Lost Me, Gained Regret (Jane and Bryant Ferguson) novel Chapter 873

"Come on," Primo muttered under his breath, shaking his head in disbelief.

"When have you ever bothered with strangers, let alone friends?" he continued, noting Dailey's indifference.

Dailey scoffed, not even bothering to glance at Christine. "You didn’t save me out of the goodness of your heart, did you?"

Christine stood her ground, unfazed. "Mr. Clarkson, let's not overthink this. I don't believe in rekindling old flames either. I'm here because you were injured saving me."

Dailey tried to brush her off, but Christine caught his eye, teasing, "Or maybe you're just afraid of falling for my charm again?"

Dailey was silent, but Christine remained undeterred. Primo, sensing the tension, excused himself to give them some space.

"Do you need a hand?" Christine asked as Dailey struggled to get up.

"My legs aren't broken. I can make it to the bathroom," Dailey replied, his voice laced with irritation.

Christine nodded, offering, "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

"Business is business," Dailey muttered, trying to suppress his annoyance.

As Dailey walked away, he paused, feeling defeated. "Maybe there are some things we should keep to ourselves, given our current relationship."

Christine smiled slyly, "Mr. Clarkson, don’t be so sensitive. I might think you still have feelings for me."

For a moment, Dailey was transported back to when Christine playfully teased him without restraint. But those days were behind them. He had worked hard to suppress his feelings for her.

"If you can't keep things civil, I don't need you here," Dailey said flatly.

"Alright, alright," Christine conceded, raising her hands in mock surrender. "I'll try to keep quiet."

Later that evening, Gregory stopped by, grinning, "Playing the hero, huh?"

Dailey gave him a sidelong glance, saying nothing.

"So, are you thinking about getting back together?" Gregory prodded.

"Coincidence, that's all," Dailey replied tersely.

"Sure," Gregory chuckled, unconvinced.

Meanwhile, in the break room, Jane questioned Christine, "Why stay?"

"Because he got hurt protecting me. I can't just walk away," Christine explained sincerely.

Jane arched an eyebrow, "Is that all?"

Christine changed the subject. "Serena won't be causing any more trouble, so I'll be heading back home soon."

Jane poked her forehead playfully, "You're not being honest."

Christine paused, closing the tap. "Okay, maybe there's a small part of me that's unsure, but getting back together isn't really on my mind."

"Just do it," Dailey's voice hardened.

Primo nodded but didn't carry out the order, instead ordering some takeout for himself outside the door.

The room fell into silence, the tension palpable.

Christine broke it, "I'll be fine on the couch."

Dailey glanced at the couch, pausing before saying, "My injury isn’t severe. You don’t need to stay. You can go home."

He figured Primo wouldn’t bring the bed, and he didn’t want to involve his family or have Christine meet them.

Christine could go home and return in the morning. But she didn’t want to leave.

The thought of him alone, in pain, kept her there. She wouldn't sleep at home anyway, so she might as well stay and keep him company.

"How about we watch a movie?" she suggested.

Dailey’s lips tightened. "You don't need to feel guilty or grateful. If it were anyone else..."

"Let’s watch a comedy," Christine interrupted, handing him her phone. "Laughter helps forget the pain. See anything you like?"

"I don't want to watch," Dailey retorted coldly. "This injury is nothing to me. You're making a big deal out of it. Go home."

Christine's smile faded as she met his gaze.