Page 76 of Protective Love

Jaylen

Ihaven't slept a wink.

I spent the night staring out the window, watching night turn to day, wondering where Aurora was, and if she was okay.

Now, I'm sitting on the edge of my bed as Dominic collects all of my bits from the bathroom, packing them in to the bag he brought with him as we both get ready for me to finally go home.

"Has Leo text you?" I ask.

"No," he says, glaring at me over his shoulder as he picks up my body wash and dumps it in the bag at his feet. "That's the fifth time you've asked me, and I'm sure if you ask me again, my answer will remain the same."

"I messaged him last night, though, and he told me that he'd let me know when he was on his way here with her. He hasn't messaged me, so I'm hoping he's text you instead"

"Well, he hasn't."

I sigh and glance down at my phone in my hands, hoping it'll buzz, but it doesn't.

"Right, that's everything. Are we ready to go now?"

I glance at the open door that leads out to the corridor, and when I don't see my brunette beauty, I shake my head.

"No. If you want to take that to the car and wait for me, then you can. I'm not leaving until I see her."

He shrugs and picks up the bag.

"I'll go and wait at the car then. I'm not sitting here with you while you're moping around," he grunts, walking out of the room.

I wait impatiently for another twenty minutes before I finally receive a text from Leo.

Leo:

She's on her way up now.

Jaylen:

Thank you

Leo:

Remember what I said. Give her space

Jaylen:

Yeah yeah

Standing from the bed, I tuck my phone into the pocket of my jeans and pull out the piece of paper I wrote on earlier.

Quickly grabbing the crutches from beside me, I make my way out of my room and towards the elevator, waiting for Aurora to make her way up.

As I watch the numbers on the lift, I run my hands through my hair and over my face, hoping I don't look as tired, and defeated as I feel.

When the doors open and my eyes meet hers, my breath catches, and my heart literally stutters in my chest.

She glances around, her eyes darting nervously between me and the hallway, and after a few moments, she steps out of the elevator and stands beside me.

"Can we talk? Just for a moment."

She nods and moves to sit on one of the chairs in the corridor closest to us.