Page 66 of Have To Be Mine

“I was not.”

“Krista, come on.”

She narrowed her eyes at me, which meant she was starting to feel better. “I was managing it,” she said.

“Sure.” I looked out my own window. “That’s what we’ll call it.”

“Thank you for the water.”

I didn’t make a big deal of it. I knew what it cost for her to admit she was struggling. Worse, the fact that I was the one to rescue her. “You’re welcome.”

By the time we got back to the hotel, she’d finished both bottles and looked considerably more human. Her eyes were clearer and she was walking under her own power through the lobby without holding on to things.

We rode the elevator up in silence. The tension was heavy. She fished out her key card. I took it from her before she could protest.

“I can open my own door,” she griped.

“And yet, I’m opening it anyway.” I held it for her, smiling at her stormy expression.

She walked in and glanced over her shoulder. It wasn’t an invitation, but it wasn’t a rejection. I let myself in behind her.

“I’m ordering room service,” I said. “You need food.”

“I’m okay.”

I ignored her and did it anyway. It was late and the kitchen was closed, but the concierge on the night desk sent someone out to pick things up.

“I’m not hungry,” she said when I hung up. “Not really.”

“Well, then I’ll just have to eat it all,” I said with a shrug. “Take a cold shower. By the time you’re finished, the food will be here along with aloe vera.”

“I have aloe,” she said tiredly.

“You’re going to need twenty bottles.”

She frowned but went into the bathroom. I heard the shower turn on. I remembered falling asleep on a yacht in the Caribbean. Sebastian had been there. Fucker let me cook. I was fried. I couldn’t move my arms. My lips had been so chapped I was forced to survive on smoothies because eating was too painful.

There was a knock at the door. I collected the bags of tacos, pain reliever, and more aloe vera gel.

She walked out of the bathroom wearing her shorts and that ugly shirt.

“Sit, let me rub some of this gel on your shoulders.”

“I can do it myself.”

“Sit down, Krista.”

She frowned at me. She wanted to argue but didn’t. She flopped on the bed.

“Take off your shirt.”

“No!”

I rolled my eyes. “First of all, I’ve seen them and you have nothing to be ashamed of. Second, I’ll be behind you.”

She exhaled and reached for the hem of her shirt, back toward me, and pulled it over her head. It was still on her arms, covering her breasts. I shook my head but didn’t give her shit for it.

I opened the aloe and squeezed some into my palm. I applied it as gently as I could manage. She sucked in a breath.