Chapter 28 After about twenty minutes of Nathan and June talking and giggling like old friends , Sy returns to remove the cannula in June's arm . The doctor checks her blood pressure one last time , checks her eyes and face for any sign of paleness , which would mean anemia , and then smiles at my sister . " You're all set , sweetie . " June smiles , idly caressing the little rainbow sticker over the injection site . " Thank you . " Penny ruffles her hair . " You're very welcome . " She stands and says to Nathan and me , " I'll come back in the morning to check on her . " Then she extends a small bag towards me . " I took the liberty of getting these from the pharmacy . I've written the dosage in there for her . " I take it gratefully . " Thank you , Penny . " She gives a dramatic bow before leaving with a cheerful wave . " Can I go back to our room now ? " June asks , already swinging her legs over the bed . 1 smile , reaching for her hand . Nathan , who'd stayed crouched by her bedside all this time , finally stands , and I notice him wince as his legs straighten out . I frown when he rubs his left knee , his face slightly contorted in pain . I remember then that in senior year ( way before the disastrous party that ruined the rest of my high school career ) , during the homecoming game , just before Nathan was about to throw the winning touchdown , he was tackled . Badly . When the dust cleared , I remembered my heart pounding wildly in my throat when he just lay there and wouldn't get up . We found out later , after the medic team got to him and he was taken to the hospital , that he had a meniscus tear and even had to have surgery and intensive physical therapy afterward . I also remember crying because I'd known he planned on playing football professionally , and had felt awful that his dreams had been crushed . Of course , I didn't know who he really was or that he could afford fifty dreams . 1 watch him discreetly stretch his left leg out , his eyebrows slightly furrowed . It must still hurt after all these years . I turn my attention back to June as she hops off the bed . I take her hand , and we turn to Nathan . " Thank you , " I say , feeling inadequate . There's no way I could ever repay him for helping my sister . All I can do is hope he can feel my sincerity . He moves towards us and gently pats June's head . " I'll check on you tomorrow , okay ? " Her eyes widen with slight panic . " Wait , don't go yet . " I squeeze her head . " Summer , he's already done a lot for you tonight . " She shakes her head , having one of those rare moments when she doesn't listen to me . " Don't go , " she insists , imploring him with those big pleading eyes that make me let her stay up past her bedtime . " June , " I hiss . Nathan just shrugs and smiles , taking her hand . " Do you want me to walk you to your room ? " June beams , nodding her head . " You don't have to , " I tell Nathan . He barely looks at me , still smiling down at my sister . " I'd love to . " Who on earth is this person ? 1/3 Chapter 28 With one hand in mine and the other in Nathan's , June starts to tug us forward . " Wait . " We stop , looking at Nathan in question . His hand slips out of June's , and he heads to the white cupboard beside the hospital bed . He reaches in and pulls out a pair of white Crocs . " For you , " he says , glancing pointedly at my bare feet , dirty and scratched from walking through the lawn earlier . Embarrassment colors my face red . " Thank you . " He starts to crouch down , and my eyes widen . " Wait , don't ! " He pauses mid - crouch to shoot me a confused look . " What ? " I open my mouth to speak - to tell him not to crouch so he doesn't further aggravate his hurting knee . But he's going to wonder how I know about the injury , and I'll have to explain our ... history . Tonight has been one roller coaster of events and emotions , and I'm not ready to add one more twist . When I close my mouth and shake my head slightly , he crouches and sets the shoes in front of me . The sight of him , down in front of me , know for a fact that the action hurts him , sends warmth through me . Then the wince on his face , when he stands again , sends guilt chasing the warmth . when I I slide my feet into the shoes , grateful to be off the cold tile floor . Nathan takes June's hand again , and the three of us make our way out of the infirmary , through the rear garden , and back into the house . All the way back , June peppers Nathan with a million questions , from mundane ones like his favorite color to whether he's ever had an allergic reaction like she did . Nathan answers every single one of her questions patiently , smiling all the way . By the time we enter the mansion again - this time through the main entrance - my sister is positively and irrevocably charmed by Nathan Ashford . I , on the other hand , stay quiet all the way , unsure of what to add to their animated conversation . It doesn't help that I'm still reeling , trying to reconcile this Nathan to the quiet , impersonal one I've seen since I came here . And honestly , tonight's back - and - forth events have given me so much whiplash that I just want to sink my exhausted body into bed and forget it all happened . Due to how late it is , the house is mostly empty , and other than the guard who was situated at the door , we don't meet anybody else until we stop at my room door . " Thank you , " June says , hugging Nathan around his waist . He wraps an arm around her and strokes her hair lovingly . Again , I have that unbidden image of him surrounded by little children who look like us . Stop it , April ! " You're very welcome , " he tells my sister . I open the door and usher her inside after she lets him go . " Go start a bath , I'll be in soon . " I leave the door slightly ajar , not quite ready to let her out of my sight just yet . I turn to Nathan , and something in me dampens when I see that his face has reverted to that blank , impersonal mask . " Get some rest , " he says flatly . " You've had quite the day . " The introduction ceremony in the morning , the suffocating dinner in the evening , the Lucas and Sarah incident , June's horrifying accident ... ' Quite the day ' is quite an understatement . I nod . " You too . " 2/3 12:42 Chapter 28 There's so much I want to say . Thank you . I'm sorry . I won't tell anyone what I saw . Thank you . But Nathan tucks his hands in his pockets and turns away before I can muster the nerve to say any of them . Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!