After the Heartbreak

Chapter 15 of Part II: Reluctant Protection

(Gerald’s POV)

The day Megan was discharged from the hospital, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. Seeing her out of that sterile hospital room, back on her feet—even though her arm was still in a sling—was enough to ease some of the weight pressing down on my chest.

But not all of it.

I still hadn’t figured out who had tampered with her car brakes, and that kept me on edge. Every time I thought about it, my frustration grew. Someone had tried to hurt her, and until I figured out who it was, there was no way I could rest easy.

That’s why I offered—no, insisted—on driving her to work every day. Her car was still being repaired, and while Megan didn’t seem too concerned about the accident, I couldn’t shake the worry. This wasn’t just about being a friend anymore. This was about keeping her safe, ensuring that whoever had targeted her wouldn’t get another chance.

“I appreciate it, Gerald, really,” Megan said, standing beside me as we left the hospital. She glanced up at me, her eyes soft but hesitant. “But you don’t have to go out of your way. I can manage.”

“I know you can manage,” I replied, unlocking my car and opening the passenger door for her. “But that’s not the point.”

She sighed, clearly torn. “I don’t want to trouble you.”

“It’s no trouble, Megan. Trust me,” I said, giving her a reassuring smile. “I want to do this. And besides, with your arm still healing, it’s better if someone’s around to help.”

She looked at me for a long moment, like she was trying to gauge how serious I was. Finally, she sighed in defeat and slid into the passenger seat.

“Alright, fine. But I don’t want you to feel like you have to do this,” she said, her voice still laced with hesitation.

“I don’t feel like I have to,” I said as I got into the driver’s seat. “I just feel better knowing you’re safe.”

That seemed to silence her argument for the moment, though I could see the gratitude in her eyes as she fastened her seatbelt. I started the car, pulling out of the hospital parking lot and merging onto the road.

---

The drive to her restaurant was quieter than usual, but not awkwardly so. Megan had always been good at filling the silence with conversation, but today she seemed more introspective. I didn’t push her to talk—I figured she needed some time to process everything that had happened over the past few days.

But my mind was racing. Whoever had tampered with her car was still out there, and I was determined to figure out who they were before they could strike again. I’d already spoken to a contact at the police station, but without solid leads, there wasn’t much they could do. It was frustrating, to say the least.

“What are you thinking about?” Megan asked, breaking the silence.

I glanced at her briefly, catching the way her brow furrowed in concern.

“I’m just thinking about the investigation,” I admitted. “I want to find out who did this to you.”

Megan sighed softly, leaning her head back against the seat. “You’re really taking this seriously, huh?”

“Of course I am,” I said, my voice firmer than I intended. “Someone messed with your brakes, Megan. That’s not something you can just brush off.”

“I know,” she said quietly, looking out the window. “It’s just… it feels so unreal. I mean, who would want to hurt me? I don’t have any enemies.”

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, my jaw clenching. “That’s what worries me. It could be anyone—someone with a grudge, a random act of vandalism, or something more personal. We won’t know until we find out.”

She turned her head to look at me, her eyes searching mine. “You’re really worried about this, aren’t you?”

I exhaled slowly, glancing at her before focusing back on the road. “Yeah, I am. And I’m not going to stop worrying until we figure this out.”

Megan smiled faintly, but there was a hint of sadness behind it. “Thank you, Gerald. I don’t know what I’d do without you right now.”

I felt my chest tighten at her words. She didn’t know just how much I cared, how far I was willing to go to keep her safe. And that scared me, because the more I tried to keep my feelings in check, the more they seemed to grow.

“I’ll always be here for you,” I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

---

The following days passed in a blur of routine. Every morning, I picked Megan up from her apartment and drove her to her restaurant. Then, in the evenings, I’d drive her home. It was a rhythm we quickly fell into, and though Megan still protested occasionally, I could tell she was starting to appreciate the arrangement.

We talked more during those drives, about everything and nothing at all. Some mornings, she’d tell me about the new dishes she was experimenting with, and in the evenings, she’d share funny stories about her customers or her staff. And sometimes, we’d just drive in comfortable silence, the tension between us both unspoken and undeniable.

One afternoon, as I pulled up in front of her restaurant, Megan hesitated before getting out of the car. She turned to me, her expression serious.

“Gerald, I’ve been thinking,” she said, her voice careful. “You don’t have to keep doing this, you know. Driving me around, making sure I’m safe. I appreciate it more than you know, but… I don’t want you to feel like this is your responsibility.”

I frowned, meeting her gaze. “Why wouldn’t I want to? Megan, I care about you. And until we figure out who’s behind the accident, I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

She blinked, clearly surprised by my bluntness. “You care about me?”

I felt my heart skip a beat, realizing what I’d just said. I could feel the weight of my words hanging in the air, but there was no turning back now.

“Of course I care about you,” I said, my voice softer this time. “You’re important to me, Megan. And I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

Her eyes softened, and for a moment, she looked like she was about to say something—something meaningful. But then she smiled, her usual playful tone returning. “Well, I guess I can’t argue with that. You’re as stubborn as I am.”

I chuckled, relieved to see the tension lift a little. “You know it.”

She opened the door, stepping out onto the sidewalk. “Thanks for the ride. I’ll see you later?”

“Yeah,” I said, watching her walk toward the restaurant entrance. “You will.”

---

As I drove away, my mind kept replaying our conversation, over and over again. I hadn’t meant to let my feelings slip out like that, but it was the truth. I cared about her more than I’d ever cared to admit, and the more time I spent around her, the harder it became to keep those feelings in check.

But for now, all that mattered was keeping her safe. The rest… I’d deal with later.