Page 28

“Orange juice, coffee, or water?” Calvin asks as he watches me enjoy my food.

“Can I have coffee and water, please?” I ask. “It’s an awkward balance between caffeine and hydration.”

“Do you want me to salt your water?” Calvin asks, already bustling around the kitchen to make my coffee.

“I…Huh. I wonder if that would help more than the packets of electrolytes that I use,” I say.

“It’s possible,” he says. “It’s Himalayan salt, so it does have traces of electrolytes. I’ll look into ways to naturally boost your sugar and electrolytes.”

There’s not a question anywhere in his sentence. I simply nod and thank him. I’m finished with breakfast and taking my pill by the time that Rachelle returns, and I hope it kicks in soon without making me sleepy.

Damn, I should have thought of that, but the school day is too long to raw dog it. The only benefit of being in the hospital is that Rachelle brow beat every doctor I needed to see outside of a psychiatrist into coming by my room.

I now have emergency onset medication for my migraines, a new type of med to help keep them away for longer periods of time.

Feeling better, I slide off the chair and thank Calvin for the food. At his harsh glance at my half full glass of water, I drink the rest of it with a little smile. It’s almost nice to have people mother henning me.

“Ignacio is going to come with us to the school to walk you inside with me, and he has a present for you,” Rachelle says, ushering me out of the kitchen.

“Thank you for breakfast,” I call over my shoulder.

“It’s my pleasure, Miss Noor,” Calvin replies. “Have a good day, and please don’t take any of that preppy bullshit from your peers.”

“I won’t,” I promise, smothering a laugh.

“We’re rubbing off on him,” Liliana mutters as we leave. “Every year, Calvin gets a little more psychotic.”

“He was my butler first,” Jared says, joining us with a yawn. He’s already dressed for the day, and I vaguely wonder what everyone does while I’m at school. “Calvin has always been quietly stabby.”

My lips twitch in amusement, and Ignacio waits at the front door beside Theo and Elijah. They are both holding wiggly toddlers who are fully dressed and appear ready to go to school with little backpacks. In the corner, I can see that my backpack is by the front door, and I remind myself I’m committed to going to school.

Even if I am scared of what I’ll find.

“Actually, the girls really want to talk to you before we go, so I’ll give this to you in the car,” Ignacio says, his cheeks turning pink as he shoves the box in his pocket.

Liliana rolls her eyes and gives Ari and Addie kisses.

“What do you want to say to Noor before she goes to school?” she asks, smiling.

Adelina is glaring at me, and I raise my brow in surprise at her. Theo is frowning as he adjusts her in his arms, and I wonder if he knows what’s wrong.

“You lie, Noo,” she says angrily.

“Did I?” I ask, still confused.

“Addie,” Liliana sighs.

“Mentirosa,” Adelina insists. I’ve been taking Spanish in school all of my life, and I think she just called me a liar. Damn, that’s a big word for a two-year-old.

“What did I lie about, honey?” I ask.

“I have a feeling I know,” Liliana mumbles.

Ari launches herself at me while I try to figure out what’s going on, and Elijah gasps as I catch her. I guess it’s a good thing there are so many people who live here, because having two toddlers is chaotic.

“I got her,” I promise Elijah, wincing as I hold Ari. My bruises don’t love this, but she’s light enough for me to carry. “Adelina, what did I promise?”

“You said you’d be home after school,” Liliana says, picking Addie up to hug her as she starts to cry. “Baby, Noor didn’t have any control over that. It doesn’t make her a liar.”