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

Chapter 189

+25 BONUS

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.

a towel wrapped around something. "We'll use some ice to bring your fever down. Drink more water too. If it drops, you won't need the meds," he said, gently laying me down on the couch. He placed

but a few moments later, I heard

flinched, but he spoke quietly, "It's an old trick to help

to do it when I was younger-but

as he massaged my left hand, then my right. Just when I

"You don't need to do

now you're scared of me touching your foot?" Hayden teased, catching me

pretend like I didn't remember anything. But Hayden knew exactly what I'd said, and

only thing I could-stay quiet. Silence felt like my best defense. I shut my eyes

over the soles of my feet, sending shivers through me. It tickled, but in a way

+25 BONUS Chapter 189

heart ache. Before I

stood up

called quietly, watching him walk

he was channeling the care my

thought he might answer, but whatever he