Page 76 of Never Your Girl

I grab a pillow and smack him with it. “You should probably stop with all the flattery or it’ll go straight to my head.”

He laughs, catching the pillow before it can hit him again. “Hey, I’m just saying it’s nice to see some color in your cheeks. You had me worried.”

My laughter fades at the genuine concern in his voice, and I hesitate before admitting, “No one’s ever taken care of me like that.”

His brow furrows. “What do you mean?”

“I mean exactly what I said.” I pick at the edge of the blanket, avoiding his gaze. “When I got sick as a kid, I had to deal with it myself. There wasn’t anyone to… do what you did.”

The room goes quiet, and when I finally force myself to look up, his gray eyes are steady and unwavering. “That’s messed up,” he says, his voice low. “No kid should have to take care of themselves like that.”

I shrug, trying to brush it off. “It’s just how it was. I got used to it.”

“Well, you don’t have to do that when I’m around,” he says firmly.

I blink, and my heart stutters. “Bridger, this isn’t?—”

“Real?” he cuts in as his expression grows serious. “Yeah, I know. But that doesn’t mean I can’t take care of you if you need it. That’s all.”

Instead of responding, I grab the pillow again and toss it at his face. He catches it easily, laughing as he pulls me down onto the bed beside him.

“Admit it,” he says, his voice teasing. “Little Miss Independent liked being taken care of.”

I glare at him, but my lips twitch, betraying me. “Maybe. Just a little.”

He grins, his hand brushing a strand of hair from my face. “Good. Because you’re stuck with me for the time being, Tate.”

I swallow hard, the weight of his words settling over me. I should argue or push him away. At the very least, remind him that whatever this is doesn’t mean there’s anything between us.

But as his gaze holds mine, I can’t bring myself to say anything at all.

Western University Chat App

FragileLikeABomb

Hypothetical question: You’re stranded on a desert island. What three things do you bring?

ColdAsIce17

Easy. A multi-tool, a water filter, and a boat.

FragileLikeABomb:

A boat? Isn’t that cheating?

ColdAsIce17

Says the person who probably just thought “Wi-Fi.”

FragileLikeABomb

Touché. But let’s not pretend you wouldn’t miss messaging me.

ColdAsIce17

Miss? You overestimate yourself.

FragileLikeABomb

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