Chapter 190
+25 BONUS
When I recalled what I’d said earlier, my breath caught in my throat. I wanted to explain, maybe apologize, but Hayden, still kneeling beside the couch, stood up before I could say anything. “Dinner’s ready. Come
eat.”
As he pulled his hand away, I realized how tightly I’d been gripping him. In my dream, I thought I was holding onto my parents–but it had been Hayden all along. And I’d cursed him, thinking he was the one getting in the way.
Awkwardly, I let go. His arm lifted, revealing deep red marks from where I’d squeezed too hard.
Without a word, he turned and walked off. I slowly sat up, feeling sticky and uncomfortable. I’d definitely broken a sweat–probably a sign the fever had finally passed.
“Here, put this on. Don’t catch another cold,” Hayden said, coming back with a blanket.
I reached out to grab it, but my grip was still weak, and I almost dropped it. He ended up draping it over me himself, then handed me a warm, damp cloth to wipe my hands.
For a moment, I felt like a kid again–sick, vulnerable, being cared for the way my parents had when I was little.
“Can you manage eating on your own?” Hayden asked, setting a bowl of fragrant pumpkin soup in front of
- me.
Was he offering to feed me? If he were my boyfriend, I wouldn’t hesitate, but he wasn’t. And the embarrassment from my drunken confession last night still lingered.
I nodded, trying to prove it by picking up the spoon, but my hand trembled, the spoon wobbling in my grip.
Hayden gently placed his hand over mine. “Take your time.”
“I think I’d rather drink some water first,” I said, suddenly aware of how dehydrated I felt after sweating so much.
He must’ve anticipated that, because he handed me a glass of water without a word. I drank it down in one go, pleasantly surprised to find it was the perfect temperature, with just a hint of honey.
I felt a little touched, though “thank you” seemed too small for everything he’d done.
Hayden’s dinner spread was simple but perfect: garlic butter shrimp, fried cabbage, lemon honey pork ribs, and cucumber salad. All my favorite dishes.
“Hayden, have you been spying on me?” I asked, unable to resist as I savored another bite.
He glanced at me. “What’s there to investigate? Your taste in food?”
Feeling a bit embarrassed, I pressed on anyway. “But everything you’ve given me, even the candy, feels like something only someone really close to me would know.”
Hayden paused mid–bite, his spoon hovering for a second. Then, he casually said, “This is what any good boyfriend would do.”
Boyfriend?
+25 BONUS
Chapter 190
Didn’t I already tell him we were done? Had he not taken me seriously?
But with the delicious food in front of me and the memory of all the care he’d shown, I decided not to ruin the moment with heavy talk. Instead, I stayed quiet and focused on finishing my meal.
“Did something happen?” Hayden asked as I neared the end of my plate.
I bit down on my fork, unsure how to respond. So much had happened, I didn’t even know where to start.
When I didn’t answer, he didn’t push. He just said, “Next time you’re sick, tell someone. Don’t try to tough it out. A fever like that can get serious–you should know better.”
“I didn’t know I had a fever,” I admitted. Honestly, I’d just felt exhausted. I’d fallen into bed, drifted in and out of sleep, but never realized it was a fever.
Thinking about it now, I was lucky he’d opened his door and come to check on me. Who knows what might’ve happened if he hadn’t..
“Next time, if you feel even a little off, call me,” Hayden said, his tone firm. Not a suggestion–more like a command.
I bit my lip and said, “Okay.”
+25 BONUS
C
