“You didn’t even ask if I was hungry,” she murmured, staring at the bowl.
He finally turned and looked straight at her.
“If you weren’t hungry,” he said,“you wouldn’t have come out of the bedroom.”
A strange sensation washed over her—like he could read her down to the bloodstream. Nina dropped her gaze, nervous, and picked up the spoon. He was right. She was hungry.
Nina wanted to say something, but the words stuck in her throat.
“You don’t have to—” she started.
“No, I don’t,” Jasper cut in.“But I’m doing it anyway.”
She fell silent. Anything that came to mind sounded foolish, out of place.
“Why?” Nina finally breathed.
Jasper sat down across from her and picked up his tea. For a moment, he simply watched her eat.
“Because once, I became someone I never wanted to be,” he said.“And now the only way I can even begin to make it right isby taking care of you until this is over.”
Nina looked at him. His face was calm, but tension flickered in his eyes. He controlled every emotion, every movement—and still she could see it: something inside him was burning, irreversible.
“You’re too calm for someone who did what you did to me,” she said, unable to say the word out loud.
“My calm doesn't mean I've forgotten,” Jasper replied.“I remember everything. And believe me, I pay for it every single day.Let's not reopen a painful subject.”
Nina froze.
“Silence won't redeem you.”
“No,”he nodded.“But it's all I'm entitled to right now.”
She looked away.
“Don’t you have work,” she muttered,“if you have time to drive all the way out here just to bring me food?”
“I took the day off,” Jasper said, taking another sip of tea and reaching for a cheese toast.
“And you decided to spend it with me?”Nina scoffed.
They ate in silence. There was nothing left to say. Nina caught herself relaxing a little. Strangely enough, being near Frank right now would’ve been far more dangerous than being near Jasper.She was hiding from her husband of twenty-two years—not the man across the table.
“Take your meds,” Jasper said.“I got your EKG results. I added a couple of prescriptions. Nothing serious, but in your case it won’t hurt. And try not to stress so much.”
Nina gave a crooked smile.
“So now you’re my attending physician too?”
He didn’t get the chance to answer.
The front door burst open.
They both turned their heads at the same time.
Lynn.
Didn't Jasper say she wasn't coming back today?
