Page 75 of Protective Love

Rory

It's the evening by time I've built up enough courage to finally show my face in Jaylen's room.

I walk in cautiously, spotting him sitting up in his bed with his phone in his hand, and I clear my throat to make my presence known, as well as trying to dislodge the lump that's been stuck there for hours.

"Hey," I say quietly, stepping towards his bed as his eyes roam over my face and his lips lift into a smile.

"I was wondering when you were going to turn up."

I nervously fidget on the spot as I think about what to say to him, unsure if I can go through with the lies I've prepped myself to say, but thankfully, he speaks again before I have to.

"Been told I'm going home tomorrow," he states. "I was also told that you approved that decision."

My teeth sink into my cheek as I nod, glancing away from him and choosing to look at the city lights out of the window instead of his handsome face.

"Care to tell me why?"

His voice is soft, and calm.

There's not a hint of anger like I'd expected there to be, and although I'm glad, it also causes the ache in my chest to grow because I know that I'm about to hurt a man that doesn't deserve it.

"I think the time is right for you to go home and be surrounded by your family while you continue to recover. You'll be with people who care for you and can help you."

"I have that here with you, Aurora."

I sigh, and my eyes drop from the window as tears begin to gather in my eyes.

"There's more to this. Something you're not telling me," he says, his voice closer to me now.

I turn around to see him pushing off his bed and walking towards me, but I shake my head and step back, halting his movements.

"I just think it'd be better for you to be at home from now on, instead of being stuck in this hospital. You've been complaining about it since you woke up, I thought you'd be glad to go home."

"Well, I'm not." He steps towards me again, and when I don't move back, he continues until he's standing right in front of me, his presence looming over me. "As annoying as it's been to be stuck here, I've loved my time with you. I'd gladly spend the rest of my life in this hospital if it meant I could be with you, darling."

My lip trembles, and he must notice because he cups my face in his hands, tipping my head up and forcing me to look into his swirling deep blue eyes.

"You can't," I tell him. "This. Us… We can't."

"Why?" he asks, desperation in his voice.

"I'm not good for you."

He frowns and shakes his head as his thumb softly brushes against my cheeks that are now wet from the tears spilling freely from my eyes.

"I'm sorry, Jaylen. I've loved every minute we've spent together. You've made me happy, and you've made me feel safe. Getting to know you has been the highlight of my whole entire life, and I'll cherish it forever, but I know I have to let you go. We can't continue this."

"Yes, we can," he says, releasing my face from his grip so that he can circle his arms around my body and pull me against his. "I don't know what's going on, but I can tell that you're scared, and I understand that that's why you're saying all of this, but I'm telling you that you have nothing to be worried about. I want to be with you, Aurora, and I know you want to be with me too."

A shudder runs through my body, and I close my eyes as I allow myself to bask in the feeling of having him wrapped around me one last time before I pull back, untangling myself from his arms.

Guilt and pain consume me as I watch his face fall, but I take a deep breath and step back again, putting more distance between us as I prepare to shatter not only my heart, but his too.

"I'm sorry, Jaylen, but I can't—" My words fail me as my emotions take over.

With tears streaming down my face, I turn away from the man before me and leave his room as my heart fractures inside of my chest.

Chapter Thirty-Nine