He reaches into his pocket, pulls out a key. "This is yours. You can come here anytime. Even when the park is closed. I’m trusting you with a master key to the park.”
I take the key with shaking hands. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." He kisses my forehead. "Now. We have something else to discuss."
"What's that?"
"Our conversation earlier. You skipped breakfast and lunch today."
Heat floods through me. "I wasn't hungry and?—"
"Holly." His voice drops, takes on that tone that makes my knees weak. “What did I say would happen if you didn't take care of yourself?"
"Consequences."
"Exactly." He takes my hand, leads me out of the chapel toward the parking lot. "So we're going home. And I'm going to remind you why you don't skip meals."
"Now?"
"Now." He helps me into his car. "But first, I'm feeding you dinner. Because I'm not punishing you on an empty stomach."
Despite my nerves, I smile. "Of course not."
Two hours later, I'm fed, showered, and standing in his bedroom wearing one of his t-shirts.
He's sitting on the edge of the bed, watching me with patient intensity.
"Come here," he says quietly.
I move toward him, heart hammering.
"You know why we're here?" he asks.
"Because I skipped two meals today after you gave me several warnings earlier in the week."
"Because you didn't take care of yourself.”
"I know."
"So, what happens now?" He asks me, wanting me to verbalize what is coming. I know all too well what is about to happen, in the last few months, I’ve been over his knee several times.
I swallow hard. "You remind me."
"Exactly." He guides me over his lap, positioning me carefully. "Ten. Count them out. And after each one, you're going to tell me why we have this rule."
His hand comes down hard and fast, and I gasp.
"One," I manage. "You have this rule because you care about me."
Again. "Two. Because my body needs fuel."
And again. "Three. Because I can't take care of anyone else if I don't take care of myself."
We continue through all ten, and by the end I'm shaking, not from pain, but from emotion. From understanding. From feeling exactly how much he cares. We’ve been through this before. Ten reasons for me to take care of myself. Ten reasons for me to take care of his girl.
When he's done, he pulls me into his lap, holds me close.
"You okay?" he asks softly.
