The back door opens, and Aleksi walks in.
“When the fuck did my house become a fucking drop-in center?” I groan.
“When you failed to answer your fucking phone, asshole,” Aleksi retorts. Most people wouldn’t dare speak to me like that. He’s not most people. “Caitlyn, how you feeling today?” He walks over to the counter where she’s sitting.
“I’m good. You?” she replies.
“Good,” he says before turning to me. “I have that package you wanted, wrapped up too.”
“I want a package.” Lex looks from me to Aleksi.
“Take it. I’ll meet you down there soon. Do not destroy it before I get there,” I tell my brother.
“You are such a kill joy. Caitlyn, I’m sorry you’re going to die of boredom with this one,” Lex grumbles before walking out the back door. The entry to the basement is on the side of the house. That’s where Aleksi delivered the men who mugged Caitlyn.
Chapter Ten
Neo served me up a huge plate of food. It all looks delicious, but he’s out of his mind if he thinks I can eat all this. “This is a lot of food, Neo. I mean, it looks great. But what happens if I can’t finish it?” I ask him.
Neo tilts his head to the side. “What do you mean what happens? If you can’t eat it, just throw it in the trash, Caitlyn. It’s not a big deal.”
“It’s wasteful. I don’t want to be wasteful,” I say, keeping my voice low.
“Okay, whatever you don’t eat put into a container, and I’ll feed it to my dad’s dog later,” he tells me.
I nod and pick up the knife and fork he placed in front of me.
“I have to go do something. I won’t be long. Will you be okay here by yourself?”
“Mhmm, I can go. You don’t have to leave me in your home,” I say. “I’m also not really going to steal from you, just so you know.”
“Good to know.” Neo chuckles. “Stay right here. Eat. I won’t be long. If you finish before I get back, leave the plate on the counter. I’ll sort it out. This is your home now, Caitlyn. Remember, roomies,” he says with a smile.
“Okay. Thank you.” I can’t help but smile back at him. He’s insane, but I also don’t know what else I can do.
I have no intention of moving in. That would be crazy. But I will deal with that once I get out of this place and back to my own apartment. It might be a shithole, but it’s mine—well, it is until I can’t pay rent. Which, given my employment situation, isn’t going to be that long unless I can find a better job. Fast.
Shit. Work. I have to be at the diner this afternoon. I have time. Neo said he was taking me back to my apartment in a couple of hours. I’m just going to eat, then I’m going to shower again because that shower was heaven last night.
The food is delicious. All of it. But he hasn’t eaten anything. He didn’t even serve himself a plate. I really hope he didn’t go to all this effort just for me, but I have a feeling he did and that has those stupid butterflies flipping around in my stomach.
Maybe the books and movies are right? Maybe there are good men in the world?
I doubt it, but it’s a nice thought. If these men did exist, it’s highly unlikely I’d ever find one.
I force down more food than I can stomach, because I don’t want to be wasteful. I’m so full I actually feel sick. Shit.
Pushing the plate away from me, I run straight upstairs and into the bathroom that’s attached to the guestroom. My knees hit the cold tiles as I bend over the toilet, and everything I just ate comes right back up. Tears stream down my cheeks. I hate being sick.
“What’s wrong. Shit. Aleksi, get a fucking doctor here now!” Neo’s voice has me picking my head up.
“I’m fine,” I tell him, right before I lean back over the toilet and throw up again. This is mortifying.
Neo kneels down next to me. A wet towel presses on the back of my neck. “You’re not fine. Shit, was it the food? Where the fuck is the doctor?” His voice rises, and I flinch.
I shuffle away from him. “I’m sorry.” The backs of my hands swipe at my cheeks. “I tried to eat it all. I didn’t want to be wasteful.”
“Caitlyn, we talked about this. It’s not wasteful. You didn’t need to eat it all,” Neo says.
