?Chapter 2979:


    She let out a quiet sigh, wheeled around, and slipped back into her room.


    “Colleen.” Right as she nudged the door open, Brady’s voice drifted from behind.


    Colleen spun on her heel. He had actuallye?


    Brady shed a warm smile, a bag dangling from his fingers. “Sorry. I’mte.”


    “Oh.” Colleen ducked her head. “Come on in.”


    “Sure thing.”


    They stepped inside, one after the other.


    Once settled, Brady set the bag down on the table. “Bet you’re not hungry anymore. I spotted your folks heading out just now…”


    He trailed off mid-sentence.


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    Colleen nced up, searching his face for clues.


    “You hung back till my parents cleared out beforeing up, didn’t you?”


    Brady’s brow furrowed, his features clouding over.


    He then gave a slow nod. “Yeah. I figured I would just drop this off at the nurses’ station. But then I got to thinking…”


    He ached toy eyes on her. Craved it, down to his bones.


    He left it hanging, but Colleen caught the drift. Her eyes misted over just a touch.


    This wasn’t the moment to let her heart melt, though.


    “Brady.” She lifted her chin, locking eyes with him. “Tell me straight—what’s all this about?”


    “I…” Nerves hit Brady like a freight train, words tumbling out in a jumble. “I just… I had to see you.”


    “You just had to see me?” Colleen gave a soft, wryugh. “Mission aplished, then. You’ve seen me. Consider today yourst visit—no more drop-ins from here on out.”


    Brady froze, his jaw clenching tight.


    “No, that’s not it!” He shook his head wildly, lunging forward in a rush. “Colleen, let me look after you… Please, just give me this shot.”


    His voice cracked with raw desperation.


    “I’ll tread carefully. Your mom won’t catch wind of it. I get it—we can’t make this work. Your family would never ept us!”


    He was all tangled up inside, spilling every frantic thought.


    “If you find yourself a guy, I’ll vanish into thin air! But you don’t have one right now… right?”


    Colleen burst into suddenughter. “Nope. Flying solo these days.”


    Her voice turned steely. “And I won’t be tying the knot with anyone down the line… you understand, right?”


    She was drawing a line in the sand—no second chances with him.


    Brady’s throat closed up like a vice. He understood.


    He drew in a shaky breath. “I hear you. Loud and clear. I’m not good enough, I know. But I need to be near you, care for you, soak up every second.”


    His feelings surged like a storm, his lips quivering. “Colleen, I swear—I won’t push the boundaries. I just—”


    “Brady!” Colleen shot to her feet, eyes zing as she fixed him with a fierce stare. Tears shimmered like diamonds in her gaze. “Are you out of your mind?”


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