Page 87 of Break Me

And ungrateful.

Because I was grateful to him. I just didn’t want to be beholden to him.

Not a man like Alexsey.

“What did you do?” I demanded.

He scrunched up his eyebrows. “I managed to get them to stay open a little later than normal so we could both have fresh coffee.”

“That’s not what I mean and you know it.”

“Then what?”

I took a few deep breaths, trying to control the bitch side of me. There were just enough people in the waiting room that causing a commotion wasn’t something I wanted to do. But as usual, the tough girl inside took over.

“You don’t own me, Alexsey. Yes, what you did tonight was so sweet, so amazing, and I am so thankful you were there for both of us. But I can’t afford this hospital. I’m not ashamed of it. That’s just the way it is. I work hard. I have insurance. It sucks, but it’s what I have to work with. I can’t in a lifetime pay you back for this and maybe a surgery in the future and another hospital stay. A new inhaler. Maybe a support animal, while I love the idea. You heard Emily last night. If she was lucky enough to get a dog for Christmas, everything else would pale in comparison. And I am going to do that for her. Somehow. However, your generosity is just… I mean that’s just too much. You can’t go around using your money and clout and expecting it to be okay with everyone. I’m not just some girl. I don’t need to be paid for spending time with you.”

My lord. I wasn’t making the best sense. Sighing, I looked away, but not before seeing the look of hurt on his face and in his eyes.

“Besides, after the reporters and the text I received and…” Oh, shit. I could tell by the snap of his head I’d opened my mouth and he wouldn’t let it go.

“What are you talking about?”

“Nothing. Just reporters are hounding me.”

“I can handle them. I’ll deal with them, so you won’t need to.”

“What are you going to do, threaten them?”

He huffed. “If I need to. You bet.”

“You can’t go to war with everyone who might look at me funny. Okay? I can take care of myself.”

I felt that way except something nagged at the back of my mind about the text. Maybe I was just worn down from the two nights. Maybe.

He looked away, his entire demeanor shifting into something else. “I’m not trying to buy you, Halle. That’s not the kind of man I am and if you don’t know that then I’ve not represented myself very well. Yes, I know you’re struggling financially. There is nothing wrong with that or shameful. Other than that our systems are broken. I wanted to do something that would make your life easier. If only for a little while. You both deserve better. I can do that.”

“Don’t. I need to take care of my daughter. Myself. My way.”

His sigh was heavy. “Understood.”

I looked away, already beating myself up. “And thank you for the coffee.”

“Well, if you want me to go, I will.”

In truth, I didn’t know what I wanted. Not really other than I had to admit that having him by my side was a welcome change. “They’re admitting her for tonight and I’m not leaving. I’ll get my sister to come get me when she’s released. Okay?”

As he looked at me again, I could tell he wasn’t certain what to say any more than I was. But he nodded and handed me the coffee. “I don’t like leaving you here alone.”

“No one will hurt me in a hospital. I’ll stay in her room. Just stop worrying so much.” I could tell my plea wasn’t making him very happy, which was why I was so shocked when he agreed.

“Fine. You have my number. Call me if you need anything.”

“Okay. I will.”

But I would try not to and why?

Because I would get far too used to him and that wasn’t good for either of us. We were from different worlds and if the incidents from the night before, the text warning me, and the heavy breathing on the phone told me anything, it was that I should stop this before it became serious.