/"Are you alright, dear? Did I… say something wrong?"
She shook her head quickly, trying to swallow the lump, but her voice still rasped.
-"No… no. Thank you. I'll listen to everything you said."
Her eyes stayed fixed on the IV line. Matthew frowned.
+Thanks, Doctor. You can go."
He gave Jacob a look, a silent reminder that nothing about today should leave this room. Nilson was their family doctor, after all.
Once the doctor and Jacob left, Matthew leaned over her and flicked her forehead.
+"See? I told you you're such a crybaby."
That broke her completely. Diana's sobs burst out, raw and loud. Matthew froze, staring at her. This girl was unbelievable.
He handed her a tissue anyway. She took it, crying even harder.
+"What happened? Is there an on-off switch for your tears here?"
He flicked her forehead again and once more, she wailed louder.
Matthew chuckled in disbelief.
+"Unreal. I guess that really is your on-off button."
Jacob walked back in, startled at the sight.
_"What the hell, Matthew? What did you say to her this time?"
+"Oh, shut up. I didn't do anything. I just tapped her forehead twice, and both times she cried harder."
_"Then that's obviously your fault."
Jacob crouched down by the bed, gently brushing Diana's hair back from her damp face.
_"Diana, why are you crying?"
She shook her head.
_"Do you know why you're crying?"
A small nod.
_"And you want to keep crying anyway?"
Another nod.
_"Alright then. We'll just sit here and wait it out."
Diana ignored them both, crying for a solid ten minutes. Jacob pulled out his phone, scrolling calmly from the floor, while Matthew stretched out beside her on the bed and closed his eyes.
At last, drained, she sniffled.
-"Can I… can I have some soup? To feel better?"
Jacob glanced up with a smile at her red eyes and nose.
_"Yeah, little one. I already had them make some for you."
-"I want milk soup too."
_"That's been made too."
Diana turned her head to the right Matthew's eyes were still closed. She whispered softly:
-"Did he fall asleep?"
Jacob stood, checked, and smirked.
_"Hmm… no… oh. Yeah, he actually did. Unbelievable."
He laughed.
_"You should rest too. I'll be back soon to remove the IV."
-"Okay."
When he left, Diana carefully turned her face toward Matthew. It was the first time she'd ever been this close to him outside of sex. She studied him, wanting to etch him into memory his straight black hair, the sharp brows, the strong nose, the shape of his lips.
Her gaze lingered there.
But honestly… they look kissable.
Her heart thudded at the thought. Just once, she wanted to press her lips to his.
About fifteen minutes later, Matthew woke up.
He blinked a few times, and the moment his eyes opened he saw Diana's face, fast asleep. He chuckled.
She's sleeping like she just moved a mountain.
Annoyed, he sat up on the bed. It was strange to him that he'd dozed off like that. It had been a long time since he'd just randomly fallen asleep, especially next to someone else.
That thought made him frown, scolding himself silently.
Get your act together. Don't let her think you've let your guard down.
He wanted to just walk out, but his eyes landed on the empty IV bag. He grabbed some cotton, disinfected the area, then gently pulled the needle out. Diana shifted slightly but didn't wake. He pressed the cotton against the small wound and taped it down.
He gave her one last look, then pulled back and left the room.
When he stepped into the hall, Jacob was on the couch, laptop on his knees.
Matthew headed to his room, got dressed, adjusted his suit until it was perfect, and sprayed on cologne.
As he walked downstairs, Jacob glanced up.
_"Going somewhere?"
+"Just heading to the office for a bit. Has the court date been set?"
_"Not yet. Probably Friday. It's sensitive, word's already spread among the groups and agencies. They don't want to drag it out. Some of the officials even apologized, and the news outlets covered it, hoping you'd just let it go."
Matthew smirked.
+"Yeah, they can keep wishing if they want."
_"How's she doing?"
Jacob tilted his head toward Diana's room. Matthew, already walking toward the door, only shrugged.
Jacob sighed.
Matthew had put his guard back up, retreating into that hard shell of his.
...
Around noon, Diana woke up. No one was in the room. She felt a little better, at least the stomach pain had gone. A proper meal might fix the weakness.
She opened the door; only Jacob was there, typing furiously.
Quietly, she crept up behind him.
-"Boo!"
Jacob jumped hard in his seat, making her burst out laughing for several seconds. He looked so funny when he was scared.
His glare only made her laugh harder.
_"Oh, little girl… you've picked the wrong person to mess with. I'm warning you…"
-"Heh, we'll see."
She plopped down beside him on the couch.
-"Where's my soup?"
_"I'll go get it… after I send this."