He nods. “Alright.”
We sit in silence while Lila drinks. There’s something so calming about being out here. I don’t know what it is. Is it Hunter? The quiet of the farm itself? The animals? I have no idea. It feels vital. Like breathing. Like eating. The only problem is that I’m not sure I’m any good at those things.
“She was hungry tonight. Screaming bloody murder at me as soon as I walked out here.”
“Poor baby.”
Hunter hums. “It’s probably time to start introducing feed soon.”
I frown. “No more bottle-feeding?”
“She’ll still get milk, just extras too. She’s a growing girl.”
Fuck. His voice is so soft and warm and tender. There’s something wrong with me. I snort a humorless laugh.Obviously, there’s something wrong with me. A great many things. But even all the normal fucked-up things about me don’t explain why I want to curl up in Hunter’s lap the way Lila is and let him take care of me the same way.
Am I really that starved for human connection that I’m clinging to the first person to show me kindness? I think I am. Fuck, that’s pathetic.
I blow out a breath. “She’s sweet. I really like her.”
Hunter’s quiet for so long that I worry I’ve done something wrong. “She is. Are you feeling better?”
Am I? I shake my head, then nod. “Sort of.”
“Energy level?”
I turn to Hunter. “What do you mean?”
His eyes roam slowly over my face, lingering on mine for a beat before he looks away. “You said before that you wake up with less energy than most people. Described it in percentages.” He shrugs. “Was just curious if you had a percentage now.”
My throat tightens to the point of pain. “I… uh—” I stop, clearing my throat. “Maybe thirty.”
“And this morning?”
I see what he’s doing. “Five, tops.”
He nods slowly. “What do you wanna do with your thirty percent?”
Spend it with you.“I’m not sure.”
Lila finishes her bottle before Hunter can answer, and he pulls it from her mouth with a little pop. “You ready to head back in?” he asks softly.
“Can we stay here a little longer?” I shake my head. “Never mind—”
“Of course we can. You saidwe. You want me to stay too?”
I nod, unable to speak past the lump in my throat.
Hunter carefully lays Lila down in the hay in front of him. “Okay.”
“No,Lila.Leavehimbe now, ya hear me?”
I crinkle my nose, confused.
“Lila,” someone hisses.Hunter.“Leave him alone. I’ll get you fed in a minute. Stop being a menace.”
My eyes fly open in confusion, and when I realize where I am, I groan. Sitting up quickly, I already have my apology poised on the tip of my tongue. Given the way Hunter is staring at me, he knows it too. “Don’t you dare apologize to me.”
I open and close my mouth. “Okay.”
