Defiant Heir (The Heirs #3) - Michelle Heard Page 0,18
Fallon.”
Aunt Kingsley’s gaze turns to me. “You don’t want to go to the restaurant?”
I shake my head, not yet ready to mingle with the other students.
“Want to give me all the orders, and I’ll call the restaurant?” Hunter asks.
While they’re all busy, I pick up my overnight bag and walk to my room. I stop at my door, and my gaze goes to Kao’s bedroom. Setting the bag down, I walk the short distance, and once I’m inside, I shut his door behind me.
His familiar scent hangs in the air, and I take a deep breath. My eyes scan over his desk where his laptop lies.
My heart squeezes into a tiny lump, and when I see the shirt he wore to classes on Wednesday lying on the side of his bed, I walk closer. Picking it up, I press it to my face, and when I smell him, tears push up my throat.
God, I miss you, Kao.
I still can’t believe how horribly everything has changed over the past three days.
I set the dirty shirt back on the bed and walking to Kao’s closet, my hand brushes over all of his shirts before I pull one out. I walk to the bathroom, and picking up his aftershave bottle, I squirt some onto the fabric and then take it with me.
At least, this way, it will feel like he’s still close by.
It’s been a long day with family and friends all taking turns to check on me.
After dressing in a clean pair of jeans and a t-shirt, I make sure my hair covers the dressings on my face and neck before I walk out of my room.
When I get to the kitchen to grab Noah’s burger, which was delivered a couple of minutes ago, Jase and Mila come into the suite. They must’ve gone for dinner.
Jase’s gaze falls on my car keys as I pick them up. “Where are you going?”
“To visit Kao.” I begin to walk toward them.
“I’ll take you,” Jase says. Not waiting for my answer, he takes my car keys from me and throws them back in the bowl on the counter.
Knowing it won’t help to argue with him, I let it go. We all file out of the suite. If I’m honest with myself, I’m glad they’re coming along. Maybe then Kao won’t be as angry. He has a soft spot for Mila, especially after the attack.
Stepping into the elevator, I shake my head at myself. It sucks that I’m using my friends to hide behind. It’s just… I can’t handle much more. Kao’s rage is something I’ll never get used to.
Once we’re in Jase’s car, I stare out of the window at the landscape passing by us.
“How are you holding up?” Jase asks.
“I’m good.”
“Don’t lie to me, Fallon,” he murmurs.
My eyes meet Jase’s in the rearview mirror. He’s always been so damn perceptive, you can’t hide anything from him.
My shoulders slump as I suck in a deep breath. “I’ll be okay. It’s just hard right now,” I admit the truth.
“I saw Kao earlier,” Jase says.
“Yeah? How was he?”
“Angry.”
Yeah, that about sums it up.
“I just wish he’d go for the surgery,” Mila voices her hope.
“I don’t understand why he won’t,” I admit.
“I think he’s scared it might not be a success. He doesn’t want to get his hopes up,” Jase gives his opinion.
“But it’s worth the chance,” I argue.
Jase lets out a sigh as he pulls into the hospital's parking area. “I told him that.”
We all climb out, and Jase walks between Mila and me. We’re quiet until we reach the VIP floor.
Jase places his hand on my back. “Whatever happens, I’m here.”
I give him a grateful smile before I push open the door.
Kao’s sitting up, and Uncle Marcus is seated at the foot of the bed. Noah’s slouched in a chair, staring at his phone.
“Hey,” I say as I walk inside, and I first go to hand Noah his burger.
“Thanks, you’re a lifesaver.”
Kao’s head snaps in my direction, and a frown forms on his forehead. I have to gather all my strength to move to the side of the bed. The lines on his face deepen as I lean down. I press a kiss to his cheek, but a second later, he turns his face away from me.
As I straighten up, Jase places his arm around my waist and pulls me into his side.
I watch as Mila hugs Kao, and it hurts like hell when he hugs her back.