Chapter 24 STEVEN POV C 71 55 vouchers Madison tasted like wine and mischief. Like chocolate and victory . Like a kiss I'd been waiting for since the second she waltzed into my penthouse in oversized scrubs and sarcasm . And I had no defense . None . Not a single billion - dollar defense system could've stopped my heart from punching itself out of my chest the moment her lips touched mine again . Except this time , it wasn't an accident . Not a stumble . Not a yoga mat mishap . Not fate throwing us against each other like some spicy sitcom . This was deliberate . She leaned in . I leaned in more . And I swear - somewhere in that kiss - I felt the world shift . The candles , the wine , the ridiculous romantic setup I made in a moment of inspiration ( and minor obsession ) ? All worth it . Every stupid second . Because her lips on mine ? That was home . That was everything . When we pulled back , she had this look . Half sass , half stunned softness . Like she didn't expect me to kiss her like I meant it . And hell - I did . Every single second of it . She whispered , " About damn time ," and all I could think was : God , I'm in trouble . Because Madison Luis wasn't just my physical therapist anymore . She was my miracle . The reason I stood . The reason I laughed . The reason I didn't burn down this penthouse every time I stared at the four walls of what used to feel like a prison . And now she knew . She saw it . And I didn't even want to take it back . So yeah ... maybe the kiss was the beginning . The beginning of something terrifying . And real . And way beyond any race I've ever won . Because falling for Madison Luis ? That's the only finish line I wanted to cross . I looked at her - really looked - and she had this glint in her eye . Like she knew I was panicking inside . " You okay ? " she asked , all teasing , sipping wine like she hadn't just burned my emotional firewall to ash . I gave her a crooked smile . " Nope . Pretty sure I just kissed my physical therapist ." She smirked . " And your best friend ." I nodded slowly , leaning closer . " And probably the woman I'm falling madly in love with ." She blinked . Then grinned . " Better not fall too hard , McLeon , " she whispered . " You just learned how to stand . " 11:33 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 24 : And just like that ... I was hers . Fully . Utterly . Willingly . 71 E55 vouchers It's been ten months since she barged into my life like a five - foot - three espresso shot with attitude and a ponytail . Ten months since she rolled into my penthouse , judged my sad banana , and told me to eat or starve . Ten months since Madison freaking Luis flipped my world upside down - then set it right again . And now ? Now I can walk . Two full steps . No wheelchair . No assistance . Just me , the cane , and sheer stubborn will . My doctor cried . No joke . Man teared up on a Zoom call like he'd just witnessed a Disney miracle . Even Mom was speechless . She kept patting my shoulder and whispering something about naming her future grandchild " Madix " regardless of gender . But the real miracle ? Was Madison . She didn't just get me back on my feet - she gave me back my damn life . And yet ... Every time I kissed her ( and yeah , that was almost daily now , don't judge me ) , there was still this unspoken pause . Not hesitation . Just ... that invisible line we hadn't quite crossed yet . We were " something . " More than friends . But not quite lovers . Not officially . She never asked what we were . Never pushed . Never gave me a deadline to man up and define it . Because that's just who she is - fierce , independent , heart - stealing woman who doesn't beg for love , because she doesn't have to . Still ... I saw it . The flicker in her eyes when I'd pull her close but still not say it . The way she'd smile after a kiss and then walk away , humming , pretending she wasn't wondering if I'd ever cross that line . And hell , I was wondering too . Now , here we are - ten months in . She's reorganizing the spice rack in the kitchen ( again , because apparently I " stack basil like a psychopath " ) , and I'm standing in the hallway , one hand on the cane , watching her sway to some indie song on her playlist like she's in her own world . And I can't help it . This question burns in me like nitro in a race car engine : Where do we go from here ? Because I've gotten everything back . My strength . My walk . But what if the real win wasn't racing again ? What if it was her ? What if I've been healing my body this whole time , while she quictly stole my heart ? 11:33 Thu , Sep 18 Chapter 24 71 55 vouchers The L - word sits heavy on my tongue , like a locked door I haven't dared to open . Not yet . But soon . Soon . о Because this - her , us , this chaos , this calm , these kisses , her snoring at 2 a.m. in my hoodie , the way she says " stupid rich boy " when I forget to turn off the faucet- This is love . Even if I haven't said it out loud yet , I've been showing it every damn day . And I know ... when I finally say the words , when I look her in the eyes and tell her what she already knows- That's when we stop wondering where we go from here . Because we'll be going forward . Together . 11:33 Thu , Sep 18