Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right by Rosie Steppe

Chapter 189

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Since my parents passed away, I had never complained about the bitterness of medicine again. After all, there was no one left to give me sugar-free candies, and I hadn't tasted one since. "It's really sweet," Hayden coaxed, lifting the candy to my lips again, almost teasingly.

I finally opened my mouth. But the moment the candy touched my tongue, tears welled up in my eyes, spilling over before I could stop them.

"Why are you crying?" His hand was on my face, gently wiping the tears away

But the more he asked, the more I felt a tightness in my chest, and the harder it was to hold back the flood of emotions. My tears kept falling, faster than Hayden could wipe them.

In the end, he took the cup from my hands and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. "If you hate the medicine that much, we won't take it."

He stepped away, and I buried my face in my hands.

After crying for a bit, I felt lighter, like some of the weight on my chest had lifted. The thermometer under my arm beeped, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I glanced at the number: 100.8°F. Yep, definitely a fever.

water too. If it drops, you won't need the meds," he said, gently laying me down on the couch. He placed the ice pack on my forehead, his voice soft. Close your eyes

a few moments later, I heard the flick of a

it, and I flinched, but he spoke quietly, "It's an old trick to help with

it when I was younger-but it always felt a little too hot

still, trusting him as he massaged my left hand, then my right. Just when I thought he was

"You don't need

enough to say you want to undress me, but now you're scared of me touching

dead, pretend like I didn't remember anything. But Hayden knew exactly what I'd said, and there was no way he'd let me

I could-stay quiet. Silence felt like my best

worked over the soles of my feet, sending shivers through me. It tickled, but in a way that made me feel safe, like all the warmth I'd lost was

+25 BONUS Chapter 189

It felt comforting, but it also made my heart ache.

he stood up to

quietly, watching him walk away. "Did we know each

of my childhood, like he was channeling the care

paused for a second, and I thought he might answer, but whatever he said was too quiet