"But I feel so alone, Rachel," I whisper, my tears soaking the pillow beneath me. "I feel like I'm fighting this battle all by myself, and it's... it's overwhelming."

Rachel sits up. "Firstly, you're not alone, Bailey. You've got me, and I'm not going anywhere. And secondly, you're stronger than you think. You've faced tougher shit before, and you always come out on top."

She wipes away my tears. "You need to trust in yourself, Bailey. You've got this."

I nod. "Thanks, Rachel," I say, smiling weakly.

It's true.

I need to trust myself.

I've been through so much in my life... Why am I letting all of this get to me?

My thoughts start to switch gears.

"I don't know what to do about... Logan." Saying his name feels so foreign. I don't know whether I hate him or want more of him right now. "I... I think I have feelings for him. It's confusing and overwhelming and fucking terrifying." I let out a small, shaky laugh.

Rachel doesn't say anything, so I continue, "It makes everything so much harder. I want to hate him, Rachel. I want to be mad at him for being such a jerk, for taking that project from my client, but..." The words are a quiet confession of my internal struggle. "But he didn't know... He didn't know it was my client. And I can't seem to push him away."

"Bailey, it's okay. It's okay to feel this way. Logan... he's a piece of work, but I think there's more to him than you see. He might seem to play it off like he's Mr. Bad Boy, but underneath it, there's more to him. And I think he cares about you, more than you think."

I roll my eyes, shoving her playfully, but she grins wider. "But let's be honest here." I try to lighten the mood, "Logan is so full of himself. And his boyish charm? It's overrated. Not to mention his flirting. It's like he lives in this bubble where every woman falls at his feet."

Rachel chuckles at my rant. "Is that all you got?"

"No, it's not. He annoys the fuck out of me, but there are things about him that I do... like." My heart pounds in my chest as I think about Logan. His piercing gaze, the way he smiles like he knows a secret, his laughter that somehow always makes me feel like I'm part of the joke.

"I love his confidence, the way he walks into a room like he owns it. His ambition, it's as relentless as mine. He's passionate about his work and it's... it's attractive."

"Bailey," she says, her voice gentle. "It's okay to let your guard down sometimes. You've built up these walls to protect yourself, and that's understandable. But sometimes, it's okay to be vulnerable, to let someone in."

I swallow hard, taking in her words. "Just see what happens, Bailey. You might be surprised. Who knows? Maybe Logan Atwood isn’t all that bad. And maybe letting him in won't be the worst thing in the world."

I think about her words but am interrupted by the shrill ring of my phone. I glance at the screen.

Unknown number?

I answer.

"Hello?"

"Is this Bailey?" A woman's voice, cold and clinical, speaks on the other end.

"Yes, who's this?"

"This is St. Mary's Hospital." My heart skips a beat, my breath hitching in my throat.

"We have a patient here by the name of Logan Atwood. He was in a car accident." The words hit me like a sledgehammer, leaving me breathless. Rachel looks at me, her eyes wide with concern. "He's asking for you."

"But..." I stammer, my mind racing. "Why me? I'm not his family."

The woman pauses. "He specifically asked for you, Bailey."

Shock, fear, confusion—they all hit me like a brick.

Why would Logan ask for me? Is he okay?

"Okay, I'll be right there."