Collide Into Ruin

Henry pulled up to Nexus Care Hospital just as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in streaks of pink and gold. The city lights flickered on one by one, but they were nothing compared to the glow in his chest as he stepped out of his car, bouquet of purple irises in hand. He leaned casually against the hood, his gaze fixed on the hospital entrance, waiting.

And then—there she was.

Em emerged from the sliding glass doors, her shoulders slumped from exhaustion, her dark curls slightly disheveled. It had been a long shift, and every muscle in her body screamed for rest. But the moment she spotted Henry standing there, flowers in hand, looking at her like she was the most breathtaking thing he'd ever seen, something deep inside her ignited.

Her heart fluttered wildly, a sensation both consuming and impossible to put into words. (This book is only on 抖阴社区 and is free. If you see this anyway else, it is stolen. Please report it) It wasn't just the way he looked at her—it was everything. It was the way he showed up, the way he listened, the way he made her feel like the most important person in the world. It was every joke, every argument over who was better at Scrabble, every late-night conversation that had slowly chipped away at the walls she had built around her heart.

"Are those for me?" she asked, voice teasing but soft, as she approached him.

"Nope," Henry said with a straight face. "Some random nurse named Carl. He's got a great smile."

Em snorted, shaking her head as she rushed forward, wrapping her arms around him. The second she pressed her face into his chest, the exhaustion melted away, replaced by something far more powerful. He smelled like cedarwood and something undeniably Henry. Safe. Familiar. Home.

He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, as if he never wanted to let go. And then, without another word, he tilted her chin up and kissed her.

It wasn't just any kiss. It was slow and deep, a kiss filled with every unsaid word, every shared moment that had brought them to this exact second. It was a promise, an unspoken declaration of everything they had become and everything they were still becoming.

When they finally broke apart, Em let out a breathless laugh. "I'm still better at Scrabble."

Henry smirked, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. "You had one lucky game."

"Three."

"Beginner's luck."

She arched an eyebrow. "Henry, we've been playing for months."

"Yeah, well, I let you win."

Em gasped, playfully swatting his arm. "You did not!"

He grinned and opened the car door for her with an exaggerated bow. "Shall we, Miss Scrabble Champion?"

She rolled her eyes but slid into the seat, watching him as he walked around to the driver's side. As he slid in beside her, hand reaching for hers instinctively, she squeezed his fingers, her heart so full it could burst.

Maybe love wasn't about grand gestures or perfect moments. Maybe it was about this—the everyday magic of choosing each other, again and again.

Cayden drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as he glanced at the two in the backseat through the rearview mirror. "So, did you guys get all that mushy stuff out of your system, or do I need to start charging you lovebirds for the ride?"

Em scoffed, leaning into Henry. "You're just jealous because no one wants to swoon over you, Cayden."

Cayden gasped dramatically. "Excuse me! I'll have you know, I have plenty of admirers."