Rafael
Jay, figure out your crush on Letty stat, brother. You need to marry that woman and start having kids soon before I strangle you.
Jelani
Awwwww <3 Are you saying I’d be a good daddy, luv?
Rafael
I’m saying that I want you to be a stay at home dad, so I don’t have to deal with you anymore.
I chuckle at that, the ache in my chest easing as they bicker back and forth, granting me a front-row seat to their unfiltered minds. It’s nice to be included, even if they’re just doing it to cheer me up.
I’m off to bed. Thanks for the pep talk today. Have a good night lads.
Jelani
Goodnight sweetie Daddy Jay loves you <3
Nakoa
Sleep tight, angel tit
Rafael
Goodnight.
I smirk, shaking my head at the absurdity of their messages before rolling over and knocking out for the night, my heart fuller than it had been at the start of the day.
CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
Elijah’s perceptivenessis starting to get on my last nerve. I feel like a bloody idiot for lying to him,and everyone else, for that matter, but I know this is for the best.
From what I know of his past, he’s got entirely too much on his plate to be dealing with my issues, too, and I’m certain that moving in with someone who acts as a constant reminder of his mum’s battle with cancer wasn’t on his bingo card when he signed his half of the lease. It’s best I make sure he never knows that’s precisely what’s written in his “free” space.
He’s toogoodand too bloody caring to have to deal with all the rubbish unfolding around me. Elijah needs a low-stress environment. Hedeservesthat after all he’s given up for his family, and I’d do nothing but get in his way.
I lie in bed, my stomach gurgling with hunger. I’ve been able to hold down food the last few days as my stomach has settledand Dr. Alvarez prescribed some stronger antiemetics. I ignore the gnawing feeling, but my attention snaps to the door as I hear Elijah’s light knock. He says nothing, but a note slips under the door.
Leave it, Adhira. No point getting up now.
I nibble on my bottom lip, willing myself to roll over and turn off the light. To ignore the offending piece of paper taunting me, but I’ve never been great at impulse control, and apparently, I’m not about to start now. Besides, I’ve begun looking forward to his nightly responses to my notes. Regrettably, they’re one of my favourite parts of the day.
I crawl out of bed and bend to pick up the note. Elijah’s messy writing reads,
I’m sorry I was listening in on your conversation. I don’t like when you don’t eat. Please have something before bed. I left a plate covered in the microwave.
In exchange for your forgiveness, I bring to you tonight’s weird orca fact: Did you know that some orcas have been observed wearing the carcass of a dead salmon on their heads, sometimes for months at a time? Scientists call these “salmon hats.”
Night,
Elijah
My stomach drops. There he goes again, being nothing but kind when I’ve been a revolving door of cuntiness to him.
A heavy sigh leaves my lips as I pad out through the living room and into the kitchen.
