She squeezed Tristan's hand and looked right at him. "Seriously, stop overthinking it. There's no way anything's happening with me and Andrew Lane."

Tristan's eyes flickered. Instead of the jealousy she expected, he asked, "When did you have that dream?"

Emily paused, thinking back. "A few years ago, when I was still living with the Lane family. It's kind of a blur now."

For Emily, who was always so tough and unshakeable, to remember a dream so clearly... Tristan couldn't help but feel uneasy. Something about it just felt wrong.

He reached out and brushed her cheek with his fingers, his voice gentle. "Where did you jump into the sea?"

If she could recall this "dream" after all this time, maybe it wasn't just a dream. The thought made his chest tighten, a quiet ache spreading inside him.

Emily blinked, feeling a pang of sadness, but she forced herself to smile, her eyes turning bright and easy. "It was just a dream. The ocean in it didn't even feel real. I can barely remember. It was like I opened a door and suddenly there it was. It doesn't exist."

Her answer seemed to calm him a little, but a shadow of worry still lingered on his face.

Emily tried to lighten the mood. "Come on, everyone says dreams are the opposite of reality. If I was miserable and jumped in the dream, that just means I'll have a good life and die of old age in real life."

Tristan watched her quietly for a long moment. Emily raised an eyebrow at him. "What's up?"

His voice was softer this time. "Okay. I get it."

"Are you still hung up on this?" she pressed.

He just pressed his lips together, looking away.

Emily rolled her eyes and leaned back against the headboard. "Whatever. I'm done talking. My mouth is about to fall off."

Tristan scooted closer, nudging his head against her shoulder in a playful, puppy- like way. "I'm not doubting you. It's just Andrew Lane... he's too sneaky. I have to stay on guard."

Emily gave him a look, somewhere between exasperated and amused.

Just then, a series of knocks sounded at the door.

They both looked up at the same time. A nurse, stood awkwardly in the doorway with a metal cart. "Sorry need to change the IV. knocked for a while, but you can't seem to hear, so I came in. I hope I'm not interrupting."

Emily immediately pushed Tristan's head away and hopped out of bed, smoothing her hair and clothes. She answered calmly, "No, it's fine. Come in."

The nurse nodded stiffly. "I'll be quick, I promise. I won't take up much of your time."

Tristan watched Emily with a teasing grin, showing not a hint of embarrassment at being caught. He really had no shame.

Emily glared at him again, this time more pointedly.

The nurse swapped out the IV bag, gave a few instructions in a low voice, and then hurried out with her cart.

As soon as the door closed, Tristan pulled back the blanket and patted the spot next to him. “Come on, get in. It's late. Let's go to sleep.”

Emily glanced at the IV. "The nurse will be back later to change it again, you know."

Tristan shrugged, not bothered at all. "So? You're here to take care of me, and there's else for you to Plus, us, you re my girfriend. You belong right here, next to me. Who cares what anybody else thinks?"

sleep nowhe

He was right. There wasn't anywhere else she could rest, and she was exhausted.

She climbed into bed and tucked herself under the blanket, pulling it up to her chin. Tristan sat beside her, looking down with a quiet, satisfied smile.

Emily reached up and pushed his face away, forgetting all about her role as

as his caretaker im going to wa sleep. You keep an eye on your IV. When it's low, call the nurse."

Tristan caught her hand, pressing his cheek into her palm. He turned his face up to

look at her. "Alright. You sleep, I'll watch it."

He leaned down, so close their faces nearly touched.