Page 11 of Dax (Big Hot Alphas 1)

Finally—fuckingfinally—we reach the hospital. The next several minutes seem to move in sped-up time: I pull the truck up to the emergency entrance, I help Ian get out of the passenger side, a couple of hospital workers take him from me, asking Alice a rapid set of questions.

After that, though, everything slows way, way down.

Now all we can do is wait.

Bailey and Alice and I find seats in the waiting room. Bailey comforts her mom. Meanwhile, I feel useless, a feeling I fucking hate.

Every time a nurse or doctor walks out, the three of us all look up, bracing ourselves to hear the worst.

But a half an hour passes and no news comes.

Then another half an hour goes by.

And another.

Finally, just as it’s starting to feel hopeless, we get an update about Ian. They confirm that he did have a heart attack, and tell us he’s being treated with medication. He doesn’t need surgery. They’re confident he’ll be just fine.

“Thank God,” says Alice, clutching her daughter’s hand.

I let out a deep breath of relief.

We don’t have to wait too much longer after that until we’re able to visit Ian in the hospital room they’ve transferred him to. Ian looks better than he did when I last saw him, although he’s still pale and obviously exhausted.

“Can’t thank you enough for what you did, Dax,” he says.

I give his shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Just glad you’re okay, Ian.”

After that, though, I hang back. I let the three of them have their space. And when I see that everything seems stable, I decide it’s time for me to go.

I drive backto the hospital the next morning. As I approach Ian’s room, I can hear Bailey and her mom laughing about something. I rap my knuckles on the door.

“Come in,” Alice calls out.

When I walk in, I’m met with a tired smile from Ian and a loving one from Bailey, who mouths a sweet littlehito me.

“Oh!” says Alice, standing up from her chair. “Dax. How nice of you to come by again.”

I nod and look over at Ian. “How you feeling today, bud?”

“Like I had a heart attack,” Ian jokes. “Pull up a chair.”

It’s good to sit with the three of them. Good to see Ian doing better. But the longer I stay, the more ravaged with guilt I feel about what Bailey and I did last night. I know it’s got nothing to do with her dad having a heart attack, but all of this feels like a bad fucking sign.

I still need Bailey. I still want to marry her, have babies with her, be with her until my dying day.

But I don’t want us to sneak around behind her parents’ backs. I don’t want to be that guy.

“Hey,” I say, standing up and setting my chair back against the wall. “I’m gonna head out.”

“You don’t have to leave yet,” says Bailey.

“No, I should,” I say. I shoot a grin at Ian. “This old guy needs his rest.”

I say goodbye to the three of them and step out of the room, closing the door behind me.

But I only make it halfway down the hall before I hear rapid footsteps chasing after me.

“Dax!”

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