She Used Me for a Dare… Now I Own Her Mother

The soft click of the door handle made Linda's heart lurch.

She turned toward the sound... and froze.

Alex stepped through the doorway. Her eyes locked on his, and in that instant, every trace of exhaustion, every worry of the past hours, seemed to vanish.

Warmth bloomed in her chest, her body responding as if recognizing something essential it had been missing. The room narrowed to him, the air thick with the weight of his presence.

For a split second, an overwhelming impulse surged through her... to cross the room and embrace him, to feel those strong arms around her again, to close the distance that felt both impossible and inevitable.

The urge was so powerful it almost moved her feet forward.

But Linda caught herself harshly, her hand gripping the back of Sarah's chair so tightly her knuckles went white.

"Pull yourself together," she told herself firmly.

"Alex! Danny!" Sarah exclaimed softly, mindful of Nina's sleep. She rose from her chair with visible relief. "Finally! We've been so worried."

Her relief quickly turned into frustration. "Why didn't you call? Do you have any idea how anxious we've been sitting here?"

Linda blinked, Sarah's voice snapping her back to the moment... only then did she notice Danny standing there beside Alex.

Danny scratched the back of his neck, looking sheepish. "Uh… so… we figured it'd be better to… you know… grab some food first. Thought showing up starving with good news would be, uh… less stressful than calling while juggling sandwiches."

Sarah's eyes went wide. "Danny! You were… eating?"

Danny held up his hands defensively, cheeks reddening. "Okay, okay, I admit it... bad timing. My bad. I'm… really sorry."

Linda steadied herself, stepping closer to Alex and taking in the changes the day had left on him.

His shirt was creased from the long hours, his posture taut with lingering strain. A faint shadow darkened his jaw, giving him a more serious edge... older, steadier… yet somehow still magnetic.

"Everything alright?" she asked, her voice calm, betraying none of the flutter in her chest. "How did the trial go?"

Alex ran a hand through his hair, exhaustion clear on his face. "It's over. We're cleared of all charges."

He moved closer, and Linda had to resist the urge to step back... not from fear, but from the overwhelming awareness of his presence.

"Pierce tried to railroad us," Alex said, shaking his head with a wry grin. "But we were prepared... and more importantly, innocent. They pushed hard, but the evidence was solid. Hospital security footage cleared everything."

Satisfaction flickered across his features, a moment of well-earned triumph.

Sarah looked puzzled. "What assistance did you get?"

"Miranda Whitman," Danny replied, the name carrying weight. "Vice President of student's affair."

Linda felt a surge of pride watching Alex speak... so composed, so assured. When had he become this confident young man who could navigate complex legal situations like they were simple problems to solve?

"Marcus and his friends got caught in their own lies," Danny added steadily.

"When they couldn't keep their stories straight under questioning, the whole thing fell apart."

"Where's Mike?" Sarah asked, looking toward the door. "Is he okay?"

Alex's expression shifted to something almost mischievous. "He's fine. Just… tied up with something. He'll be here later."

Danny shot Alex a knowing look but said nothing.

"And Nina?" Alex asked, turning his attention to the sleeping figure in the bed. "How is she doing?"

"She's sleeping," Linda said softly. "She's been doing much better today. Eating, staying alert when she's awake. The doctors are pleased with her progress."

Alex moved closer to the bed, and Linda found herself tracking his every movement.

The way he carried himself with such steady confidence, how he looked at Nina with such protective tenderness.

"That's wonderful," he said in that deeper register that made Linda's stomach flip. "I told you she'd be okay."

You did, Linda thought, remembering how his assurance had calmed her panic. How his presence had made everything seem manageable when her world was falling apart.

"You both must be exhausted," Linda said, keeping her voice steady. "Take a moment to rest first. You've had a long day."

Alex turned to her, his expression calm but intent. "Mom… have you eaten?"

Linda blinked, grounding herself. "Yes… David brought lunch earlier, but Sarah didn't eat. She said she wasn't hungry at the time."

Danny, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow. "Wait… you haven't eaten anything? Come on, let me bring you something."

Sarah shook her head gently. "No, really… I'm fine. It's okay."

Danny grinned, undeterred. "Alright, then, you're coming with me anyway."

Sarah offered a resigned expression, nodding. "We'll grab something for ourselves and be back soon."

Sarah gently ruffled Nina's hair before she stepped toward the door. Danny followed behind her.

Linda's heart quickened as Danny and Sarah left, their footsteps fading down the hallway.

Suddenly, the room felt impossibly intimate, filled with Alex's presence and the magnetic pull she was fighting to suppress.

Alex nodded with approval, then moved deliberately toward the bed closest to Nina.

Linda watched him, noting the ease in his movements.

There was something in his posture... protective, attentive, almost paternal... that made Linda's chest flutter with an unfamiliar warmth.

The way he watched Nina sleep, careful not to disturb her, gave the impression of a father checking on his child.

A soft expression crossed her features, and for a moment, she allowed herself to simply observe, letting the reassurance of his presence wash over her.

Linda found herself drawn to where Alex sat, exhaustion finally showing in the set of his shoulders after the long day.

Without fully understanding why, she moved closer and settled beside him, the hospital bed dipping slightly under their combined weight.

"You must be so tired," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Alex turned to look at her, something soft and unguarded in his expression. "It's been a long day. But worth it, seeing Nina doing so well."

The weight of everything... the fear, the uncertainty, the relief... seemed to settle over him all at once.

His shoulders sagged, and Linda could see the exhaustion he'd been holding at bay finally catching up with him.

Without hesitation, she gently guided his head to rest against her shoulder. "Come here," she whispered softly.

Alex didn't resist. He leaned into her touch, his head settling against her shoulder with a soft exhale that seemed to release all the tension he'd been carrying.

To him, this was comfort from the woman who had become like a mother to him... familiar, safe, exactly what he needed after such a difficult day.

But for Linda, feeling the weight of his head against her shoulder, aware of his warmth and steady breathing, it was something else entirely.

Her pulse quickened as she fought to keep her breathing even, acutely conscious of every point where their bodies touched.