Page 59 of Accepted Bonds

“Keane was so mad that he destroyed all the equipment in his training cube.I’ve never seen him that mad.For the next few months, I do not envy the type of life you’re going to live,” Levi gloated.“It serves you right, though.Don’t worry, I’ll try my best to find a way to worsen whatever punishments your parents come up with.Maybe you’ll have a longer memory this time.”

“The most important thing is ...are you okay now?Do you feel dizzy?Or woozy?Is your mom by your side or a nurse?”Caden asked, his voice full of concern as his brows furrowed deeper with every question.

“I’m fine.I’m fine.Don’t worry ...I’m doing fine.My mom just left a few minutes ago and my side barely even hurts.It’s just ...Aiden isn’t speaking to me.”I said, staring at Aiden’s back.

The three of them were silent for a few seconds before Mateo said, “The fact that he’s there with you in that hospital room instead of dumping you as soon as you pulled that stunt is proof of how much he loves you.The fact that I’m not considering dumping you right now is proof of how much I love you.”

“Mateo!”Caden warned.

“What?!”Mateo retorted.“I’m telling the truth.”

“She’s still hurt.We can reprimand her later.”Caden admonished.

Mateo snorted, “You’re spoiling her rotten.”

Levi nodded in agreement.“You really do spoil her too much, Caden.If we don’t warn her now, Aurora is the kind of person who easily forgets her past transgressions.So all of this is necessary, so she doesn’t just forget it in the heat of another battle.”

“I’m sorry.I promise I won’t do it again.”I apologized again.

Caden sighed and then we all settled into silence.

It wasn’t a comfortable silence, but it wasn’t an awkward one either.But that didn’t matter to me.What mattered was that they were with me, even over the phone.Their presence made me feel warm, and I had to fight to keep my eyes open.

Before I could say anything to continue our conversation, Aiden snatched away the phone in my hand and said a few words before ending the call.“She’s sleepy.We’ll call you later.”

Even though my eyelids seemed glued together, I still wanted to apologize.“Aiden, I’m truly sorry.You won’t really dump me, right?”

I heard him chuckle.“No, I won’t dump you.It’s more like I can’t dump you.I love you too much to dump you.”

“Good.”was the last word that slipped out of my lips before I fell asleep.

35

Aurora

When I woke up again, Levi and Mateo were the ones sitting by my bedside.Aiden and my mom were nowhere to be found.

“Where’s Aiden?Did he leave?”I asked, wincing as I tried to push myself to sit up despite the pain from my side.

Levi helped me adjust my pillows before answering me.“No.He went to get some sleep.Your mom too.They didn’t leave your side until you woke up.”

“Oh.”was what I said.

“What?You’re not happy to see us?”Mateo, as usual, took offense to the wrong thing.

But what right did I have to tease him for his surliness when I knew how worried I’d made everyone?“Not at all.I’m just worried he’ll dump me.”

Levi stood up and leaned over me to flick me on my forehead.

“Ow, what was that for?”I glared at him for flicking me on the forehead the way he used to when I was younger.

“Oh, you’re not afraid that I’ll dump you?”He asked in a threatening tone.

I smiled in what I hoped was a flattering manner.“Of course not, it’s just ...Don’t flick me on the forehead.It’s so annoying when you do that.”

“Mm-hmm,” Levi said, staring at me for a few seconds before turning to his phone again and ignoring me.

“I’m sorry.”I apologized again, my eyes darting from his face to Mateo’s stern expression.

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