[BL] CRAVING HIM: Addicted to His Voice-Chapter 361:Moments Between Heartbeats

~Zayn’s POV~

As the driver pulled away from the curb and started the long journey toward the hospital, I leaned my head on Evric’s shoulder, ready to face the storm ahead with my haven by my side.

Evric shifted slightly, resting his hand on my knee. "Did you message Meera to let her know we’re coming into to city?"

"I did," I nodded, my eyes following the dark trees as they blurred past the window. "I told her I’d be staying nearby and that Liam would be with me. I explained everything, my father, the surgery, and all the history. She was really supportive and even said she’d come to the hospital to see him herself."

I noticed Evric looking at me, his expression thoughtful, and I quickly added, "I haven’t given her the approval to come yet, though. I didn’t want to say yes until I discussed it with you first. For now, I just focused on letting her know when I’d be arriving to pick up Liam."

Evric reached over, squeezing my hand with a look of genuine approval. "That’s good, baby. Honestly, it’s not a bad thing if she wants to come around. Having more people who care about you, and even your father, around right now might make the atmosphere a little lighter. I don’t mind at all."

A wave of relief washed over me. I leaned into his space, pressing a lingering, sweet kiss to his cheek. "Alright, babe. I’ll let her know then."

He pulled me closer, tucking my head under his chin.

He pulled out his phone, scrolling through his news feed and social media for a moment before letting out a quiet hum of relief. "You know, it’s a good thing everything has been so peaceful lately. No scandals, no paparazzi trouble... just us."

"You’re right," I said, lacing my fingers with his. "We haven’t had to deal with any trouble in public lately. It feels so good, like the world is finally letting us just... be."

"It’s a nice change of pace," he agreed. He turned to me, a playful glint in his eyes. "Give me your phone for a second?"

I didn’t hesitate, unlocking it and handing it over. I watched as he navigated to my gallery, finding the photos I had taken of him in the office earlier. He laughed softly, selecting the ones of us together and sending them to his own phone.

"Look at this," he said, holding the screen so we could both see. "You look so cute here, Zayn. I can’t get over that smile."

I smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "And you... You look ridiculously hot, even while buried in work like this."

He smirked, his eyes glinting with a dark, playful amusement. "Oh, so you admit? That I was looking exceptionally hot back there?"

I ducked my head, a shy grin tugging at my lips. "Always. You know you’re a distraction when you’re working."

"Honestly, I look at you and realize I really do have the hottest man in the world. How did I get so lucky?"

"I think I’m the lucky one," he countered, leaning in to press a sweet, lingering kiss to my temple. "Having a man who looks this good and handles me so well? I’m never letting you go."

I smiled and said, "Same here, Daddy, you look seriously hot."

He leaned closer, his voice dropping into a teasing, velvety edge that sent a shiver down my spine. "Hot in the face, hot in the body... and especially hot down here." His eyes flicked down, giving his length a pointed glance.

I felt the heat rush to my cheeks and tapped his arm playfully. "Babe, stop! The driver is right there."

He chucked, completely unfazed, and nudged my shoulder. "What? Are you getting shy, or are you just getting hard because you can’t get the thought of me out of your head lately?"

I looked at him, feeling that familiar, fluttering mix of embarrassment and desire. "Well, aren’t you the one who taught me how to be a badass?" I countered with a small, defiant smile. "You broke me out of my shell, and I’ve been enjoying it so much I don’t ever want to stop."

Evric’s smile widened, full of genuine heat and affection. He reached out, tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear. "Good. Because I seriously love the ’shameless’ version of you more than anything, Zayn."

I laughed softly, hiding my face against his shoulder to conceal the blush that wouldn’t go away. Despite the heavy weight of why we were on this road trip, in this moment, it was just us, flirting and falling for each other all over again in the quiet sanctuary of the backseat.

After the long, rhythmic hum of the highway, we finally arrived at our destination. Evric had already booked a suite at a high-end hotel near the medical center. We checked in quickly, the driver handled our bags, and we finally retreated to the privacy of our room.

"Do you need anything, love?" Evric asked, checking the room’s amenities.

"I’m starving," I admitted, the adrenaline of the day finally wearing off. He placed an order for room service immediately. While we waited, we headed straight for the shower, letting the steam work out the knots in our muscles. Afterward, he pulled out our pajamas, soft silk that felt like a second skin.

Room service arrived shortly after with a light meal; we ate just enough to ensure we didn’t sleep on an empty stomach before collapsing into the large, plush bed, holding each other until sleep took us.

The next morning, the reality of the day set in with the sunrise. After breakfast, Evric turned to me, his eyes searching mine. "Are you ready, Zayn?"

"I’m ready," I said, though my heart was pounding.

"Let’s go to the hospital first," he said softly. "Just you and me. We’ll spend some time with him, talk things through, and later we can bring Liam so they can meet. Does that feel okay to you?"

"Yes, baby. Let’s do that."

When we reached the hospital, the air smelled of antiseptic and quiet tension. We approached the desk and asked for Hudson Smith. The nurse looked up, asking about our relationship to the patient. Evric, ever composed, spoke for us. "The patient is my partner’s father." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

They directed us to a private suite in the hospital wing. When I pushed the door open, I saw him. He was propped up against the pillows, looking smaller in the hospital gown, yet still carrying that unmistakable air of refinement. A man who looked like his personal assistant stood near the window, but he quietly excused himself the moment we stepped inside.

My father’s face lit up instantly. "Zayn... you actually came."

I walked closer, stopping just a few feet from the bed. "I did," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "How is it going? What are the doctors saying?"

"The surgery is tomorrow afternoon," he said quietly, his gaze lingering on me in disbelief. "I can’t tell you how relieved I am that you came."

Then his expression faltered. "Liana... will I get to see her?" he asked, his voice breaking.

"She’ll be here soon," I assured him.

"That’s good. That’s very good," he said, releasing a shaky breath. The polished old-money mask he’d worn all his life was gone now, leaving only a man staring down his own mortality. He looked at me, regret flooding his eyes.

"Zayn," he said my name softly, his voice broken. "I’m so sorry... I’m sorry for everything."

He paused, glancing toward Evric before looking back at me with a pleading expression. "Zayn... could I have a moment? I need to talk to you? Privately?"

Evric didn’t need to be told twice. He squeezed my hand one last time, a silent promise of support. "I’ll be right outside, babe," he whispered. I nodded, and he stepped out, closing the door softly behind him.

Before I could answer, Evric’s fingers tightened around mine, grounding me with a silent promise.

"I’ll be right outside, babe," he murmured softly.

I nodded, and he leaned in to press a brief, reassuring kiss to my cheek before stepping out and closing the door gently behind him.

The silence that followed was thick with years of unspoken words. He gestured toward a chair beside the bed, and I sat. My father reached out a trembling hand, letting it rest lightly on the edge of the crisp white sheets.

"I never thought I’d see you again," he whispered, disbelief and pain threading his voice. "I didn’t think you’d come for me." His eyes searched my face, voice breaking. "Standing here now, looking at you... I finally understand that my greatest failure wasn’t a bad deal or a lost fortune. It was losing the bond between you and Liana."

He drew in a shaky breath, his composure crumbling. "I spent so many years chasing success and... I... I failed you. I know I don’t deserve your time, much less your forgiveness, but I needed you to know this: every single day I was gone, a part of me knew I had made the worst mistake of my life."

Tears pricked my eyes...