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.

Hayden came back with 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.

a few moments later, I heard the flick of a lighter and smelled

Hayden rubbed it, and I flinched, but

dad used to do it when I was younger-but it always felt a little too hot

then my right. Just when

jerked it back. "You don't need

you want to undress me, but now you're scared of me touching your foot?"

remember anything. But Hayden knew exactly what I'd said, and there was no

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

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

+25 BONUS Chapter 189

to when my parents were still around. It felt comforting, but it also made my heart ache. Before I realized it, tears started slipping

stood

called quietly, watching him walk away. "Did we

my childhood, like he was channeling

thought he might answer, but whatever he said was too quiet for me to