Mara barely remembered her journey from the studio to the hospital. Ryder was seriously ill a fact she still struggled to wrap her head around. She'd imagined his absence was due to work or even just needing time to cool off after the tension between them, but never this.
The nurse pointed her to his room, and Mara hesitated only briefly before pushing open the door. Ryder was lying in bed, hooked up to various monitors, his skin pale against the stark white sheets. Seeing him like this a man so used to being in control, now so vulnerable took her by surprise.
When Ryder noticed her, a faint smile curved on his lips, though his usual confidence seemed subdued. "Didn't I say no visitors?" he said softly, his voice hoarse.
Mara crossed her arms, leaning against the door. "Well, I don't take orders well," she replied coolly, though relief and worry swirled beneath her calm exterior. "Especially from stubborn patients who don't think anyone has the right to know they're one foot out the door."
Ryder let out a low chuckle, though it was cut short by a grimace. "Figures you'd barge in here."
Mara's eyes narrowed. "You really thought you could hide something like this? What exactly were you thinking?"
He shrugged, though the movement seemed to drain him. "I didn't want people fussing over me. It's just a surgery."
"Just a surgery?" she shot back, sarcasm edging her tone. "Sure, because having a thoracic aortic aneurysm repaired is like getting your tonsils removed. What's the survival rate again? 65%?"
His gaze held steady on hers, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "I see you've done your homework. Don't tell me you're worried, Mara."
She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Worried? Oh, please. The only thing I'm worried about is all the chaos I'll have to deal with if you don't make it. The thought of handling everything alone... it's exhausting."
A ghost of a smile appeared on Ryder's face, though he looked away, unable to fully hide the vulnerability in his expression. "Well, I wouldn't want to inconvenience you."
Mara sighed, glancing around the sterile room. "Good. So just pull through this surgery and come back so I don't have to."
A beat of silence passed, the reality of his situation lingering in the air. For once, neither of them seemed to have the right words.
Then, suddenly, Ryder reached out, his hand circling her wrist, pulling her closer. Mara's eyes widened, but before she could protest, he leaned in, his lips meeting hers in a kiss that was both gentle and fierce, a desperate and unguarded confession without words.
She was caught off guard, her mind protesting even as her body responded instinctively, leaning into him. He kissed her as if he were savoring every second, as if he were both saying goodbye and promising to return.
When she finally broke away, breathless and flustered, she managed a glare. "I hope you don't think you can get away with that just because you're lying in a hospital bed."
Ryder's smirk returned, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "You're my good luck charm, remember? I had to get one more in before surgery."
Mara rolled her eyes, but she could feel her cheeks flush. "You're impossible."
He released her wrist, his gaze softening. "But now you'll have to stick around," he said, his voice low.
Mara hesitated, her pulse still racing. She met his gaze, her expression unreadable, before giving a slight nod. "Fine," she muttered, "but don't get used to it."
As she turned to leave, Mara couldn't shake the feeling that something unspoken had passed between them a promise, a dare, a quiet hope that maybe, just maybe, he'd come back.