Chapter 170

Hayden's body went rigid when I kissed him. Clearly, he hadn't expected me to be that bold, but within seconds, his hand found my waist, pulling me closer.

I pulled back, smirking up at him. "That's your reward for being such a good patient."

As soon as the words left my mouth, a memory of Jace hit me—back when he was sick and had to get an injection. He'd always been terrified of needles, so much that he'd rather suffer through the illness than set foot in a hospital.

For Jace, getting a shot was like facing his worst nightmare. He'd practically throw a fit, almost crying at the idea of it. Every time, I had to coax him for what felt like forever, treating him like a kid—covering his eyes, distracting him with random stories, even letting him bite my arm once just to get through it.

After every hospital trip, it felt like I'd just survived some epic battle. And, of course, Jace would expect a reward afterward—whether it was a dance, a song, or some kind of gift.

Whenever he was s