“I...it’s hard to not see.” It was right there out in the open for anyone to see. The mark was on my back shoulder, so I couldn’t see it, but I knew what it looked like all the same. There may no longer be a barcode with a name any longer, but a blank piece of skin that would forever be a lighter tone than the rest of me.
“Finished!” Noah skidded to a halt behind the couch.
“Good boy.” Turning back to me, Beckett asked, “Are you hungry?”
Was I? I didn’t exactly feel much other than bone tired.
“Do you think you could try?” Beckett’s voice was soft, soothing even.
Did he talk to Noah like that when they were alone?
“Sure.” I’d try to eat a few bites, at least. Maybe then I could get enough strength to get a shower before going to bed.
“You stay there; I’ll get it.” It wasn’t an order, but I did as he said. I scooted back so I was a bit comfier on the couch, blanket wrapped around my naked shoulders.
It didn’t take long for Noah to sit right beside me, pressed up against my side with his own bowl of some sort of soup. One that looked like it had different shaped noodles.
I took the one that Beckett handed me, along with the spoon. Looking into it, it was just simple chicken and noodles with enough broth and seasons. The smell caused my mouth to water.
Okay, maybe I was just a bit hungry.
Out of the corner of my eye, Becket took a seat on the floor, leaving the other half of the couch empty.
I didn’t bother to ask why. Maybe he was scared of germs. Either way, I took a small bite of a noddle off my spoon, letting the flavor wake my hunger.
No one talked as we ate. I only managed a little less than half, most of it being the broth, before I decided I had enough.
“Done?” Beckett was there, holding out his hand.
“I can-“
“Take a shower. Yes. I’ll put your soup away, darlin’.” He held out his hand, waiting for me to place the container against him.
Once again, I did so. While I should have fought against it, my brain was just done. Done trying to be an adult. Done fighting what was right or wrong.
For just a little while, at least.
Chapter 33
Drying off from an almost too warm shower, I debated on getting more food or heading to bed. It was too early to go back to sleep, but my thoughts were still slow and a bit sluggish. Normal for me after such an attack like I had. But also, the soup had been good, settling in my stomach better than things usually did afterward.
I took a few extra seconds to run a towel through my hair before getting dressed and cleaning up my dirty clothes. I briefly wondered who may have cleaned up in here, because I was pretty sure that Noah would rather pee in the sink than enter this space until the smell was gone.
Which would mean I’d be the one to do laundry.
That’d be on another day. Right now, the bed was the most tempting option.
Forgoing a shirt, I opened the bathroom door and listened for a moment. I wasn’t sure who was still here, or if anyone was.
I itched my eyes, not wanting to cry again. I hated being weak.
Dropping my hands, I almost ran into Beckett. Well, that answered my questions. He just came from my bedroom, hands at his side.
“There’s water by your bed and some more pain reliever in case you need it. Noah got your phone on the charger as well, and also your tablet is close by so you can watch something.”
“Thanks?” That’s more than what I'd do for myself. For Noah, I’d have done ten more things. He was a baby when he was sick, no matter if it was a simple cold or the flu. He didn’t handle being sick well at all.
“Noah’s asked me to stay the night here.”
