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Jacques watches her intently as she does her job, an awkward sort of silence falling in the room.

His eyes trail down her body, but he flicks them away quickly when she turns and places the clipboard back at the end of Xander’s bed. Sipping on a clear cup of water, he fixes his eyes to the window.

Estella notices the subtle bounce in my leg. She pauses, folding her hands into the pockets of her coat. “I promise he’ll wake up,” she smiles.

She picks his notes from the basket at the end of the bed again, nodding to herself before she places it back. She does a double-take of Jacques as she leaves the room.

Jacques’ head follows after her, and when he turns back towards me, there’s a grin plastered on my face.

“What?” he asks.

“You two seem to… know each other,” I pry.

He shrugs. “We went to the same school.”

I hum, taking a sip of my own water.

“I’m serious,” he says, eyes narrowing.

“Okay.” I hold my hands up in surrender. “I didn’t say anything.”

“You implied it,” he retorts.

“Implied what?”

“That we dated.”

“I didn’t,” I giggle. Got him. “But did you?” I raise my eyebrow, adjusting my hand in Xander’s.

“We didn’t,” he defends.

“Okay...” I drag out the word.

We banter back and forth for a while, the air feeling a little lighter.

“I think I’m going to get us some food. I’m starving.” He flicks his gaze to Xander. “Sorry, brother.” He claps his hands on his thighs before standing up.

Brother.

I hadn’t even thought to ask him about that.

“How…” I start before he grabs his wallet off a side table. “How do you feel about that?”

He sighs. “Honestly? I don’t know. Xander’s always been a brother to me, but knowing we’re actually related… It’s… weird. It feels like my whole life was a lie.”

“I never asked… What happened to your parents?”

“They passed. In a car accident. Something tells me that the accident wasn’t that much of an accident, though.”

He’s talking about Jenny.

“You really think so?” I ask.

He nods before leaving, his shoulders hunched just a little. There’s more to him than he lets on. And I hope he takes his own advice one day of opening up to someone. He looks like he might need it.

I’m left on my own with Xander. I stare at his beautiful face. Peaceful.

“I’m so sorry. I’m sorry that I realised too late. I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you sooner.”