I gape at Minho's body limp on the ground next to the newborn foal. He's out cold. Jisung bends to check his vitals.
"Minho? Minho! Jisung, he's not moving."
He's breathin', but it doesn't look good. You stay here with him, I'm calling an ambulance. Receptions better near the house..."
Jisung peels himself away, punching numbers into his cell phone as he ventures back out into the driving rain.
"Stay with me, Minho... You still have to walk me down the aisle. I know you think there's no man good enough for me, but I actually found someone pretty close to him. He could be a keeper..."
A few seconds later, Jisung pokes his head into the stall.
"An ambulance is on its way. We should probably meet 'em outside."
When we get outside, the storm is petering out. Soon, I hear a telltale siren.
"The ambulance. Thank God!"
"Dispatch filled us in on the way. Take me to Minho."
Moments later, the paramedics load Minho into the back. Jisung and I both start to climb inside.
"We usually only allow one other person in the back."
"C'mon, Ben. We've known each other since high school. Make an exception? You know Minho and I are family." Jisung begs.
"Ah, what the hell. Climb in. We have to hit the road."
The ambulance pulls off the property, sirens blaring. I watch with a heavy heart as the ranch fades from view. I close my hand around Jisung's, but he shifts to thread my fingers with his. He caresses me, brushing a thumb over my knuckles.
"Just breathe."
Jisung wraps an arm around me. I lean into his embrace and he turns to press a kiss to my temple. The tightness in my chest begins to ease.
"Don't worry. Everything's gonna be all right."
When we arrive at the hospital, Minho is admitted in a flurry of activity.
"Who do we have here? What happened?" the doctor asks.
"This is Lee Minho, my brother. We just found him like this is the stables after the storm—"
The doctor wheels Minho into the ER, rapidly discussing their theories with each other.
"We have to rule out a subdural hematoma. Call imaging so we can confirm?"
As I wait for word on Minho's condition, my mind races.
I can't believe this happened while I was hooking up with Jisung. What kind of sister am I?
Jisung has a thousand-yard stare, hands clasped as if in prayer. The two of us sit in silence as the minutes tick on.
"It's been so long. Should we be worried?"
"I wouldn't yet. They gotta take their time to rule everythin' out. The best we can do is be patient."
We each lapse into our own thoughts. After what feels like hours, the doctor who admitted Minho appears.
"Lee (Y/N)?"
"That's me."
"I'm Dr. Miller. I wanted to update you on your brother. Right now he's stable, but still unconscious."
"That sounds serious. How bad is it?"
"Your brother has several broken ribs, significant contusions, and a hairline fracture on the skull. He's also showing signs of concussion."
"Oh my God..." Jisung murmurs.
"When can we see him?"
"It'll be a while, yet. We're still waiting on some test results. And he's still unconscious at the moment."
"Can't I just sit with him until he wakes up?"
"Not quite yet, but we'll let you know as soon as that changes. I understand how stressful this must be for you."
"Thank you, Dr. Miller. I appreciate it."
The doctor departs. As the reality of Minho's condition sets in, tears spring to my eyes.
"(Y/N)? C'mere."
He envelopes me in a hug. My shoulders sag as I huddle against him.
"Thinkin' of Minho all alone in that hospital room reminds me of...of..."
He smooths a hand over my hair as he whispers in my ear.
"Shhh, it's okay. I know. How 'bout we go home and pack a bag for Minho. Is there somethin' you can think of that'll make this place feel a little more like home?"
"My parents used to let us sleep with the quilts our grandmother made us whenever we were sick. Minho and I used to tell each other they were magic. That they helped us heal faster."
"That sounds perfect. I'm sure he's appreciate us bringin' his to him. You just sit tight, I'll get us a ride back to the ranch."
As he steps outside to make a call, I realize...
Out of all the things that have gone wrong today, Jisung's always been the one to make it better.
Back at the ranch, I'm unsettled by how still it feels.
It's like even the house is holding its breath.
I sigh, unable to step outside of the car just yet. Jisung looks over at me tenderly, reaching a hand across the console to squeeze mine.
"What can I do?"
"I'd love it if you could help me with packing. What if I bring all the wrong things?"
"You wouldn't. But if it brings you peace of mind, I'm happy to offer my opinion." he smiles at me.
Together, we climb the stairs to Minho's bedroom. I hesitate at the threshold, but Jisung crosses it with ease. In an instant, he's pulled an overnight bag from the closet and sets it on the bed.
"You take the dresser, I'll see what he'll need out of the closet."
I pull a few pairs of jeans from his drawers. Jisung finds a silk shirt printed in an unfortunate pattern and shakes it at me.
"Whaddya think? Should we bring it?"
"Don't you think Minho's suffered enough?" I giggle.
"Good point. Show me where that quilt is and we'll be on our way." Jisung replies with a smile in return.
I flip the latch of an antique trunk in the corner of the living room. Inside are the quilts our grandmother made for us.
"Grandma's quilts. The blue one is Minho's. Two generations of sleepless nights and still as sturdy as ever."
"These must hold a lot of memories."
"Oh, yeah. Most of them warm and sweet. When I was sick, I knew I could count on Mom to bring me my quilt and a bowl of soup and make it better every time."
"I bet she'd be happy to hear how much it meant o you."
I turn the quilt over in my hand to admire the pattern, the stitching.
"Sometimes, she'd skirt her ranch work just to spend time with me. We'd use the quilts to build a fort. We'd paly pretend for hours, all the way up until we heard the dinner bell..."
As I say the words, fresh tears threaten to spill.
"Dammit..."
I wipe them away, hoping Jisung won't notice, but his eyes haven't left me.
"(Y/N), talk to me. Minho's gonna be alright. What's eatin' you?"
I exhale shakily, taking a few seconds to collect myself.
"I hate hospitals. It's like bein' back in the worst day of my life. My parents went in and they never walked out. Now Minho's there and—"
I choke out a sob at the rush of emotions. Jisung holds me close as I cry.
"It's okay, (Y/N). I'm not goin' anywhere."
As my tears ebb, he tilts my chin to kiss me tenderly.
"Jisung..."
I cling to him as his lips part mine, my fingers twisted in the fabric of his shirt. He pauses, pulling back to look at me.
"We don't have to go back yet. We can just stay right here, the two of us. Until you're ready."
A new feeling blooms in my chest. I've felt a burning need before, but the flames flickering within me doesn't burn. Instead, it warms me to my bones.
I've never felt safer than I do with him...
"Jisung...I need you."
I give in to the warmth of Jisung's embrace, wrapping my arms around his neck to pull him close. He cups my face and wipes away my tears with the pad of his thumb.
"What is it you want? I'll do anything."
"Kiss me."
Jisung's kisses are so soft, so slow, it feels as though time has stopped just for me. His mouth roams over my cheek, following the path of my tears.
"Oh, Jisung..."
His lips never stray from my skin as he whispers the words...
"Shhh...I'm here. God, you're stunnin'. You make me wanna do things I never expected to want..."
"I'm not sure I know what you mean."
"I want you, obviously...but it's more than that. I want to... I dunno, hold you close. Let you know how much you mean to me. I wanna linger here with you, in this feelin', instead of racin' to the finish, if that makes sense." He tells me as he looks deep into my eyes than kisses me sweetly.
"I know exactly what you mean."
Jisung moves behind me, his strong hands working through the knots in my shoulders.
"Mmmm..."
I moan as the tension evaporates beneath his touch.
"Does that feel good?"
"You have no idea."
"How about this?"
Jisung's lips brush my shoulder as his hands reach around to cup my supple breasts. He squeezes them gently, running his fingers over my nipples through the fabric. I sigh as my head lolls back against his chest.
"Oh, Jisung..."
When Han speaks next, his voice is rough with need.
"This is nice...but I want more."
"Oh yeah? What else do you want?" I ask in a seductive tone.
"For starters, I want to take a good look at you."
Jisung worshipfully pulls my shirt up over my head, kissing each inch of my skin as it's exposed. His full lips graze the curve of my shoulder and trail along my collarbone. Soon, Jisung pulls the last piece of clothing off my body. Kneeling in front of me, he presses a languid kiss to my inner thigh.
"Mmm..." I moan.
My panties dampen as I imagine Jisung's mouth and hands working in tandem over my body. When I'm finally bare before him, he leans back to rake his eyes over my curves.
"How is it that even when you're cryin', you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen?"
"Speakin' of, I'd like to see a little more of you, too."
I claim Jisung's mouth for a kiss as I help him up and peel the shirt from his body, revealing his chiseled abs.
"Like what you see?"
"Mmhm..."
My kisses leisurely trail across his collarbone, down his chest and stomach. My soft mouth and warm tongue leave goosebumps in their wake. Jisung shudders, arousal twitching as I stray past his navel.
"Oohhh..."
I kneel before him to unbutton his jeans and slide them down his hips. He kicks out of them.
"I swear, sometimes I almost can't believe you're real."
Jisung takes me in his arms. The heat from his body mingles with mine.
"I'm real, I'm here with you, and more than anything...I want to make you feel good."
"Good. Because I feel the same way."
I close my hand around his throbbing desire. Jisung gasps as I fondle him, digging his nails into my shoulder to steady himself.
"Mmm... I can't wait any longer." he tells me panting
"Me neither. I want you right here."
Jisung lays me back against the couch, cradling my head with his arms as he climbs atop me.
"I want you, too."
He teases my entrance with a finger and finds that I'm already wet with need.
"Please, Jisung..."
Jisung strokes his tip up against me, then slides inside, groaning as I envelop him. I capture his mouth with a kiss as he rocks against me and reach down to touch myself. He gasps as I tighten around him.
"Damn, you feel so good."
"Don't stop..." I beg him.
Unlike my tryst in the storm, the passion we share isn't wild and raw. It's tender, vulnerable even. As my pleasure builds, the world outside my door ceases to exist. My worries recede from my mind. All I know, all I feel, is him.
"I'm close, Jisung."
"I want us to get there together. I want to feel this with you."
"then look into my eyes."
I turn my head to catch his eyes. The affection of Jisung's gaze equals the searing pleasure I feel as he thrusts into me, filling me completely. He thrusts again, watching eagerly as I writhe beneath him.
"Do you see now, (Y/N)? How much I mean it?"
I mona in reply as his gaze pierces through me, bearing witness to my unraveling.
"Oh, God, Jisung. I'm gonna--"
"It's okay, just let go. I've got you."
I lose myself in the momentum of our bodies, shuddering as my vision flickers white with the intensity of my release.
"Jisung!"
I moan his name, clutching him to me as I climax. I can feel Jisung cum with me, his movements frantic.
"Yes, (Y/N)."
The waves of sensation gradually recede, and we collapse into each other's arms. Neither of us let go.
"Jisung, this was perfect."
When I clasp his hand, he brings them to his lips for a kiss.
"I just wanted to feel close to you. Now more than ever."
"If only we could stay like this forever." I tell him.
"I wish that were possible. Best we can do is enjoy the time we've got."
I cuddle into the crook of Jisung's arm. He presses a kiss to my forehead.
"I'm not ready to face the world just yet."
"Don't worry. I'll be there to face it with you."
We lie there for a few minutes more, enjoying the stillness. Eventually, Jisung stirs, turning to face me.
"We should start headin' back. You gonna be okay?"
"I will be, thanks to you. I needed that more than I realized. The chances to feel close to someone."
"I needed it too. And no matter what happens between us, I'll be there for you. Always."
Once we're both dressed and we've gathered up our things, Jisung reaches for my hand. He holds it in his the whole way back to the hospital. Hours pass. Jisung and I play cards in the hospital waiting room until, finally, Dr. Miller reappears.
"Just the people I was looking for. You can go in and visit your brother now."
"Is Minho awake?" Jisung asks the doctor.
"Not yet, but we've run all the tests we need, and we're confident he's no longer in danger. Here, I'll show you to his room."
My stomach seizes as I cross the threshold. Being back inside a hospital room brings all the memories to the surface again.
"Oh, Minho... I'm so sorry you're stuck here."
Jisung rests a hand on the small of my back, then takes Minho's bag with the other.
"Why don't I take first watch? I know how tough this is for you."
"But what if he wakes up? don't I need to be here?"
"You heard the doctor, he won't be awake for a while. Go get a cup of coffee or somethin'. You're gonna need your energy today."
Without waiting for my reply, he claims the chair beside Minho's bed.
"I can't thank you enough. If you weren't here, I don't know what I'd do."
"Good thing we don't have to imagine it. I'm not goin' anywhere."
I head out, but the sounds of the hospital quickly overwhelm me.
If I'm not gonna be with Minho, I need to get out of here. Not to mention someone to talk to...
I head down to the waiting lobby and dial Mandy's number.
"I was just thinkin' about you! Were you in the path of that storm? It looked like a doozy."
"Yeah. It hit us hard. The ranch took a beatin'...and so did Minho. We're at the hospital now."
"Wait, what? How?"
"Not sure. I think our mare got spooked while she was foalin' and kicked him. But the doctor says he's gonna be okay."
"Thank goodness. How are you holdin' up? I know how you feel about hospitals..."
"I'm okay. It's not about me."
"It's me, (Y/N). You don't have to put on a brave face."
"Honestly, I promise I'm okay. I've been through tough times before. I can handle it."
"Are you sure? Handlin' it isn't the same as bein' okay."
"I know. But all things considered, I'm doin' better than I ever would've expected."
"That does it, what hospital are you at? I can be there in under an hour."
"You don't need to do that, Mandy. What would you even do once you got here?"
"Make you laugh? Sit in silence? Whatever you need. I know you need a friend right now."
It would be nice to have some support. We could even get something to cheer Minho up, Mandy's so good at stuff like that.
True to her word, Mandy arrives in 30 minutes flat. She pulls me into a tight hug immediately.
"(Y/N)! I made it!"
"I can't believe you're here. Did you teleport? Seriously, I feel like we just hung up the phone."
"I may have broken a few traffic laws. I needed to get here as fast I could, after all. So? What can I do to help?"
"We should probably start by checking in on Minho."
We peek our heads inside. Jisung nods his head at Mandy in greeting.
"Hey, Mandy."
"Hey, yourself. Need anything in here?"
"Not unless you wanna get him flowers or somethin'. Our boy's still playin' sleepin' beauty over there."
"Actually...flowers aren't a bad idea. This room is so drab. We could maybe get some different lighting, too..."
"Uh oh, now look what you've done. You should know better than to suggest a shopping trip to Mandy." I tell Jisung with a laugh.
Jisung leans back in his chair with a teasing grin.
"I'll suggest whatever I have to if it makes you smile."
"We'll check out the gift shop, see what they've got. Back in a flash!" Mandy pulls me out of the room and into the hallway to head to the gift shop.
Out of earshot in the hallway, Mandy bumps me with her hip.
"Since when have you two progressed to a thing? "
"We're not a thing, Mandy."
"Nope, not buyin' it. Somethin' is definitely different between you two."
"Wait a minute...have you two hooked up?"
"...Maybe..."
"Wait, seriously? How far have y'all gotten?"
"Mandy, can you keep your voice down? The whole hospital doesn't need to hear about my love life!"
"If you refuse to give me this information, I'm not gonna be responsible for what the hospital knows."
"Okay, okay! I'll tell you. Jisung and I may have hooked up... Twice. Today."
"Oh my God! I can't believe you didn't tell me."
"When was I goin' to tell you before now? Today's been a little hectic if you didn't notice."
"Fair. But you're still holdin' back."
Mandy leans in conspiratorially, dropping her voice to a whisper.
"How was it? "
"Mind-blowing. The first time, we were wild. Totally uninhibited. But the second time was slow and sweet... Honestly, I didn't know Jisung had it in him."
"I know I've teased you about pinin' away after Jisung for so long, but this is startin' to feel serious."
"You think?" I ask.
"Absolutely! I know Jisung's got a wild past, but he's showin' up for you. He's sittin' vigil, for goodness sake."
"Well, Minho is his best friend."
"Sure, fine, but you're the one he's really here for. Any fool can see that. But enough about him. I came to support you. So? What would make you feel better?"
"How about we get some ice cream."
"Oooh, I was hopin' you'd say that. The cafeteria has some. My treat."
Mandy leads me down the hall, and soon we're sitting in front of big dishes of ice cream.
"Mmm. This is even better than I thought it would be."
"You did always like somethin' sweet when you were down in the dumps."
"I've always said, ice cream cures all ills."
"I hear you. Though I'd swap in 'fancy cocktails' for ice cream, personally."
"To each their own, Mandy."
Before long, we've made it to the bottom of our bowls.
"Awww...why's it always run out so fast?"
"gotta leave you wantin' more, right? But thanks for this, Mandy. I feel a little bit more like myself."
"That's the goal. Now, c'mon. we gotta get somethin' for Minho."
Back at the hospital, Mandy scours the gift shop for an acceptable present.
"Decisions, decisions..."
"Naw, this is simple. Minho's always had a dark sense of humor... Let's get the cowboy horse. He'll appreciate the joke."
"You sure it's not a little...too soon?"
"Trust me, I know my brother. Besides, it's so damn cute!"
"If you say so. I'm goin' for the flowers. Can't go wrong with those."
"Flowers, huh? Sounds like Han and I aren't the only ones progressin' to a thing."
Mandy makes a point of avoiding eye contact as she pays.
"I don't know what you're talkin' about. Minho isn't even my type! That room just needs some color."
I smile smugly as she chews her bottom lip, which I know to be her tell.
"Sure..."
When I arrive back at Minho's room, I feel considerably lighter. But Mandy pauses just outside the door, holding up a finger.
"I'll be back in a sec. I just need to caffeinate."
"do you want me to wait for you?"
"Naw, go on in. If he has woken up, it's better for y'all to have a couple minutes together before I show up, anyway."
Mandy gives me one last hug and hurries away. I enter Minho's room and take the empty seat next to Jisung. He looks relieved to see me, but exhausted as he cups my hands in his.
"I'm glad you're here, (Y/N)."
"Need a break? Mandy and I are happy to take over for awhile."
"It's not that. I actually wanted to talk to you."
The gravity of his tone catches me off guard. It isn't reproachful. It's...vulnerable.
"Of course. What's going on?"
He squeezes my hands, summoning his strength.
"In the past, if anyone got too close to me, all I wanted to do was run. But when it comes to you..."
He shakes his head, clearly having trouble putting it into words.
"I can't rightly explain it, but I don't want to run anymore. With you, I wanna stay."
"I want you to stay too, Jisung. But Minho..."
I turn toward my brother, who lies unconscious in the hospital bed, as Jisung picks his next words.
"I don't wanna lie to him, he's my best friend. But right now probably isn't the best time to tell him, given his condition. If things go the way they're goin' now, we'll tell him. If they fizzle, then we save him getting' all worked up over nothin'."
"They won't fizzle, but...Minho does need to focus on getting' better. I couldn't live with myself if we derailed that."
I'm squeezing Jisung's hand to signal our agreement when Minho's eyelids flutter open.
"What in the hell..."
"Minho? You're awake!" I yell.
He stares down at our clasped hands, barks out a hoarse laugh, then winces from the pain.
"Oof...I really must be in bad shape if y'all are clutchin' each other like an old married couple."
We break apart in an instant, but Minho doesn't seem to realize he actually caught us.
"Forget that! What happened?"
"Mare caught me right in the chest. Honestly, the embarrassment hurts about as much as my ribs. Shoulda known better than to get that close to her in the state she was in." Minho informs us.
"How are you feelin' now? We've been damn worried about you." Jisung asks.
"I hope you know how grateful I am. If y'all hadn't been there, well...I don't even wanna ponder on that."
"I just wish we'd gotten there sooner."
"Naw, don't say that. You did more'n anyone else coulda done. You two are solid gold. I'd rather not be laid up, obviously, but knowin' y'all will be there while I heal back up? The two people I trust most in the world? Sure, I'm sore, but more'n anything I feel lucky. Damn lucky."
I steal a glance at Jisung. When we lock eyes, the guilt I feel is mirrored on his face.
Looks like Minho finally trusts me. Just in time for me to keep the biggest secret from him I've ever had...