Chapter 4

Mom patted Hugo on the shoulder without saying anything, then left with Dad. The two takeout meals became just enough for Hugo and me.

Thankfully, I'd inherited my congenital heart disease from my grandpa; it wasn't some condition that restricted my diet to liquids. Otherwise, I really would starve to death.

Hugo still didn't say anything, but he carefully set out the food in front of me. I was too hungry for words, and I couldn't think of anything other than eating.

I wolfed down my portion in a few bites, then pushed the food container toward Hugo, signaling that he should eat. However, he snapped the lid back on and set it aside. Then, he looked at me darkly.

"Feeling any better?" His tone was hard and stiff, like I owed him big.

My heart sped up a little when I thought about why I'd ended up in the hospital. I was about to ask if he'd been reborn too when an abrupt ringtone cut me off.

We both looked down at my phone and saw the caller ID—Zeke. It went without saying who it was.

Hugo snorted, shoved his chair back, and walked out of the room. The chair scraped loudly against the floor, drowning out my soft call of his name.

I sighed inwardly and answered the call in resignation.

"Liss, I just heard from my aunt that you're in the hospital. Are you okay? I'll come see you tomorrow," Zeke said.

It wasn't surprising—his aunt was my attending physician, after all. That hadn't changed in this life.

He sounded worried, but it was all for show.

"I'm fine. You don't need to come. I just want to rest," I said softly, making myself sound as frail as possible.

"Okay. Get all the rest you need. I'll ask my aunt to keep a closer eye on you."

After I hung up, I craned my neck toward the door. It was quiet outside. Hugo showed no sign of coming back in.

I sent him a sticker of a peeking hamster. A soft rustle of clothes sounded outside, then I heard the door open.

I straightened up in bed, ready to have a heart-to-heart with him the second he walked in. I waited and waited, but he never came through the door.

Instead, he texted, "I'll sleep in the outer room. Call me if you need anything. Get some rest."

I poked his profile picture on the screen. How bold of him to ignore me!

Without realizing it, I sent him another sticker, this time of a hand patting a hamster and ruffling its fur.

Oh, God. What had I just done?

I really hadn't meant to. In my flustered panic, I deleted the sticker as fast as I could, still feeling rattled. Would he think the sticker represented what I wanted to do to him?

He sent a question mark.

I replied with a sticker of a hamster bowing out. After that, he didn't respond.

Things went on like this for several days, even though he took care of all three of my meals every day.

By the time I was discharged, we still hadn't had a real conversation once.

…

"Liss, did you and Hugo make up yet?" Mom sat with me on the couch and held my hand.

I shook my head.

"Hugo's had it rough since he was a kid. His parents divorced early—he's lived with his father since, but his father doesn't really care about him. Naturally, he's not the most sensitive young man. You need to guide him more.

"But remember that as a daughter of the Sutherland family, you should still have your pride. Don't lose your backbone over anyone."

Hugo…

"I know, Mom. I'll go talk to him today and clear things up," I said.

"Right now?" Mom hesitated. "It's pretty late, though. Go tomorrow."

I shook my head, checked the time, then headed out. When I knocked on Hugo's door, he'd just showered. His hair was still damp.

Wet strands clung to his forehead, softening his features. He looked a little less roguish than usual and a little more boy-next-door.

Before I realized what I was doing, I reached up and ruffled his hair.