Chapter 25

                                    

                                          
Victoria
The hospital room was too quiet. The kind of quiet that made it hard to think, because my thoughts felt deafening in the silence. The faint beep of the heart monitor in the room next door, the muffled footsteps in the hall, and the occasional creak of my knee brace were the only sounds filling the space.
Zach sat on the hard chair beside my bed, his hands gripping the arms like he was anchoring himself in place. I could see the tension in his shoulders, in the way his jaw tightened every time his eyes drifted to my bandaged knee.
I didn't blame him for being tense. I'd been quiet ever since the others left to give me some time to rest. But rest wasn't happening. My mind was spinning, replaying everything that happened yesterday—everything that happened before my fall.
"I'm sorry," I said suddenly, breaking the silence. My voice felt small in the cavernous stillness of the room.
Zach's head snapped up, his brown eyes locking onto mine. "What? Why are you sorry?"
I swallowed hard. "For... not saying anything yesterday. When you—" I stopped, suddenly feeling too exposed, like the hospital gown wasn't the only thing leaving me bare.
"When I said I loved you?" he finished softly, leaning forward.
I nodded, my throat tight. "Yeah."
Zach's expression softened, the tension in his jaw loosening. "Victoria, you don't have to apologize for that. I didn't say it to put pressure on you." He hesitated, his voice quieter when he added, "I said it because it's the truth."
I looked away, staring at the sterile white sheets covering me. "I didn't say it back, but not because I don't feel the same way. I was scared."
"Of what?" His voice was steady, but I could hear the worry underneath.
I hesitated. "Of what it means. Of what Kris would think. Of... everything."
Zach sighed, running a hand through his hair, messing it up even more than it already was. "I get it, Vic. I know your brother's got this whole 'no dating my friends' thing, and yeah, he'd probably lose it if he found out about us. But..." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his gaze piercing. "I don't care what Kris thinks. I care about you. I love you, and I'll deal with whatever comes with that. But you don't have to rush into anything you're not ready for."
My heart ached—not from fear or doubt, but from how genuine he was. How he always seemed to know exactly what to say to make me feel steady when my world was spinning out of control.
"You're too good to me," I whispered, my voice cracking.
Zach smiled faintly, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "No such thing."
The air between us felt heavy with unspoken words. I didn't know how to lighten it, didn't know how to put into words the mess of emotions swirling in my chest. But I had to try.
"Zach," I said, my voice trembling. "Yesterday... when you said it, I didn't know how to respond. But now I do."
His eyes widened slightly, like he wasn't sure if he should hope.
"I love you too," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
For a moment, he didn't say anything. He just stared at me, his expression unreadable. And then he reached for my hand, his fingers warm and steady as they closed around mine.
"Say it again," he said softly, his lips quirking into a small smile.
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help smiling back. "I love you."