Chapter 4

Leah jolted awake, gasping.

The dream still clung—waves crashing in, pulling her under. No way out. She barely caught her breath before someone bolted over.

"Leah, are you okay? You scared me to death!"

Ian.

Before she could say a word, he kept rambling. "Don't blame Cecilia, okay? She just wanted you to try diving. She didn't know you'd freak out. She got a cramp and almost drowned too. So... let's just call it even."

Seriously? That was the first thing out of his mouth?

Her chest tightened. She stared at him. "Ian, I almost died. Do you even hear yourself?"

How could he say something like this?

Ian frowned. "Why are you being so dramatic? You didn't die, did you? Cecilia almost drowned too—doesn't that even things out?

"What, you want her dead just to feel better? You were never this unreasonable, Leah. Quit making a big deal out of nothing."

A big deal out of nothing...

Because unless she died, it didn't count.

And if she had? He'd probably still say the same thing.

She laughed under her breath and turned away. "I want to rest."

"Fine. Figure it out yourself." He walked out without a glance.

He didn't come back for two days.

When the nurse came in to swap her IV, she smiled. "The couple next door is so cute. Husband hasn't left her side since the near-drowning. Makes me wanna fall in love too."

Leah gripped the IV stand and stepped into the hallway.

Yep. There he was. Ian. Sitting by Cecilia's bed, slicing apples and feeding her like some budget prince charming.

She thought she could handle this. Nope. Her chest twisted hard.

She turned to leave—froze.

Cecilia was holding something.

Leah stormed in, yanking it from her hands. "This is my competition piece! Where did you get this?!"

Cecilia flinched, curling into Ian like some damsel on cue. "Ian..."

He blinked, then instantly wrapped an arm around her. Of course. "I brought it. She said she liked it, so I let her see it. What's the big deal? You're talented, right? You'll make another. No need to yell and scare her."

"Make another one?" Leah's voice cracked. "I spent four months on this."

Four months. No sleep, skipped meals, even blacked out once. And he—

Ian's expression darkened. "It's just a competition. So what if you skip it? You've already won a bunch. One less won't kill you."

She stared at the ruined carving, vision blurring.

"Ian, what am I to you? Did you ever love me? Even a little? Or was it always her?"

Their voices echoed down the hallway. A few nurses stopped by the door.

Ian jumped up. "What are you even saying? You've completely lost it! Come on, we're going to the doctor. I care about not making a scene—even if you don't."

He reached for her. She jerked back. "Don't touch me!"

The IV ripped out. Blood pooled fast in her hand.

Ian froze. "Leah, you—"

"I'm fine."

Expression blank, she pressed her palm to the bleeding spot, crimson slipping through her fingers. "You two continue what you were doing."