Chapter 186.

Christain rubbed his thigh softly.

"And then your mother showed up and basically confirmed every horrible thing I was afraid of."

He didn’t argue. That was one of the things Kylie appreciated about him. He didn’t immediately defend himself. He just listened.

"She told me you would get tired of me. I am just a rebellious distraction."

Christian’s jaw tightened.

"She said you were going to marry Isabel Dolce."

He nodded once.

"She told me I was temporary."

Christian’s eyes lowered.

"And she talked about my mother like my family history made me less deserving of something better."

His face changed, and got filled with regret.

"Kylie."

She shook her head. "I don’t need you to fix it." She warned him. "I don’t need you to go home and fight with her."

"I wasn’t planning to go home."

That pulled a small laugh from her. "Good."

Christian smiled faintly. "I’d probably get arrested."

"That would be inconvenient."

"Very."

The humor lasted only a second.

Then Kylie sighed. "She really hurt me."

Christian’s smile disappeared.

"I mean..." Kylie looked at him.

"I’ve had people insult me before. I’ve had people make assumptions about me. I’ve had people look at my life and decide what kind of woman I must be just because of my clothing choice, or locations I find myself at."

She swallowed. "But no one ever talked about my mother."

Christian didn’t interrupt.

"She didn’t even know her. She doesn’t know what it’s like."

Kylie’s eyes became glossy.

"She doesn’t know how hard my mother fought to be there for me when she could. She doesn’t know how many times I’ve sat beside her and told the same story five times because she forgot the first four."

Christian’s face tightened.

"She doesn’t know anything. She just found the ugliest things she could find and used them."

Christian nodded slowly. "My mother does that."

Kylie looked at him. "She collects people’s weak points."

The words sat heavily between them.

Kylie studied his face. "Does she do that to you too?"

Christian didn’t answer immediately. Then he smiled without humor. "She’s been doing it my entire life."

Kylie’s expression softened. "I figured."

"She knows exactly what hurts."

Kylie reached out slightly. Her fingers rested on the blanket between them. Christian noticed. He didn’t reach for her. Not yet.

Kylie looked down at her own hand. "She said I was using you."

Christian’s eyebrows pulled together.

"For money."

He stared at her. Then, despite everything, a short disbelieving laugh escaped him.

"She met you for approximately five minutes."

"Apparently that’s enough."

Christian shook his head. "My mother has always believed money explains people."

Kylie looked at him. "And does it explain you?"

He looked at her for a long moment.

Then his eyes moved toward her hand again.

"Can I?"

Kylie knew what he meant. She managed a shrug.

Christian reached out slowly and took her hand. His palm was warm. Her fingers curled loosely around his.

Kylie looked at their hands.

"I was angry at you because I thought you were going to let her decide what happened between us."

Christian’s thumb moved once over the back of her hand. "I wasn’t."

"I might know that now."

He nodded.

"But I still don’t know what I’m doing."

"I know."

Kylie looked up. "Agreeing so quickly is suspicious."

A faint smile appeared on his lips. "You’ve said it enough times. I’ve had time to memorize it."

She smiled. Then her expression became serious again. "No promises."

"Okay."

"I don’t want to decide anything tonight."

"Okay."

"I don’t even know what that kiss means."

Christian looked at her.

"You don’t have to."

Her brows drew together. "You’re not going to ask?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because you’re in a hospital bed at five in the morning."

Kylie almost smiled. "And?"

"And you nearly drowned, fainted, fell down a staircase, and woke up surrounded by people who love you."

She stared at him. "So?"

"So I’m not asking you to figure out your feelings tonight."

Her chest loosened.

Christian squeezed her hand once. "You can just be awake."

Kylie stared at him. Then she closed her eyes for a few seconds, and opened them again. She leaned back against the pillow.

Her eyes were becoming heavy again.

Christian noticed. "Sleep, Blue."

"I don’t want to."

"You need to."

"What if I wake up and you’re gone?"

He paused. Then he said quietly, "I’ll still be here when you wake up."

Kylie looked at him. She adjusted herself slightly, then tapped the empty space beside her.

"Hop on."

Christian blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

"Kylie, you’re in a hospital bed."

"And?"

"And I don’t think the nurses are going to appreciate me climbing into it."

She gave him a tired look. "Then don’t get caught."

A quiet laugh escaped him.

Christian glanced toward the door. The hallway remained quiet. He looked back at her.

"Are you sure?"

Kylie nodded. "Come here."

Something about the softness in her voice made him stop arguing.

He carefully slipped off his shoes and set them beneath the chair. Then he stood beside the bed and gently pulled the blanket aside.

"Tell me if I hurt you."

"I will."

He climbed onto the edge of the bed slowly, careful not to disturb the IV or the wires attached to her. He settled behind her, leaving enough space between them that she could move away if she wanted.

Kylie shifted backward.

A little closer, and then another inch. Until her back rested against his chest.

Christian went still.

His arms remained at his sides. He didn’t assume. He waited for her permission. Kylie runs a lot.

Kylie reached behind her, found one of his hands, and pulled his arm around her waist.

That was all the permission he needed.

Christian wrapped his arms gently around her, and pulled her closer. His chest settled against her back.

Kylie exhaled. For the first time since waking up, some of the tension seemed to leave her body completely.

Christian lowered his chin near her shoulder.

Neither of them spoke for several seconds. The monitor continued its soft, steady rhythm beside them.

Kylie stared at the wall. Then she smiled faintly. "You called me Blue twice."

Christian’s lips curved into a genuine smile. "I did."

She turned her head slightly, trying to look back at him. "Forgot my name?"

"Never."

Kylie turned a little more until she could see his face. "Then why Blue?"

Christian looked into her eyes. "Just the colour of your eyes." His voice had softened.

He lifted one hand and gently tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered for barely a second before moving away.

Kylie held his gaze. "You’ve never called me that before."

"I know."

"So when did you decide?"

"I didn’t."

She narrowed her eyes.

"You just looked blue."

Kylie stared at him. "That doesn’t make sense."

"It does to me."

She shook her head, but there was a smile threatening the corner of her mouth. He smiled at her, and her smile finally appeared.

He shrugged slightly. "You’re real. And you asked me to hold you."

Her expression softened. "I did." She turned her face forward again, settling against him.

Christian tightened his arms around her by the smallest amount. Kylie rested her hand over his.

Kylie’s eyelids grew heavier.

Christian felt her breathing slow.

"Sleep, Blue," he whispered.

This time, she didn’t argue.

She simply closed her eyes, and Christian stayed behind her, holding her carefully while the first pale hints of morning began to creep through the hospital windows.