As the door closed, my gaze locked onto Shantel's pale face, her eyes wide with fear. It was clear she thought Chris had discovered our secret. She began pacing back and forth, her restless movements making me anxious.
The weight of our secret felt like it was crushing me. A few minutes passed, and the sound of footsteps echoed outside the door. The group returned, each carrying a steaming cup of coffee. Chris was the last to enter, and his eyes homed in on Shantel, who stood by the window, looking drained.
"What's wrong, darling?" he asked, his concern evident in his voice. Shantel forced a laugh, "I think I need sugar." But beneath her facade, I knew she was terrified that Chris had uncovered our past.
Chris continued, "I was going to ask how you take your coffee, but I got a call while I was outside. So that was the reason i opened and closed thd door instantly before coming in. Do you want me to grab you a cup of coffee?"
"With two sugars, please. That's so kind of you, darling, " she said, her voice gentle and soothing. Chris then left the room hastily.
Just out of the blue, Sarah began laughing. Her sudden laughter was infectious, and soon everyone was laughing along with her. Her gaze had been fixed on Peter, and I couldn't help but wonder what had triggered her outburst. "What's up, Sarah?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
Still chuckling, she caught her breath and said, "I thought Peter was unlike other men – I thought he wouldn't gaze at ladies like that when they pass by. But today, he proved me wrong."
Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she continued, "There was this young lady at the cafeteria where we bought coffee, and Peter couldn't tear his eyes away. She even asked him what he was staring at, and to my surprise, he couldn't speak. It was hilarious – he just smiled and turned away." She laughed again, her eyes shining with mirth.
"Unbelievable, Peter, you made my day!" She then said, "jokes aside," as she walked towards the bed, she turned to me and asked, "Hey Cedric, do you want anything to eat or drink? I could grab something for you while the doctors are processing your discharge papers."
"No, I'm good for now, thanks," I replied. After a while, the doctor arrived with my discharge papers, and we left the hospital, heading straight to our favorite cafeteria near campus.
As we savored our meal in the cozy atmosphere, Peter posed a question to the group. "Guys, I feel like we should plan a weekend adventure – maybe ice skating or horseback riding. It'll be fun and a great bonding experience. What do you think?"
I turned to Peter, met his gaze, and replied, "Sounds like a great idea, but I'd love it even more when I'm fully healed." I flashed him a warm smile, and then playfully nudged Chris, who was sitting next to me, with my shoulder, adding a lighthearted touch to the moment