"Melvin?" Juniper was taken aback, unable to picture the two of them together.


    "Yep," Jimmie nodded. "He''s been with her this whole time. And I have to say... he''s being surprisingly attentive."


    Juniper blinked, deciding not to press the issue. But what is he up to?


    After Jimmie left, the room fell quiet. Juniper leaned against the headboard, watching as Shanley used the same spoon and fork she had to finish her leftover meal. She pursed her lips, an unexpected warmth creeping into her cheeks.


    Once he finished eating, Shanley adjusted the reclining bed, tucked the nket around Juniper, and whispered, "Go to sleep. I''ll be right here with you."


    Her face was so pale,pletely drained of color. He couldn''t imagine how she''d managed to endure surgery for over ten hours.


    "Okay,” Juniper nodded and closed her eyes. But a few minutester, they fluttered open again. She couldn''t sleep. She shifted over, making space on the small bed, and looked at Shanley.


    The invitation was clear.


    A small smile yed on his lips. He took off his jacket,y down beside her, and stretched out his right arm. Juniper immediately rolled into his embrace, pressing her cheek firmly against his chest. Within moments, she was sound asleep.


    "You stubborn girl," Shanley murmured, his fingers gently stroking her face. His heart ached for her.


    But he was also deeply curious. A surgery that had stumped the nation''s top surgeons... how had a teenage girl like Juniper pulled it off?


    Dancer? Race car driver? Jewelry designer? Master surgeon? Which one was the real her? What had his Juniper been through all these years?


    ...


    Juniper didn''t sleep for long. When she woke up, her first instinct was to reach for her phone.


    A momentter, a phone was ced in her hand.


    "Your cousin is outside," Shanley''s voice rumbled beside her.


    “Okay.” Juniper nced at the time. Eight in the morning. The exam would start in an hour. This was an important test; J couldn''t afford to miss it.


    Steeling herself, Juniper climbed out of Shanley''s arms. They left the room one after the other.


    In the quiet hallway, J was sitting on a chair, half-heartedly reviewing vocabry words. Melvin stood nearby, his gaze fixed on her.


    It was a look Juniper recognized all too well-the same way Shanley looked at her. It spelled trouble.


    "Juniper!" J''s face lit up, and she


    immediately stood up. But she must have been sitting for too long, because her fegs gave way and she swayed violently.


    “Careful!” Juniper''s expression changed. She reached out to steady her, but Melvin was a step ahead.


    J stumbled right into Melvin''s chest, her forehead bumping against him with a soft thud.


    “Are you okay?” Melvin had never been in a rtionship, let alone been this close to a girl. A strange sensation coursed through him.


    "I''m fine," J said, slowly looking up while rubbing her forehead. "Thank you, Melvin."


    She quickly disentangled herself and rushed to Juniper''s side, clinging to her arm affectionately. "Juniper, the doctor said my mom''s condition is stable Once she''s through the... twenty-four-hour observation period, she''ll be okay."


    "I know." Juniper patted her head, her eyes shifting to Melvin. He pursed his lips and guiltily averted his gaze. After all he was


    twenty eight, and J was eighteen. Not long ago, he''d been lecturing Shanley about robbing the cradle. Well... maybe he should take his own advice.