Two days since the ident that Bastion had pulled me from.


    I stirred, the IV tugged at my skin. But what really woke me was the weight of being watched.


    Luca.


    He was in the chair beside my bed. His eyes didn’t move when mine opened.


    “You should be home asleep,” I whispered.


    “I’d rather watch you sleep.”


    I looked down at the sheet, because holding his eyes meant remembering too much. Only for his hand to brush mine.


    “How are you feeling?”


    “Sore,” I admitted. “But okay.”


    He nodded once, then reached for the table. Set down a cup.


    “Coffee. The way you like it.”


    I wrapped my fingers around it. The first sip made me close my eyes.


    “Thank you. You make it very hard to stay mad at you.”


    Between Bastion pulling me from a car wreck and Luca never leaving the hospital. Every day that passed, it was harder to keep a wall up with them.


    He smirked, just enough to make my own lips twitch. “I can bring pizza if it makes you forgive us faster.”


    “Luca Crow. Always thinking.”


    A knock at the door. A nurse pushed in a covered tray, slid it onto the side table, and left without a word.


    I frowned. “That isn’t hospital food.”


    I lifted the lid. Pasta I hadn’t tasted in months from Ember & Ice. My favorite dish. Down to the garlic bread.


    “You had this delivered?”


    He didn’t answer. Just slid the tray closer.


    “I’m not hungry.” I pushed it away an inch.


    “You need to eat.” He pulled it back toward me.


    “My arm’s sore. And I’m not hungry.”


    It was a lie. I was hungry. But he was making me incredibly nervous. That was when I saw it in his eyes. He knew. Luca always knew.


    He picked up the fork, twirled the pasta without looking away, then held it out.


    I hesitated.


    “Please, baby. For me.”


    How did that one word still have such an effect on me. I leaned forward and took the bite.


    “You think carbs make up for three years?” I asked, after swallowing, trying to make this feel lighter.


    “They bought me five more minutes with youst time. I’ll take it.”


    The door opened again.


    Bastion.


    What were the chances out of everyone to find me that night, it was him. That same question had been ying on my mind for days.


    “She’s being difficult,” Luca said, still watching me. “Won’t eat.”


    I shot him a half-re. Seriously.


    “That true, angel?” Bastion asked, dragging chair beside the bed, and sat.


    “No,” I said stubbornly.


    I sighed and leaned toward Luca’s fork, taking another bite. Then turned, finding Bastion’s eyes. “Your turn.”


    “I’m not eating your food,” he muttered.


    “I can bet you two haven’t eaten today.” I nced between them. “I’m not taking another bite until you do.”


    I grabbed a piece of bread, tore it in two, held it out—one half toward each.


    Neither moved.


    “Fine,” I sighed. “Then I’ll feed you. And if you don’t let me. I won’t take another bite.”


    Bastion leaned in first, eyes steady on mine as he bit from my hand.


    I turned to Luca, held the other piece up.


    He caught my wrist gently, the same way he used to in the Academy when he stole my pizza. I remembered. And I was sure he did too.


    I sat back against the pillows, pulse loud in my ears, then it should be.


    Bastion picked the fork back up. Twirled pasta. Held it out to me. I leaned forward, eating off the fork.


    Bastion kept the fork steady until I swallowed, then set it down. Only after I finished.


    “Slow, baby,” Bastion murmured.


    Luca’s hand came to my shoulder, guiding me back against the pillows like I was too fragile to hold myself. I indulged them, only because they looked so devastated.


    “Come on, angel. You need to sleep.”


    I didn’t argue. I was already fighting the medication too stay awake.


    Luca adjusted the nket with careful precision, tucking it close around me. His fingers brushed my uninjured wrist, only to rest on my pulse. He didn’t move after that—just stayed there, stroking slow.


    Bastion’s hand rested near my thigh on the other side, solid and grounding.


    I fought down how this stirred feelings that should be dead. Instead of spiralling and pushing them away. I closed my eyes.


    Thest thing I felt was both of them—one on each side, holding me like they weren’t ever going to let go.<fn1387> Original content can be found at find?novel</fn1387>