Page 173 of Fractured Future

“Is that an order?” I snort.

“You bet your ass it is.”

“So much for making up. I thought you’d cut the overbearing crap.”

“Believe me, red. I can be far more overbearing than this.”

“Promises, promises.”

Planting a kiss on top of my head, he withdraws before I can read too much into it. As Hyland reaches for his usual army boots to begin lacing them at the foot of his bed, I spot the book he’s discarded.

“What’s this?”

“Wait!” he calls out.

Picking up the glossy self-help book, I turn it over in my hands. The title makes me choke on a surprised laugh.

“Living with Epilepsy?”

Glancing at Hyland, his entire focus is back on lacing his shoes. If I didn’t know better, I’d think a pink flush has taken over his tanned skin.

Oh, fuck.

I actually think he’s blushing.

“Did you buy a self-help book on epilepsy?”

Boots now in place, Hyland rises to march over to me. “Give it to me.”

“Well?” I prompt when he snatches the book from my hands.

“No.”

“Clearly, you did. How’d you get it so fast?”

“Overnight delivery,” he grumpily replies.

Tossing the book on his neatly made bed, he waves his hand, gesturing for me to get the hell out of his room. I don’t know whether to create an even bigger mess for myself by kissing the fool or scurry away.

“You’re researching my condition?”

“Leave it, Em.”

“No. Tell me why.”

Hyland palms the back of his neck. “I want to know what to do when it happens again. I need to be able to look after you.”

“But… You were mad at me.”

“So? You think that stopped me from caring?”

Mouth snapping shut, I merely shrug.

“You should know by now, Em. No matter how pissed off I am, I’ll never stop caring for a second.”

With that, he briefly grazes his fingertips along my cheek then departs the bedroom. I’m left to pick my jaw up off the floor and follow the most confusing man to have ever walked the earth.

A man who overnights self-help books even when he’s giving me the silent treatment. I must have some kind of internal brain damage for thinking that’s undeniably cute.