Falling in Love : I love you, Today and Forever
Chapter 751: Public display of affection

Chapter 751: Public display of affection

Valerie and Maggie stared at each other silently, pondering over all that Joshua had told them. Although they were to hear that Preston had indeed been at the hospital, somewhere in their minds, they strangely felt that the situation was not as simple as it seemed. There was a hidden strategy, one which they were unable to discern.

"What do we do now, Deputy? This just became more complex." Maggie bit her lip and clutched her phone tight. "Should we believe Preston or is he faking his innocence before us?"

Maggie was in a dilemma and so was Valerie. They had known Preston for a long time. So, her heart told her to trust him while her mind was completely against and in the war between her heart and mind, she was about to go crazy.

"Let us wait for some time, Maggie. Perhaps, we will find the truth soon." Valerie sighed, utterly drained mentally. She never expected to see this day when she would start doubting her trusted teammate.

"You are going to do as the doctor says. No more arguments." They heard Preston’s voice as the door opened and the two men entered the ward one by one.

"I don’t want to. Their therapy plan is pathetic and unbelievable. I don’t want to waste my time on that." Ryder argued, repeating the words he had said some time ago.

"The plan is perfect. You are just being childish and throwing a tantrum." Preston did not hold back and glared at the man who had been unreasonable since the time they had come out of the doctor’s office.

"You are the one being unreasonable. Your family is being unreasonable." Ryder was fuming mad and he spat, making Preston shake his head in amusement.

"Are you done? Or yet to throw some more tantrums?" He was calm as ever unlike Ryder who was irked.

"You are throwing a tantrum. Not I." Ryder was yet to calm down. So he had no idea what he was saying.

"Cut it, cut it." Valerie intervened when he saw the men glaring at each other. Even though it was a harmless argument, it was giving her a headache and she was unwilling to tolerate it anymore.

"What’s wrong with you two? Why are you arguing in a hospital, that too in my ward? Go out of the hospital and fight as much as you want on the streets." She scolded them and the two men lowered their heads as though they were young kids being punished by a teacher.

"Yes, start fighting on the streets and I’ll come to arrest you," Maggie added with a teasing glint in her eyes.

"Maggie..." Valerie shook her head sternly at her.

"Now tell us what happened. What was the cause of this unwanted argument?"

"It’s Ryder. He is being childish." Preston spoke even before Ryder could open his mouth. "He is unwilling to follow the doctor’s physiotherapy plan."

"The plan is horrible. Why should I even follow one? I am perfectly fine."

"I will believe it if the doctor says it." Preston shot back.

"What’s wrong with following the doctor’s plan? Isn’t it for your well-being?" Valerie directed her gaze, particularly on Ryder and the man shook his head immediately.

"I don’t need physiotherapy. I am fine. I just need to start balancing weight properly on my legs once I am healed. I will do okay."

"But that’s not what the doctor told us."

Ryder glared at his friend immediately.

"And what did the doctor tell you?" Valerie sighed helplessly, unable to believe that two grown adults were behaving like kids before her and she had to take over the reins in her hands to stop them from quarreling.

Ryder remained silent, unwilling to speak anymore. He was already irked with the doctor and Preston and did not wish to reiterate what the doctor had told him.

"I will tell you." Preston took this chance to butt in. "The doctor will be removing his plaster in three days. So, he wants Ryder to go for physiotherapy for three days alternatively. He just wants to ensure that there are no other damages they might have overlooked during diagnosis."

"Seems feasible and good." Maggie acknowledged. "Why do you want to do it?"

"Three days and that pathetic therapy..."

Maggie was done with his temper tantrums. She approached him, forcing him to swallow his words. Although she was not short, she had to strain her neck to look at the giraffe before her.

"You, Mister," She pointed at Ryder, her expression grim and commanding. "Will do as the doctor says and attend the therapy session. Otherwise, I will not talk to you."

When Ryder was about to argue, she intervened immediately. "And you do not want to test me on this one. I am serious."

Ryder shut up and pouted aggrievedly. But it had no effect on Maggie who was still waiting for his assurance.

"Fine, I will do as you say." Ryder relented, defeated by the woman he loved. What else could he do other than follow her orders? He would never argue with her and going against her words was beyond his imagination. It was a sin in his eyes. Every word from her was a command and he vowed to follow them at all costs unless it was something that put him at a disadvantage.

"Good." Maggie nodded in appreciation and stood on his toes, surprising Ryder with the sudden closeness. However, it was her next action that shocked not just him but even Valerie and Preston.

Maggie kissed his cheek and returned to her place as though nothing had happened. "That’s your reward." She stated as though it was no big deal and sat on the couch, waiting for the two people to fire questions at her.

But they were oddly silent and she raised her brows when she saw Valerie grinning at her while Preston held a knowing smile on his face. It was Ryder, however, who held a strange expression on his face. He was still in shock and he stared at her blankly, eliciting a small chuckle from her.

"Why are you staring at me that way? Is something the matter?" She cocked a brow at him and Ryder came out of his trance, his lips arching up into a toothy grin.

"No. Nothing, Maggie. I was just reliving the moment when you kissed me. It would have been if you kissed me on the lips. But my cheeks will do for now." His words made Maggie’s face to heat up and she blushed instantly. She lowered her gaze, flustered to have everyone looking at her.

’If only we were alone and not in the presence of two unwanted people, I would have kissed you for real.’ Ryder thought, glaring at the two despicable people who were being an interruption in his love story.

"Great. We just needed Maggie to handle Ryder." Preston clapped his hands, his smile not leaving his face. "I should have sought Maggie out quickly instead of arguing with this dumbhead. I wouldn’t have had to waste all my tired. Now, I am exhausted."

Surprisingly, Ryder did not rebuke him this time. He just stared fixedly with a foolish smile on his face, resembling nothing less than a teenager in love.

"What are you, Preston?" Maggie studied the man who seemed genuinely concerned about Ryder. His expressions did not lie. ’Or he is excellent at deception.’ She thought.

"Please just be the friend we know you to be. I don’t want you to be a traitor. Please." Although she was mumbling to herself, the man with keen senses did not miss it and he read her lips.

Even if he had missed most of the words, he did not miss the words ’friend’ and ’traitor’ and his heart sank immediately. It did not take him a second to realize that Maggie was suspicious of him and if she was, there were high chances that his Deputy was suspecting him.

’Did I fail to fool them?’ He wondered and looked at Ryder who was still close to him. ’But Ryder did not show any such reaction towards me. It must just be Valerie and Maggie. This is bad. This is so bad. What do I do now?’

His hands turned clammy and he clenched his fists tight, not knowing what to do. ’I just hope they do not investigate the hospital I mentioned. Otherwise...’

Preston could not imagine what would happen if that were to happen. He would not just lose his job but his friends as well and that was the last thing he wanted.

Ryder’s matter was settled and the two ladies were discussing a case one of the other teams was handling. Having nothing else to do, Preston stood up and licked his lips. It was his opportunity to call Jared and share his worries with him. Only he could help him save the situation.

"I am going to the canteen. Does anybody need anything?"

"A coffee for me please." Valerie tried but Ryder and Maggie glared at her immediately.

"No way. No caffeine for a patient. Get her some milk or juice." Ryder stated, leaving no room for argument and Valerie sighed in defeat.

"At least I tried."

"What about others?"

"Coffee for me," Ryder replied, only to be on the receiving end of Maggie and Valerie’s glare. "What?" He nodded his head innocently.

"No caffeine for a patient. Remember?" Valerie threw his words at him and Ryder bit his tongue for his stupidity. "And don’t say you are not a patient ’cause technically, you still are one. The doctor is yet to say that you are fully healed.

"Nothing for me." Maggie smiled at Preston and Ryder followed her words, having no other choice.

"Okay. I will be back soon."