𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦, ʟᴜᴋᴇ ʜᴜɢʜᴇs

six

CHARLOTTE-ALEXANDRIA ran a brush through her hair, noticing a few strands starting to coil back to their natural state.

"I need to go to the salon," she muttered. Peering out of her room, she saw Luke picking at his bowl. She smiled involuntarily. "Good morning, Luke."

He got up, dropped his bowl in the sink, and brushed past her without a word.

She raised a brow but decided to ignore his coldness. She grabbed a Red Bull from the fridge and shoved it in her tote bag.

Arriving at the hospital, Charlotte was greeted by her fellow nurses. "Hey, Charlotte! You look like you could use some cheering up," one of them commented, noticing her somber mood.

She forced a smile. "Just a rough night. Nothing I can't handle."

As she tended to the babies in the NICU, she felt a sense of calm wash over her. The routine was comforting, and John-Luke's tiny fingers grasping hers made her forget her worries, even if just for a moment.

After examining him, she cleared him to go home. He was now where he needed to be. She filled out the paperwork and put it in the paper holder attached to his bassinet.

During a break, she confided in a fellow nurse, who offered support and a listening ear.

After pouring her heart out to a nurse who was barely listening, she decided to get a coffee.

While grabbing coffee in the hospital cafeteria, Charlotte ran into Lacy Angora. Lacy's smug smile sent a shiver down her spine.

"Well, well, if it isn't Charlotte. Still trying to play hero in the NICU?"

Charlotte forced a polite smile. "I'm doing my job, Lacy. Something you might want to try sometime."

Lacy leaned in, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm still going to school, Charlie." The nickname made Charlotte want to shrivel up.

Charlotte's hands clenched into fists, but she refused to give Lacy the satisfaction of a reaction. "Excuse me, I have work to do," she said, walking away with her head held high, though her heart pounded with unresolved anger.

Returning home, Charlotte found Luke in the living room, watching TV. She approached him cautiously. "Hey, Luke. Can we talk?"

Luke glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "Not now, Charlotte. I'm busy."

Her heart sank at his dismissive tone. "Okay, maybe later then," she said quietly, turning away and feeling the sting of his rejection.

Jack noticed the tension, his eyes darting between them. "Everything okay?"

"Just fine," Luke replied curtly, not looking away from the screen.

Charlotte decided to hop in the shower. She closed her eyes, letting everything fade away. She realized how long she had been in the shower and shut off the water. She dried off and changed into a pair of leggings and an old hospital jacket.

Dinner was a tense affair. Charlotte could feel Luke's eyes on her, his passive-aggressive comments cutting deeper than he realized.

When she asked Luke to pass the salad, he ignored her, causing Jack to reach across the table and give it to Charlotte.

Jack let out an awkward chuckle. "So, Lottie, how was work?"

She clenched her jaw, refusing to rise to Luke's childish behavior. She didn't have time for temper tantrums. "Just work as usual."

Jack tried to lighten the mood. "How about we plan a movie night this weekend? It's been a while since we all hung out."

Charlotte forced a smile. "That sounds nice, Jack."

Luke scoffed. "Yeah, maybe you guys can do that. I'm going to be busy."

Charlotte couldn't take it anymore. "What's your problem, Luke?" she snapped.

"My problem? Maybe I just don't like being lied to," he retorted.

"What are you talking about?" Charlotte asked, crossing her arms defensively.

Jack intervened. "Guys, calm down. Let's just eat in peace."

Just as the tension reached its peak, Charlotte's phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID, her heart skipping a beat. "It's the hospital," she said, answering quickly.

Her face paled as she listened to the urgent voice on the other end. "I'll be there right away," she said, hanging up and grabbing her things.

"What's going on?" Jack asked, concerned.

"There's an emergency. I need to get to the hospital," Charlotte replied, rushing out the door.

Luke watched her leave, a mix of guilt and worry in his eyes. "Be safe," he wanted to call out, though she was already gone.

don't forget to vote🌟