Chapter 69

“Mmm.” With that, he hung up the phone. Since he was the lighting expert crucial to the amusement park project, I couldn't afford to offend him. I quickly threw a jacket over my pajamas and knocked on his door. Hayden opened it, his gaze falling on my still-wet hair, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

"Does it still hurt?" he asked.

I was momentarily confused. "Huh?"

His eyes shifted to my waist, and I understood. For some reason, my heart skipped a beat. "Oh, it's fine."

"Wait a sec," he said, turning away, leaving me standing at the door. Looking into his room, I noticed his laptop on the table. He'd apparently jumped straight into work after returning while I showered. His dedication is impressive.

Hayden returned, his tall frame filling the doorway. He was still in the same clothes, but his T-shirt was now tucked in, making his legs look even longer. He could have been a runway model. With his looks, it was no wonder Demi was infatuated. People are drawn to attractive people.

"Put this on when you get back. It's good for blood circulation and healing bruises," he said, handing me a small jar of ointment.

"Thanks," I replied, taking it.

"If it starts hurting more, see a doctor," he added. First the ointment, now this—is he actually worried about me?

Just then, he continued, "Once we start working officially, I don't want anyone's health slowing us down."

I was taken aback. So it isn't concern—just a professional precaution. I smiled wryly at my misplaced sentiment. "Don't worry, I want to finish this project on time more than you do." This way, I wouldn't have to interact with him as much, and could complete the project while maintaining distance from Jace.

"Thanks," I said, shaking the ointment before leaving.

Back in my room, I tossed the ointment onto the bed and sighed. For some reason, a strange, heavy weight settled in my chest.

Chapter 60

Demi, wrapped in a bathrobe, jumped onto the bed as if diving into water. Immediately, she cried out, "Ouch! What is this? It hurts!" She picked up the ointment jar and examined it. "Where did this come from? Keira, is it yours?"

"Who else?" I reached out to take it back.

"Why did you bring this? Are you hurt?" Demi's question made me want to laugh. Hasn't she seen me get hurt? But her attention seemed focused on the moment Hayden had seen my injury, not the injury itself. And Hayden giving me the ointment means he knew I was hurt.

My mind spun with confusion. I closed my eyes, trying to shut it all out, then flopped onto my bed, grabbing my phone. I had a ton of unread messages.

Lena: [What are you up to?] Wayne: [When do you have time to show me this city that could get me lost?] Jace: [This message was deleted]

I stared at the notification, wondering what Jace had retracted. Did he send it by mistake? Regret it? Or was it something said in anger? My mind raced before I closed the message and opened Lena's chat to reply.

Just then, my phone buzzed with a friend request. The profile picture was a ginkgo leaf, and the name: Hayden.