Chapter 180

Emma leaned back slightly against the pillow, her eyes half-closed, exhaustion finally starting to take over now that everything had slowed down.

Abigail stayed right where she was, her hand still wrapped around Emma’s, her thumb brushing lightly across it without even thinking.

“You passed out twice,” she said quietly.

Emma exhaled softly. “I know…”

A beat passed.

Then Abigail’s phone buzzed.

She glanced down.

Ashley.

Her expression didn’t change at first.

But as she opened the message—

It did.

Ashley: Yeah… so I went back to campus to lock up Emma’s room.

Another message came in right after.

Ashley: I just heard a group of students talking…

Abigail’s eyes narrowed slightly as she kept reading.

Ashley: They were like— “I heard Professor Shields was trying to come on to Abigail.”

Emma shifted slightly in the bed, watching her now.

“…What?” she asked quietly.

Abigail didn’t answer yet.

She kept reading.

Ashley: Then one of them said— “Yeah, and then Professor Smith just started beating her up.”

A pause.

Another message.

Ashley: And then somebody else said— “That’s because they’re together.”

Abigail’s jaw tightened slightly.

Ashley: Like they were dead serious— “They’ve been together since before they even got here.”

Emma’s eyes stayed on her, more alert now despite how tired she was.

Abigail finally looked up.

“…What is it?” Emma asked, her voice soft but searching.

Abigail hesitated for a second.

Then glanced back down at her phone.

Ashley: And not gonna lie… they was like— “I love Professor Smith even more now.”

A beat.

Ashley: You got a fan club now 😭

That almost—

almost—

pulled something out of Abigail.

But it didn’t last.

She locked her phone slowly, her expression settling back into something more serious as she looked at Emma again.

“…People are talking,” she said quietly.

Emma stilled.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

Abigail held her gaze.

“They’re saying Shields was coming on to me… and that you stepped in,” she said. “And now they think we’re together.”

Emma let out a slow breath, her head resting back slightly against the pillow.

“…So it’s out,” she murmured.

“Not confirmed,” Abigail said. “But it’s spreading.”

A small pause.

Then, more quietly—

“They also said they love you even more now,” Abigail added.

That shifted something.

Emma looked at her, surprised for a second, then let out a faint, tired breath that almost turned into a smile.

“…That’s not the point,” she said softly.

Abigail’s expression softened just a little.

“I know,” she replied.

Emma closed her eyes for a second.

Processing.

Then opened them again.

“…You okay?” she asked.

That question—

In that moment—

Abigail blinked slightly, caught off guard.

Then nodded once.

“Yeah,” she said.

A few hours later—

The room looked different.

Quieter.

Less urgent.

Emma sat up slightly in the hospital bed, moving slower now, more careful than usual as the nurse finished going over her discharge instructions one last time.

“Plenty of rest,” the nurse said, her tone firm but kind. “No stress, no overexertion, and absolutely no physical altercations.”

Emma let out a faint breath. “Yeah… I got it.”

Abigail stood nearby, arms crossed lightly, listening like she was memorizing every single word.

“She’s not doing anything,” Abigail added quietly. “I’ll make sure of it.”

The nurse gave a small approving nod. “Good. We’ll schedule a follow-up just to be safe.”

Ashley leaned against the wall, shaking her head slightly. “Yeah, we definitely don’t need a repeat of today.”

Emma glanced at her. “It wasn’t that bad.”

Both Abigail and Ashley looked at her at the same time.

Emma paused.

“…Okay, maybe a little.”

That earned a small, brief break in the tension.

“Alright,” the nurse said, stepping back. “You’re good to go.”

And just like that—

They were leaving.

The walk out of the hospital was slower.

More controlled.

Abigail stayed close to Emma’s side, one hand lightly resting at her lower back like she wasn’t taking any chances, her eyes constantly checking her without making it obvious.

“You don’t have to hover,” Emma murmured as they stepped outside.

“I’m not hovering,” Abigail replied.

Ashley snorted lightly. “You are definitely hovering.”

Abigail ignored her.

They reached the car, and this time, Abigail opened the door for Emma without hesitation.

“Careful,” she said softly.

Emma gave her a look, but didn’t argue.

Not today.

The drive was quiet.

Not awkward.

Just… calm.

Emma leaned her head back against the seat, eyes half-closed, her hand resting over her stomach again, almost unconsciously.

Abigail noticed.

Of course she did.

“You good?” she asked quietly, glancing over at her.

Emma nodded faintly. “Yeah… just tired.”

“Good,” Abigail said. “Stay that way.”

Emma let out a small breath that almost sounded like a laugh. “You’re not letting this go, are you?”

“No,” Abigail said simply.

Ashley glanced at them from the front seat, shaking her head slightly with a small smile.

When they pulled up to the house, Abigail was already out of the car before the engine fully settled.

She moved around quickly, opening Emma’s door again, offering her hand this time.

Emma took it.

Slowly stepping out.

“I can walk,” she said quietly.

“I know,” Abigail replied. “I’m still helping.”

Emma didn’t argue.

They made their way inside, the familiar space instantly calmer than everything they had just left behind.

Safe.

Abigail guided her toward the couch first.

“Sit,” she said.

Emma raised a brow slightly. “You sound like the nurse.”

“Sit,” Abigail repeated.

Emma sat.

Ashley dropped their bags by the door, stretching slightly. “Alright… mission get-Emma-home successful.”

Abigail didn’t respond.

She was already moving again—grabbing a blanket, adjusting pillows, making sure Emma was comfortable before stepping back just enough to look at her.

“You need anything?” she asked.

Emma shook her head slightly. “No… I’m good.”

But she didn’t look away from her.

Abigail didn’t look away either.

Because now—

Everything had slowed down.

But underneath it—

They both knew.

Today wasn’t over.

Not really.