Page 47 of The Silent Note

“Says the one who doesn’t want medical help when she’s clearly sick.”

“I promise I’m not sick.”

“Then why are you acting so weird?”

I glance at Sloane.

The silence stretches.

Zane growls, “I’m calling a doctor and you’re not going to stop me.”

“Oh, he’s intense.”

“Zane, stop.”

“Looks like he’s really going to call.”Sloane points to where Zane is roughly stabbing a number in his phone.

I launch up and grab the phone from him.

He looks at me with wide, surprised eyes.

“Grey—”

“No doctors.”

“Why the hell?—”

“Because I want a proper honeymoon!” I shriek.

A stunned silence settles on everyone.

Nobody moves.

“I want…” I exhale shakily, “to be with you,” I finish on a squeak, “tonight.”

Heat blares in my cheeks as Dutch and Cadence exchange an amused glance while Finn coughs into his hand.

Zane’s mouth forms a tiny o.

“Uh,” Cadence stretches her arms high and pretends to yawn, “wow. I didn’t realize it was so late. Time for me to go to bed.”

Dutch gives Zane a knowing nod. He follows his wife out.

Finn just shakes his head as if to say ‘why do I put up with this crap?’

In five seconds flat, the room clears out.

“Well… that was easy.”

Shut up, Sloane.

I want to flop back in embarrassment but, instead, I clamor to my feet. Zane is still standing near the bed, looking suspicious.

“Why are you staring at me like that?” I stammer.

He says nothing. Just keeps me in the vise grip of his intimidating blue gaze.

Swallowing hard, I tell him, “I’ll take a shower. We probably both smell like prison.”