Page 91 of Doctor’s Forbidden Match

But as I swing my legs out of bed, I hear voices coming from the living room. My heart races. That’s definitely Channing’s low rumble, but the other voice… is that Zac? Why would he be here and not at the set? And why so early?

I scramble up, tangling myself in the sheets, nearly face-planting onto the floor. I catch myself on the nightstand, heart hammering now for an entirely different reason. Once I’m calm, I walk out of my room on crutches, rubbing my eyes and trying to orient myself in my sleepy state.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

Both men turn to look at me. My eyes drift down over Zac, taking in his rumpled shirt, the shadow of stubble on his jaw, his messed-up hair.

“Did you… stay the night?” I ask, suddenly very aware I’m standing here in my nightgown.

He runs his hand over his face, dragging it down over his mouth. The just-woken-up look is kind of hot on him.

“Yeah, I-It seems I crashed on your sofa last night.”

I sigh, feeling a twinge of guilt. “I hope it wasn’t uncomfortable.”

“It surprisingly wasn’t, actually.” His lips quirk into a small smile that does things to my insides.

“Well, you don’t have to come this early to set, you know. Maybe get some sleep at home?”

“Yeah, I think I’ll, um, have a shower at home.” He shifts his weight, looking almost boyish in his uncertainty. “Meet you on set? Seven?”

“Sure.”

But neither of us moves. His gaze holds mine, sparks flying between us. Then he clears his throat, gives Channing a small nod, and strides to the door.

I watch him go.

The door clicks shut behind him, and I stay where I am, in my nightgown in the middle of my living room, crutches under my arms, thinking about the fact he stayed. That he fell asleep on my sofa instead of going home, and I’m not sure if that was about me or just exhaustion, and I want very badly for it to be about me.

I snap out of my daydream and glance at Channing. “Well, I guess I’ll go get ready.” He’s standing there with his professional mask firmly in place. “I won’t be long.”

“It’s all right, miss. Take your time.”

Getting ready doesn’t take long. Channing helps me into the car and into my trailer where Karyn, Jaina, and Mia are already waiting. They’re huddled together, whispering, but they go silent the instant I walk in.

“What is it?” I ask.

“Nothing,” they say, but their guilty expressions tell a different story. They pull away from something on the makeup counter, and I spot the article on Karyn’s phone.

“I’ve already seen it. It’s okay.”

Mia crosses her arms, her expression fierce. “It’s not okay. They’re making up stories. You’re nothing like they’ve described.”

“I’m used to it. Honestly.” I shrug, trying to project a nonchalance I don’t entirely feel. But I’m warmed by her defensiveness on my behalf. “I’m just glad they haven’t made Zac into being the bad guy, you know? He’s been nothing but kind, and I would hate for him to be dragged through the mud.”

“Yeah, he’s had enough of that,” Jaina mutters.

My head snaps up. “What do you mean?”

“He hasn’t told you?” Karyn asks.

“Told me what?” I look between the three of them, their faces painted with concern.

“You know… the scandal?” Jaina says.

“I know a bit about the disciplinary stuff with Peltz.”

They exchange a look that tells me there’s more.