot cake?” I whisper. It’s bothered me since he said it, and this feels like one of those rare moments where words can be said without repercussions. They’ll drift away into the darkness of the room, forgotten come morning.

“Because that’s what you request for your birthday every year. Including when you turned thirteen. Your mom forgot to buy carrots, so she called my mom, who thought she had carrots but didn’t. Rather than tell your mom that, she sent me to the store. It took me an hour to bike there and back.”

I’m silent.

I don’t know what to do with all these emotions. So, I shove them down. Far away. As far as they’ll go. Because sometimes—always—that’s easiest.

CHAPTER NINE

I sign my name with a flourish and hand the chart to Haley, the nurse on shift tonight. “Here’s the discharge paperwork for Hopkins in 409.”

She nods and takes the binder from me. “I’ll get it all entered into the system.”

I give her a tired smile, which she mirrors. “Thank you.”

“Have a good night. Or morning rather.”

The reminder increases the ache of exhaustion. “You too.”

I head toward the elevator. The doors open to reveal it’s empty, which is a rarity, even at this hour. I press the button for the bottom floor that houses the resident locker rooms and lean back against a poster detailing STD symptoms, closing my eyes. The doors slide closed, then ding open a minute later.

A low male laugh sounds. “Long night?”

I crack my eyes open to see Ben standing before me. “Long night,” I confirm.

He yawns as he steps inside the elevator with me. “Me too. Neuro was nuts.” He presses the button to close the doors. I’ve always wondered if anyone actually did that. “Hey, you grew up here, right?”

“Yeah.”

“You ever been to Frosted before?”

I laugh. “Been? I’d make my brother stop there every morning on the way to school. Best doughnuts I’ve ever had.”

Ben smiles. He’s got a clean-cut, all-American look to him. Not bland, just straightforward. But his smile is lopsided and a little crooked. It adds more character to his face.

“Yeah, I agree. There was a doughnut place right across the street from my apartment in California. I thought theirs was the best there is…but now, I’m reconsidering.”