“Making some dinner.”
I groan and get out of bed. “What did I tell you?”
“I was hungry.” He returns to the kitchen, so I follow him and see a bunch of empty bottles on the counter. Wow, he drank all of that?
“Are you feeling better?” I ask.
“A little,” he answers as he cuts up some chicken but takes a second to breathe heavily. Behind him, there’s a pan on the stove, looking like it’s heating up.
“I can do that,” I say.
“So can I,” he answers stubbornly.
“Back to a fun mood, I see.” I take a seat at the island, watching him run his finger along the breast, the sight of it oddly erotic.
He glances up at me, his brow perched. “I’m acting normal. Not like I’m going to throw a parade, is that what you want?”
“No, but you don’t have to be such a dick to me after I took care of you.”
“How am I being a dick?” he asks. “I’m making you dinner.”
“It’s the way you speak to me.”
“I don’t know what you want me to do, Lilly. I don’t know how to talk to you right now. And you just caught me in a really fucking vulnerable mood today, I’m . . . I’m embarrassed.”
“Embarrassed to show me your vulnerability?” I ask him. “You realize that makes you human, right?”
“Three months ago, I wouldn’t have cared.” He slices the chicken. “Now . . . now I care.”
“I see,” I answer. “So is this how it’s going to be while we’re here? You’re just going to shut down?”
“I’m trying to figure some shit out, and the sooner I can get you out of here, the better. Trust me, I don’t want to be here either.”
Wow. Okay then.
Any sympathy I was feeling for him a few hours ago, completely vanished. This was the exact wake-up call that I needed.
“Lovely.” I push off my chair and walk over to the couch. Before I sit down, I fold my arms and turn toward him. “You know, Keller, for a second, I actually felt bad for you today.”
“Don’t,” he says. “Don’t for one goddamn minute feel bad for me.”
I shake my head and turn away from him.
Good. I don’t.
I go back to watching myI Love Lucyepisode, because at least that will keep my mind off the infuriating man in the kitchen.
You would think he’d be grateful for today, but nope, he’s back to his regular self, guarded, not letting anyone in.
That’s fine.
I can do the same fucking thing.
ChapterThirty
KELLER
I stare down at my notebook, my notes feeling like complete nonsense.
