26. Brielle

Ican feel my heart pounding in my chest as I walk alongside Conrad, my fingers fidgeting nervously at my sides. My mind is a whirlwind of thoughts—should I even be here? What if I'm intruding on something personal?

As if sensing my anxiety, Conrad reaches out and grabs my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. His touch sends a tingling sensation up my arm, calming me ever so slightly. With a deep breath, he pushes open the door to the hospital room.

The girl lying in bed immediately catches my attention. She has blue eyes that sparkle like sapphires, dark auburn hair cascading over her shoulders, and a striking resemblance to Conrad. Despite the tubes and machines surrounding her, there's an undeniable beauty and strength in her features.

"Hey, scooter," Conrad says softly, walking toward her.

My eyes widen as I take in the extent of Nina's injuries. Her cheeks and eyes are marred by dark bruises, and one eye isn't fully open, making my stomach tighten with concern. The various machines she's hooked up to beep and hum, emphasizing the severity of her condition.

"Hey, Conrad," Nina says weakly, a strained smile crossing her lips. She winces when Conrad moves to hug her, protecting herself instinctively.

"Sorry, scooter," he apologizes, his voice laced with worry. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

Her smile turns genuine, though still pained. "It's okay. I'm tougher than I look."

I watch their interaction, feeling a mix of admiration for her strength and sorrow for what she's been through. It's clear that she's in pain, but her determination to put on a brave face for her brother is nothing short of inspiring.

"You sure did a number on yourself, didn't you?" Conrad says.

The raspy sound of laughter fills the room, and I can't help but be drawn to the source. Nina's eyes sparkle with amusement as she lists her injuries in a joking manner. "Bruised lung, internal bleeding, concussion, fractured ribs, and a broken leg—but other than that, I'm doing just great!"

It's hard to fathom how someone could maintain such a cheerful attitude in the face of so much pain and trauma.

"Wow," I breathe out, genuinely amazed. "You're incredibly brave, Nina."

She smiles, wincing slightly from the effort. "Thanks. I'm sorry, who are you?"

"Brielle," I introduce quickly. "Sorry, I should have said something sooner."

"That's okay." She smiles at me.

Conrad squeezes Nina's hand gently, his eyes filled with love and concern. "You're the strongest person I know, scooter."

"Damn right!" she exclaims, grinning through the pain. "But seriously, I'll be fine. The doctors say I'll make a full recovery eventually. Just gotta take it one day at a time. So, Brielle, you're a friend of Conrad's?"

Something like that. "I am."

"You must be something special then," Nina says, smiling warmly. "He doesn't just let anyone in."

"Thank you," I reply, my cheeks flushing at her words.

"Seriously though, you're gorgeous," Nina continues, unabashedly admiring me. "No wonder my brother's so smitten."

"Me? Gorgeous?" I stammer, taken aback by her compliment. Glancing at her bruised face, I can only imagine how stunning she must be when not injured. "You're the beautiful one here. Once these bruises fade, you'll look even better."

"Aw, you're too kind," Nina replies, grinning despite her pain.

"Ignore her." Conrad rolls his eyes. "She'd check you out all night if she could."

Nina smirks. "Perks of being gay."

We exchange smiles, and I can feel a connection forming between us. It's strange to think that moments ago, I was hesitant about being in this room.

A feeling of ease washes over me as Nina and I dive into conversation. We discover mutual interests in art and music, laughing at shared experiences of awkward high school band days.

"Really? You played the saxophone too?" Nina exclaims, her eyes lighting up in excitement.

"Yep," I confirm, chuckling. "I was never that great at it, though."

"Same here," she admits, a ray of amusement in her voice. "But it was fun while it lasted."

As we continue to chat, I notice Conrad watching us from the corner of his eye, a mixture of concern and amusement on his face. I can't help but wonder what he must be thinking, witnessing this connection forming between his sister and me.

Nina suddenly turns her attention back to Conrad, an impish grin spreading across her lips. "So, big brother, why haven't you introduced me to Brielle before now? It's obvious you've got feelings for her."

Conrad's cheeks flush as he stammers, "I, uh…well, I didn't think…"

I blink in surprise at Nina's blunt observation and Conrad's defensive response. It's clear she has a knack for reading people, even in her current state.

"Hey, it's okay," Nina reassures him, her eyes softening. "I'm just glad you found someone like Brielle. She seems really special."

"Thanks, Nina," I say, feeling warmth spread through my chest at her kind words. "But really, we're just friends."

"I'm sure you are." She smirks. "Seriously, Conrad, just don't go sharing Brielle with anyone else, okay?" Nina teases, winking at me playfully.

"Hey, screw off," he retorts, though his eyes are filled with affection.

Does she know about…?

"Wait, you know about that?" I ask, turning to Nina with wide eyes. "How?"

"Please, there's not much I don't know about my brother," she replies smugly, her blue eyes twinkling with mischief. "He may think he's secretive, but I've always been good at reading between the lines."

"Alright, alright," Conrad concedes, rolling his eyes but unable to hide his grin. "You got me."

Nina's laughter fills the room again, and I find my own heart lightening in response.

The door swings open with a soft creak, and a doctor in white scrubs enters the room, his eyes scanning the charts in his hand. He looks up at us, offering a warm smile that's meant to reassure.

"Good news," he announces, addressing all of us. "Nina is doing exceptionally well considering the injuries she sustained. However, she needs her rest so she can continue to recover at this pace."

I glance between Conrad and Nina, feeling like an intruder in this intimate family moment. "I should probably head out then," I suggest, rubbing my arm nervously. "I can catch a ride home with Grayson or Levi."

"Ah, I hate that you have to go." Nina raises a hand weakly, her eyes pleading. "I really enjoyed meeting you, Brielle. Promise me this won't be the last time?"

My heart swells as I feel the genuine connection we've made in such a short time. "Of course not, Nina," I assure her, resting my hand on hers for a moment. "You're stuck with me now."

"Good," she says, her voice barely above a whisper, but the sincerity of her words is unmistakable.

I turn to leave, my heart warm. The hospital room door is barely cracked when Conrad's hand slips around mine, halting me in my tracks.

"Wait, Brielle," he says softly, tugging me back toward him. Our eyes lock onto each other.

"Thank you," he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion. "For being here. For making her smile." His free hand reaches up to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing over my skin in a tender caress.

"Of course," I whisper, the words catching in my throat.

Conrad leans in, pressing a gentle kiss to my cheek. It's an innocent touch, but the heat of his lips against my skin sends a jolt through me, igniting a fire within. I can't help but wonder what it would feel like to have those lips on mine again, and maybe in other places…