Chapter 6
Pure survival instinct drove me to claw my way out of the ocean onto those rocks.
My arms were numb. My bones screamed with pain that could only come out as tears.
If Adrian hadn’t shown up when he did, I’d be fish food by now.
I don’t know how many days I was out. When I finally came to, everyone around me was speaking some dialect I couldn’t understand.
I realized I wasn’t even in the city anymore.
Looking at Adrian’s unshaven face, I couldn’t resist messing with him. “Cross, did you actually get uglier while I was gone?”
Back in the day, one comment about his looks would set off a nuclear comeback, followed by at least three insults about my appearance.
This time, he just pulled me against his chest so hard I could feel his heartbeat hammering through both our bodies.
Adrian carefully avoids my right arm. “If you hadn’t woken up, I was about to sue every quack doctor in this place!”
“You’ve been unconscious for a week.”
The catch in his voice throws me.
In all our years knowing each other, I’ve never seen him this fragile, this anxious.
I pat his back awkwardly, like I’m comforting a kid. “It’s okay, I’m fine now, see?”
When his hot tears hit my shoulder, reality finally sinks in.
I can’t help laughing. “Adrian Cross, still a crybaby after all.”
“Next reunion, I’m totally exposing your ice-cold reputation for the fraud it is.”
He just pulls me closer. “Deal.”
Then gently pinches my cheek. “Thanks for not dying on me.”
I stare at him, still processing.
A nurse pokes her head in, reminding Adrian to sign my transfer papers from the ICU.
He squeezes my hand. “Back in five.”
After he leaves, I get the full scoop from my caretaker.
Adrian had me medevaced from Westlake City to Manhattan, basically stalking top orthopedic surgeons to save my arm.
He hasn’t left my room-not for food, not for sleep-since they pulled me from the water.
The nurse confides that if hospital regs hadn’t stopped him, he would’ve personally showered me himself.
I never pictured Adrian “Trust Fund” Cross camping out in a hospital chair for me.
The caretaker gives me a knowing look. “You two must be relationship goals.”
If only she knew.
We were legendary enemies. Every fundraiser, every charity gala-we’d trade insults like tennis pros.
From SAT scores to who got into better colleges, we competed over everything like psychopaths.
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You Chose the Bastard? Then Prove It’s Yours
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Chapter 6
When I followed the family blueprint and got engaged to Elake, Adrian moved to Europe with his parents.
That’s when our toxic little rivalry finally fizzled out.
I always thought Adrian hated my guts. Then at our last reunion, our class president looked at me with regret: “We all thought you two would end up together after graduation.”
I laughed it off as ridiculous. The guy wanted to destroy me. What were you all smoking?”
She dismissed my denial. “Adrian was obsessed with protecting you. Why else would he walk you home every day?”
“He even kept blood clotting meds in his desk drawer for your condition.”
Other classmates chimed in: “Remember when you got all those love letters? Adrian went ballistic-cornered each guy and threatened them to back
off
Everyone eagerly shared their memories of us.
Meanwhile, the other half of this supposed love story was across the Atlantic.
His feelings, his efforts-all narrated by others.
Under the dim lights of that bar, the seat beside me stayed empty all night.
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