Chapter 25 The Two Men
Lana's POV
"Lana," I heard at a far distance. I was still in darkness. Music was playing too. I stirred. "Lana, wake up," the voice was closer this time. I opened my eyes, but I squinted. A hand cupped the side of my face. "Lana," I heard again. I opened my eyes and Daniel's face was hovering over me, he was concerned.
"Lana," I heard that familiar voice, and then Arden's face came into view. Perfect ocean blue eyes. "You passed out, how are you feeling?" he asked. I felt his hand on my thigh.
"I knocked my head," I replied weakly as I placed my hand on my forehead.
"We need to get her to the hospital," Arden said.
"You scared me, Lana." Cynthia was standing next to both men.
"No, hospital. I...I just need my bed," I said. I felt like sick.
"Okay, I will get you home,"Daniel replied. I was in Daniel's arms all this time. Why wasn't I in Arden's arms? He was outside the door of the stall.
Daniel scooped me up into his arms and he walked me out through the crowd. "Be careful with her," I heard Arden tell Daniel.
"Of course, I will be careful with her. She is my girlfriend," Daniel replied. Gosh, I have to tell Arden that he isn't my boyfriend, it was only an act for Cynthia. But I felt too weak.
I closed my eyes until darkness consumed me again.
I stirred and groaned. Opening my eyes, it was dark. The only light that was shining through the window was the moon. I sat up straight, I was in my bed. I switched on my lamp and then I looked down at myself. How did I get out of my dress and into this t-shirt?
I got out of bed. There was a light shining through the bottom of the door. I opened my room door and I heard voices coming from the lounge. As I got closer, Daniel and Arden were talking.
"I don't need you to tell me how to take care of my own girlfriend, you are her professor. Why are you even here?" Daniel asked and I frowned and I stopped in the hall to listen. Daniel knows that it was an act for Cynthia. Why is he putting this act up for Arden?
"Even though I'm her professor, she needs me. She comes to me when she is going through a tough time and where the hell have you been?" Arden asked. "If you were her boyfriend then you would make sure to check up on her."
"So you have been here all the time," Daniel stated.
"Yes, because she is my student. She suffered trauma, something that I guess you are not familiar with and why the hell are you allowing her to drink alcohol?" Arden was furious.
I just couldn't bare to hear that word 'alcohol', bile rose again, my hand covering my mouth as I gagged and ran down the hall to the bathroom. I made it just in time as the contents of my stomach came out forcefully. "Lana," it was Arden.
"Please go," I said, and then I heaved again. Arden rubbed my back while he kept my loose hair out of my face. I don't even know how my hair got loose.
" I'm not going anywhere," he said. I flushed, and then he helped me to get up. "I don't want you to pass out again. You scared me," he said softly.
I walked over to the basin and I brushed my teeth. Daniel stood in the doorway with a glass of water. "No," I shook my head and I walked towards the door, as Arden kept his hand on my lower back. We passed Daniel and Arden made sure that I was tucked in bed. I was lying on my back. "Please don't go, stay here with me," I said, reaching out for him.
"Your boyfriend is here," he replied.
"I need you, you are my boyfriend," I said weakly as Daniel placed the glass water on my bedside table.
"You can stay," Daniel said to Arden. He nodded a 'thank you' and then I moved up a bit so that Arden could get into bed.
He got into my bed and I rested my head on his chest as Daniel walked out. Arden's arms held me. His scent soothes me, it is just what I need at this moment.
"Please, do not do this again," he said, I could feel his chest vibrate as he spoke and I could hear his steady heartbeat. I closed my eyes and listened to it.
"Trust me, I won't" I replied.
"Don't let anyone force you. I'm glad that I was there when you passed out, but then Daniel went into the bathroom, looking for you. I was holding you in my arms but you wouldn't wake up just yet. Daniel took you from me, and that alone was like a sword that stabbed me in my heart, but you have each other. I want you more than anything, Lana. But he is here and I can't do sh^t. " he said with sadness.
"You are my boyfriend, it was only you and it is only you. Daniel is only a friend," I replied.
"Perhaps he is better for you than me," he said.
'I don't want Daniel, I want you. You are what I need and if it wasn't for you then I wouldn't have made it without you thus far. You know what to do and I feel more for you than I can explain right now, but Daniel is not the one for me. You are," I replied as tears well up in my tears.
"I will be a sh^tty boyfriend," he said.
"You are not."
He kissed the top of my head. "I must say that I was surprised that Daniel allowed me to undress you," I could hear a smile in his voice. "He wouldn't dare look at your body."
" I'm glad that it was you, we are only putting up an act for Cynthia. I don't want her to know about us. Daniel is here for a week," I said.
"Now it makes sense, perhaps he wanted to make me jealous, but it worked," he said. "Get some rest," he said softly as he gently rubbed my arm.
"Please be here in the mooring when I wake up," I said.
"I will," he placed a kiss on my head and I just enjoyed this moment of being in his arms.
His arms are my safe place, my comfort and my strength.