Page 22 of Tower
“Sure. Why didn’t you just ask me?”
“I didn’t want to be a pain.”
He rolls his eyes at me as he heads to his chair. “You want somethin’, you gotta ask.”
“Okay.”
“I’m not a mind reader, you know.”
“I never thought you were.”
“So if there’s somethin’ you need, open your mouth and tell me.”
“I said okay!”
He’s slouching down in the chair like he normally does, toeing off his shoes, but he slants me a pointed look. “You mad at me now?”
“No, I’m not mad at you.”
“You sure? ’Cause I’m sensin’ some feisty vibes waftin’ my way from your direction.”
I gasp indignantly even though I know he’s teasing me. “I’m not feisty! Or mad! There are no vibes wafting your way of any kind.”
He snorts and closes his eyes, almost smiling as he mutters, “If you say so, girl.”
I really do try not to, but I’m hiding a smile as I pick up my book from the couch and return it to its spot on the side table.
When I glance over, Levi is peering at me through only one eye.
“What?” I ask him.
“No foot rub today?”
“Do you really think you deserve one after riling me up on purpose?”
“Course I don’t deserve one, but you been givin’ ’em to me anyway.”
The words are casual, but they hit me strangely. I study his face as I kneel at his feet in my normal position. His eyes are closed. He’s relaxed. But he said what he said.
I wonder if he genuinely believes he doesn’t deserve someone doing him a kindness.
“Kind of mean to tease me like that,” he says without opening his eyes. “My feet are right there, behavin’ themselves and not even smellin’ too bad today, and you ain’t even touchin’ ’em.”
I giggle at his dry tone. I can’t help it. Then I pull off his socks and get up to get the wet hand towel and lotion since I forgot I’ll need them.
I take my time with the foot massage, and I’m surprised that he doesn’t fall asleep like normal. He moans a few times—he usually does as he relaxes—until his breathing has slowed and deepened. His eyes stay closed, but he isn’t sleeping. I know the difference by now.
When I finally get through with his second foot, I pull my hands back and look up at his face.
His lids are heavy as he opens his eyes. “Thank you, sweetheart.”
It’s the first time he’s ever called me that. I’m not sure he’s even conscious of the word coming out, but it makes myheartbeat quicken with pleasure and surprise. “You’re welcome. Thankyou.”
“For what? For sittin’ here like a lump while you treat me all nice?”
“No!” I wouldn’t have continued had this not been the second time in thirty minutes that he implied he didn’t deserve me being nice to him. “You’ve been really good to me. I would have been dead—after being raped over and over again—if you hadn’t agreed to take me on. And I know you’re getting something out of the deal, but it still feels like I’m getting more. Plus you were really patient with me for a couple of weeks when you didn’t have to be.”
He shifts in his chair. His mouth twists. “What the hell did you expect? I’m not a fuckin’ monster, you know.”
