Page 58 of Siren's Game

"Maybe."

"Then I’m going to go out on a limb here and tell you to get her a hot water bottle. Definitely a pizza and a tub of ice cream. Painkillers, just in case."

I scrunch my eyebrows together, confused. That doesn't sound like the kind of food I got when I was sick as a child. Then again, it's my mom, so she will know better than I do.

"Okay?" I tell her, already trying to figure out where to get that stuff.

"And definitely be prepared for more supermarket runs."

I sigh when I pull into a parking spot in the underground garage of Kayla's building. I feel ridiculous. If it were truly my fault that she's gotten sick, I'm sure she would have wasted no time letting me know how much of an asshole I am and told me to wait on her hand and foot.

So why am I still so worried?

I know the answer. Of course, I know it, I'm not a fucking idiot. Even though she's infuriating, even though she's pricklier than a porcupine, for some reason I’m head over heels for that damn woman.

Why? I don't know. Maybe I'm a masochist, maybe I like a challenge.

Fact is, she's not creeping her way into my heart, she’s full on bulldozing it, and I am not yet sure what to make of it.

Gulping down my apprehensiveness, I jump out of the car and get the groceries I've bought from the backseat. I got some chicken soup, fruits, a few vegetables and other groceries to cook, depending on how well she is.

I also splurged on a way too expensive hot water bottle, because it’s the only one they had, and I saw one of those weighted blankets that are supposed to be good to fall asleep, so I grabbed one of those while I was at it.

Then there is a stuffed penguin toy, just because I felt like it and it looked cute. And some sweets and chips so I have something to snack on while I’m at her place. Provided she’ll even let me in.

I even swung by my mother’s shop and got some flowers. That’s appropriate for someone who’s recovering from a sickness, isn’t it? When I told her they were for Kayla, she wouldn’t even listen to more input and threw some purple lilies together with pink roses and white baby breath. Not a combination I’ve seen before, but it looks cute.

“New beginning,” she’d said with a wink as she handed it to me and I lovingly rolled my eyes at her incorporating a message with her flower language before I took it. Looks like Dad filled her in about Kayla’s and my history after all.

Heaving all the plastic bags over my arms is more difficult than I thought, but I'm not a two-trip kind of person. Never been, never will be.

Thank God I can close the door by nudging it with my hip, because I'm packed.

I shoot the building’s security guy a sheepish smile as I walk past him to the elevator. Thankfully he's the same one I've seen a few times already, and he lets me through without a hitch. If a new one had to call Kayla for clearance to let me up, it could have gotten awkward.

After pushing the button to her level with my elbow, I lean my back against the cold elevator wall and take a few deep breaths. Holy shit, this stuff is heavy!

Groaning, I heave everything into the hallway when the doors open and haul it to Kayla's door, where I set some of it on the ground to knock.

Silence.

I knock again, this time a bit louder. And by a bit louder, I mean that I am now full on pounding against her door.

There’s still only silence.

"Kayla," I shout and knock again. Now I hear some shuffling behind the door. "Open up. I know you’re there."

"Go away, Asher." Her voice on the other side of the door sounds weak. "I'm sick."

"I know."

"Well, then go." She really sounds like she's suffering, her voice breaking, and I can hear a few curse words when I lean my ear against the door. “I’m not in the mood to entertain you.”

"No. Open up."

"Fuck off, Asher."

"I will, after you've opened the door." I cross my fingers as I say it, though.

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