Chapter 82

Jason carefully placed Grace in the chair and propped a storage box beneath the kitchen table so she could elevate

her foot.

“You need to eat,” he said. Then he busied himself in the

kitchen reheating the food she’d prepared earlier.

“You know,” Lina said. “I wasn’t too keen on this whole

arrangement. You kind of came out of nowhere and basically moved in.” Lina laughed softly as she took in the small

changes around the apartment. “I definitely wasn’t buying all that sister/brother stuff.” She laughed again.

Jason arched a brow at her.

“But now,” Lina went on, “It’s clear you’re good for my friend. Thank you for helping her.”

Jason turned back to plating up food for Grace. “There is no reason to thank me. Grace would do the same for me.”

As he said it, he realized that was true. She’d be there for him. No questions asked. No stipulations or expectations of something in return. And she wouldn’t leave his side.

Could he say that of anyone else in his life? Anyone who wasn’t on his payroll, that is. Or who wasn’t out to gain something from him?

Lina yawned.

“You should go home and rest,” Grace said. “This has been… a stressful day. I’m sorry you got dragged into this drama.”

Lina gave Grace a hug. “The other people brought the drama when they tried to bully you.”

Grace just shrugged. “I shouldn’t have engaged. I know

better…

“That’s nonsense,” Lina argued. “They had no right to target

you.”

she wanted to

of her head. “Can I

Grace said. “Go home. I’ll call

and closed and locked it behind her. Then he fed Grace her dinner. She protested at first,

in the chair feeling so tired and weary. Her ankle ached. Most of her body did. But mostly, she just felt beaten down.

that look,” Jason said

need to

brought the dishes to the sink

sat there, a bit dazed, watching. Given all that she had experienced, she seldom allowed herself to wallow or to feel sorry for herself. What point

just now, she felt a bit hopeless.

was done tidying up, he asked, “Sister, do you

“Huh?”

he asked as if it

to the roots of her hair. She

and wobbled on

sat back down.

“Sister, do you need to go to the

but she

make sure she was steady. Then he backed out and closed the door behind

done,” he

grew even

her, that by him asking, he had been paying attention to how frequently she relieved herself. On the one hand, it was a basic

bathroom, Jason was there. He swept her up and

can walk. There’s a slight

but the

doctor said you should move as little

“Or do you not like me taking care of

She shook

faintly and reached out to lightly

getting hurt, Sister,

you?” She was a

have to carry you. If you want to eat, I’ll feed you. When

me.”

Grace swallowed hard.

more… intimate than a brother

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