Page 46 of The Last Thing
“Lie down and rest.”
She stares at me for a beat, then gets under the covers.
“I’ll be back soon.”
I kiss her forehead—another risk—but she doesn’t push me away or even bristle at the touch.
She feels this too. I know she does. And somewhere deep down, she wants it.
When I get backto Hallie’s apartment, I pop the two gallons of ice cream I got at the grocery store in her freezer before heading to her bedroom.
I jogged through the door of the supermarket four minutes before closing and got some very dirty looks, but I paid by card at the self-checkout and ran out the door with thirty seconds to spare. Then I hit up McDonald’s drive-thru for fries and a milkshake.
Hallie is sitting up in bed, knees up to her chest, eyes glazed as she stares at the small TV on her dresser.
“Hey.”
Her gaze darts to me. “Hi.”
“How are you doing?”
She shrugs. “Okay. Didn’t throw up anymore. Still queasy. My stomach hurts.” She blinks a couple of times, then looks away.
I ache to reach for her, cup her cheek, comfort her. But I’m not sure she finds me comforting.
Instead, I pull a container of fries from the bag in my hand and offer them and the milkshake to her. “Eat.”
She swallows hard as she takes them from me. “Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me. I’m happy to do it. Do you need anything else?”
Her eyes roll over my face. “I—I’m okay. But did you want to stay?”
My heart leaps at her words.
“I could stay.” I couldn’t hide the smile creeping up my lips if I wanted to.
“Okay then.”
I walk around the side of the bed and sit down next to her.
“Anything you want to watch?” she asks.
I toe my shoes off, then kick my feet up and pluck my own container of fries—and nuggets—from the bag. “Whatever you want.”
“Okay. Hope you don’t mind fast-talking, sarcastic women.” She turns onGilmore Girlsas I arch a brow at her.
“Youare a fast-talking, sarcastic woman.”
She laughs. “Perhaps.”
Finally, she relaxes, and I feel like I can too.
“Fries and nuggets?” she asks.
“Don’t tell Sophia, but I’m a sucker for McDonald’s fries and chicken nuggets.”
Hallie elbows me. “Maybeyoushould tell Sophia. Let that playful side out. It’s good for her.” She swirls a fry through her milkshake and pops it into her mouth. “And maybe I like seeing it too.”
