The hospital's waiting room felt colder than any place Mara had ever been. She sat, legs crossed and arms tightly wrapped around herself, trying to ignore the nervous energy coursing through her. She hadn't planned on staying during Ryder's surgery she'd even told herself she'd leave after the kiss and let him handle this on his own. But here she was, pacing back and forth, her eyes flickering toward the operating room door every few seconds.
Evan arrived about an hour later, and when he spotted Mara, he raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised to see her. "Didn't think you'd be here," he said quietly, settling into the chair next to her.
"Me neither," Mara replied, staring straight ahead, her face carefully blank.
Evan gave her a small, understanding nod. "They said it could take hours, you know. Why don't you grab a coffee or something? This is… well, it's not easy to sit here all day."
Mara shook her head. "I'm fine."
Silence settled between them as they both waited, the sounds of the hospital a dull hum around them. Mara couldn't remember the last time she'd felt this way so restless and helpless. She'd always prided herself on her independence, her ability to keep people at arm's length. But Ryder had shattered that barrier, one stubborn, infuriating interaction at a time.
Evan watched her for a moment before finally speaking again. "You know, he talked about you. More than you'd think."
Mara glanced at him, surprised. "Ryder?"
"Yeah. He'd pretend it was all about the gallery or some work he wanted you involved in, but after a while, I could tell he just… enjoyed working with you. He's not exactly the type to admit that, though."
She tried to keep her expression neutral, but a pang of something regret, guilt, maybe even fear hit her. "Well, if he pulls through this, maybe I'll remind him that he's not invincible."
Evan gave her a wry smile. "Something tells me he'd like that."
Another hour passed, stretching painfully as Mara's mind spiraled with worry. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a doctor emerged, his expression calm but tired. Mara and Evan sprang to their feet, anticipation and anxiety written across their faces.
"How is he?" Mara asked, her voice more strained than she'd intended.
The doctor nodded reassuringly. "The surgery went as well as we could have hoped. We managed to repair the aneurysm without complications, but the next 48 hours will be critical. He's being moved to recovery now, but he'll need to be monitored closely."
A wave of relief washed over Mara, though it was tempered by the doctor's words. Still, he'd made it through the surgery. That was more than she'd dared hope for.
"Can I… can I see him?" she asked, surprising herself with the question.
The doctor hesitated. "He'll be unconscious for a while yet, but you can sit with him. Just remember, he'll need a lot of rest."
Mara nodded, and with Evan's gentle encouragement, she followed the nurse down the sterile hallway to Ryder's room.
---
The sight of Ryder, lying motionless in the hospital bed, took Mara's breath away. He looked pale and vulnerable, a stark contrast to the confident, infuriating man she was used to. The steady beep of the heart monitor was a reminder that he was still here, still fighting.
She pulled a chair close to his bed, sitting down carefully, and for a long while, she simply watched him, letting the gravity of everything sink in. Part of her wanted to laugh at the irony Ryder, the stubborn perfectionist, flat on his back and at the mercy of fate. But the larger part of her couldn't find any humor in it at all.
As she sat there, memories of their clashes, their silent looks, and the fiery kiss they'd shared floated through her mind. She realized that, despite all her initial resistance, Ryder had found a way into her life, unsettling her in a way no one else had.
After what felt like hours, she leaned forward, resting her hand on the edge of the bed. "You're getting a free pass this time," she whispered, half-smiling. "But if you make a habit of this, don't expect me to come running every time."
Of course, Ryder didn't respond, but somehow, speaking the words eased a little of the tension in her chest. She sat back, settling in for what she knew would be a long night.
---
Hours later, just before dawn, Ryder stirred. Mara was half-dozing in the chair, but the movement jolted her awake. She leaned forward, her gaze fixed on his face as his eyes fluttered open, hazy and unfocused.
"Mara?" he croaked, his voice barely audible.
She leaned forward, her expression neutral but her tone laced with mock irritation. "Of course I'm here. Someone had to make sure you didn't decide to stroll out of here and head back to the office."
A faint smile tugged at his lips, though he looked exhausted. "I knew you cared," he whispered, his voice weak but teasing.
She rolled her eyes. "Only because you'd be an absolute nightmare if you tried to run the gallery from a hospital bed."
Ryder chuckled weakly, his hand inching toward hers, and before she realized what she was doing, she reached out, letting his fingers curl around hers.
"You're not getting rid of me that easily," he murmured, his voice just a whisper.
Mara raised an eyebrow, though she didn't pull her hand away. "Good. Because I'm still waiting on that apology for all the chaos you put me through."
He squeezed her hand, his gaze softening as he looked up at her. "Stick around, and maybe I'll surprise you."
With that, his eyes drifted shut again, the exhaustion of the surgery pulling him back under. Mara stayed by his side, holding his hand, her expression unreadable as dawn began to break over the city.