Tobias reaches over and grabs my hands, rubbing his thumbs on the back of them. “Because I was worried about you. I was worried that something was wrong with you because you were still sleeping. Who sleeps for almost a day and doesn’t wake up once?”
“Me?” I ask innocently.
“It’s not something to be proud of, Little One.” He pins me with a look. “It’s not good at all. You sleeping that long and not even waking up to eat food means you have been working yourself too hard and were utterly exhausted. It means that you haven’t been taking care of yourself.”
“I’ve been taking care of myself,” I mumble.
Not well, but I have been. I eat at least one meal a day and drink three cans of soda. I get at least five hours of sleep.
“Little One.” He sighs. “Everything is going to change now. You are under my care, and I’m going to make sure that you are getting everything that you need.”
“I don’t need that. I’ve been taking care of myself just fine.” Lie.
I struggle to take care of myself. It takes so much energy… energy that I don’t have.
“Mila, let’s be honest with each other. You haven’t been taking care of yourself well, and it’s starting to show. I know you don’t want other people to worry, and you don’t want to bother people, but your health is at risk. You could get seriously sick and harm yourself. Do you know that?”
“Here’s your food. Do you need anything else?” the waitress asks.
“Could we get a small plate so we can split the food please?” Tobias asks, keeping his attention on me the whole time.
“I’ll be right back.”
“Do you know that?” he asks once again.
“I do,” I mumble. “I really do.”
So does Aiden after that phone call. I was trying to keep the fact that I wasn’t doing the best, but the doctor just had to go and call my emergency contact. I really need to change that, but I know I won’t. If anything serious were to happen, I would want him to know so he wouldn’t wonder if I was ignoring him when I wasn’t.
“So, are you going to let me take care of you after we get to the lodge?” he asks.
“Yes,” I reply before I can stop myself. “Wait!”
“You already agreed. You want this as much as I do. When we get to the lodge you’ll be staying with me, so I can keep a close eye on you. Understand?”
“Wait, I didn’t mean to agree to it!” I blurt out. “I promise I didn’t mean to say it.”
He raises an eyebrow as the waitress sets the plate down and leaves.
“Tobias, I really didn’t?—”
“I think you really meant it, but you are worried that you are going to bother me. So you’re trying to back out,” he says. “Am I wrong?”
My mouth immediately shuts, and I look away from him. Sure, I want someone to take care of me, but just like he said… I don’t want anyone to be bothered by me. I don’t want them to get annoyed that they have to take care of me.
“Little One, look at me,” he says gently.
“Tobias.” My voice breaks as I shake my head.
“Look at me. It’s okay,” he whispers.
I lift my head slightly, and tears pool in my eyes as I see the caring look he’s giving me.
“You aren’t a bother,” he says. “Repeat after me. I’m not a bother.”
My lips stay sealed though.
“Mila, I want you to repeat those words with me. I’m not a bother. Come on, you can do it.”
