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I’m too wiped to be anything other than relieved. My sister is safe. I’m alive…for now. And Nathan handled everything.
I bury my head in the crevice where his muscular arm meets his strong chest. I’m sure if I could smell anything, he’d smell amazing. I hum in appreciation when he wraps his arms around me, cuddling me close. “Go away.”
He strokes my damp hair, completely unbothered. “That is the literal definition of mixed signals.”
I turn my head and peck his bare chest with hot, dry lips. “I hate you.”
His chest bounces lightly as he chuckles. “Still going.”
“Seriously, thank you. For taking care of Charlie.” I wince again.
He scoops me up, managing to go from his knees, to his feet, without faltering, lifting my dead weight. I try to flex my stomach as if that could make me seem lighter, but I’veapparently lost control over my limbs. Nathan lays me gently on the bed.
“Did you hit your head when you fell?”
“No. But I broke your lamp. I’m sorry.”
“That’s okay, I’ll add it to your bill.” He taps my nose, then scrunches his.
Why is he so playful and cheery? I think he’s enjoying helpless Spencer way too much. He did say he liked to be needed. I definitely need him now. I don’t know what I would’ve done if Charlie and I lived alone. Would I have woken up if she called me from school? Could I even drive? I’m not sure if the room is spinning because I’mthatill, or if I’m drunk from my so-called nurse overdosing me.
Nathan secures the covers up to my chin. “There you go. Cozy?”
I nod. I’m thankful for the comforter blocking out the room-temperature air that feels like ice at the moment. “May I have something to drink?”
“Of course. How about some broth?”
“Ice water, please.” I want to douse out the fire in my throat.
“I want you to try to eat something. You already don’t eat enough, and now you’re so weak you can barely keep your eyes open.”
“Just water.”
“Spencer.Just a couple sips of soup. It’ll make you feel better.”
I summon all the strength in my body to roll my eyes. It wasn’t my pupils’ finest performance, but it gets the job done. “Fine. Where’s my phone? I’ll DoorDash some ice water.”
That should’ve made him laugh, instead a dark flicker of agitation crosses his face. “In the kitchen, charging.”
I glance to my side and see the empty charging dock on the nightstand. If he thinks I’m too sick to be suspicious, he wildly misjudged me. “Why?”
“Your phone was going off.A lot.” There’s a sharp edge to his tone I don’t appreciate. “I didn’t want it to wake you.”
“Bullshit.”
Nathan lifts his brows, like he’s surprised I used a curse word. He sits down near my feet. “Not bullshit. Want to know who was incessantly texting you?”
I wrack my fuzzy brain and can’t come up with anyone who would cause this reaction. “Who?”
“Your ex.” He presses his lips together before sucking them in. It’s like he’s trying to swallow down a more serious reaction. “I handled it.”
“What do you mean youhandledit?”
Nathan huffs in disbelief, surprised I’m put off by his possessive behavior. “I told him you were sick, didn’t want to talk to him, and you never wanted him to contact you again.”
“As me?” Oh, screw my aching throat. I’m about to get shouty.
“So?” he asks. “He stole from you, Spencer. He disrespected you. He used Charlie. You’re done with him. Why are you upset? I did you a favor.”