“But nothing.” Her voice softened, but her eyes stayed locked on mine. “I know you, Marcus. I know your heart. I’ve watched you fight and struggle and claw your way out of a hell some people wouldn’t survive. And I’ve seen you rebuild yourself into a man who doesn’t force anyone to do anything. Ever.” She leaned forward, her words deliberate and steady. “So, tell me this… when you’re around him, are you manipulating him? Are you pressuring him? Are you using your position to make him feel he owes you something?”
“Fuck, no,” I said, and then it hit me—hard and fast, like a punch to the gut. “I’d never…”
“Exactly.” She pointed at me as though she’d nailed her argument to the wall. “Stop twisting yourself up about it like you’re some kind of predator.”
“But what if he’s just… grateful…and I’m reading things into this that I shouldn’t.”
“Then you give him space to figure that out. But guilt? That’s not attraction, Marcus. You knowthe difference. You’re not some selfish kid looking to fill a void. If what you feel for him is real, you’ll know. And if it’s not, well… you’ll know that too.”
I closed my eyes, the truth of her words settling over me like a heavy coat. When I thought about Tyler—his quiet strength, his guarded eyes—I wasn’t sure I could draw that line between doctor and patient anymore. And that terrified me. “I’m his doctor.”
“You’reeveryone’sdoctor.”
“I don’t want to hurt him.”
She held up a finger to stop me from talking. “I know,” she said. “That’s how I know you won’t.” She reached out, squeezing my arm in a gesture that held so much strength. “Now go back to the Hall. Get some rest. And call me later, and tomorrow, and the day after, okay? Don’t make me hunt you down.”
I laughed at that, feeling lighter than I had in days. “Okay.”
When I arrived backat Guardian Hall, I was lost in thought, so it caught me by surprise when I turned the corner toward the medical room and saw the very man I couldn’t get out of my headleaning against the door. The moment he spotted me, he straightened, his expression tight with something I couldn’t quite place—relief, maybe, or discomfort. Either way, my gut twisted.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
He pointed to his neck, fingers skimming inflamed skin below his jawline. “I didn’t mean to scratch it,” he said, shifting all kinds of awkward. “But I did… and I think I’ve fucked up.”
One of the scars there, which had been healing nicely last time I’d checked, now looked red and irritated, as if it had caught on his shirt or—yeah—he’d scratched it.
“No worries. We can fix that. Come on,” I said, opening the door and gesturing for him to go inside before shutting it behind us.
“It’s fine,” he said. “I just wanted to?—”
“Hop up on the bed.” I used my firm voice, not quite meeting his eyes. I was still raw from my talk with Terri, and the last thing I needed was to feel whatever complicated storm of emotions Tyler seemed to drag out of me.
He hesitated but then gave a slight nod and climbed onto the bed. “This isn’t a big deal,” he muttered. “I shouldn’t have bothered you, but Alex said I should.”
“Tyler,” I said, peeling back the collar of his shirt to get a better look at the scar. “If something’s wrong, it’s never a bother.” I kept my fingers steady, even though my heart wasn’t. The skin was warm to the touch and a little swollen. He must’ve scratched it harder than he realized.
“I just… I woke up, and it itched like crazy. I didn’t even notice I was scratching until—” He stopped, swallowing hard, his gaze darting away from mine.
“Until it hurt,” I finished for him.
He nodded. “Yeah.”
I reached for some antiseptic cream from the shelf behind me. “I’ll clean it up and put some ointment on. It’s just irritated—nothing serious.” I paused before adding, “But if it worsens, just come find me. Don’t wait for Alex to tell you it’s okay.”
“Got it,” he said.
I focused on smoothing the cream over the irritated skin.
“Marcus?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you okay?”
I froze for half a second before taping the bandage in place. “Yeah. Fine.”
“You sure?” It felt as though he could see every thought swirling in my head.
