Page 89 of Fight
"You don't have to do that."I said when Devon slid a plate in front of me."I was going to rest just a minute and then get it."
"No need."He lifted the silver cover off the plate revealing a medium sized steak, baked potato and a side of broccoli that looked only slightly over cooked.He put a set of silverware beside the plate, and started opening pizza boxes looking for his.Alexis brought a stack of paper plates to the table and gave one to Devon.
I cut into the steak in front of me and started eating, groaning in appreciation when the first bite hit my tongue. In just seconds I'd devoured the entire steak and sat looking down at the plate in front of me wishing there were more.
"Nickie?"Devon asked, his voice loud, as if he'd had to raise it to get my attention.
I looked up to find everyone sitting at the table eating, somehow in my focus on the steak I'd missed that everyone else was eating too.
"Do you want the other steak or are you gonna eat that stuff first?"He asked.
I looked down at my plate, not finding what was left very appetizing, there wasn't anything wrong with it, it just wasn't what my body wanted and needed.
"The other steak sounds great."I looked back up at Devon with a vague smile as I pushed the plate with the vegetables to one side.
He slid another covered plate across the table, bringing it to a stop in front of me.He lifted the cover off and set it on top of the other.
I dug into the fresh steak with the same enthusiasm, but slightly less single mindedness.Caden, Alexis and Devon continued their discussion.
"Ridges said they'd let us know if they find anything.My vote is that we stay put for a couple of days, let her heal, then we continue with our original plan.We have to wait a few days anyway to let Reese decide if he wants to try this.While he makes up his mind, we see if Ridges can find whoever hired those thugs to kidnap Nickie."Alexis said.
"I still want to find them now."Devon argued.
"Are you willing to leave her to do it?"Caden asked, his voice calm and dispassionate.
Devon shook his head."No.As much as I want to make them pay for what they've done, I can't do that."
I realized that they'd been talking for a while and I just hadn't registered it.I spoke up, changing the subject.
"You said Morgan found that I leach strength from Devon.Is that all the two of you found?"
"Not exactly."She said reluctantly.
"What else did you find?"Devon asked.
"That's the thing, it's hard to explain.I don't know what it is, but the way your system functions changes when Devon touches you.I've never encountered it before, either had Morgan."
"So, what now?"I wanted to know.
"Now we continue to feed you and let you rest, heal."She said simply.
"No, about what you found."I said.
"Oh," Alexis said."now nothing.Whatever it is, it's not hurting you so we don't do anything."
"I'd like to know what it is but if you say so."I popped the last bite of the second steak into my mouth.I pushed the plate off to the side and with my mouth still full I pointed to the last pizza box, the one no one was eating from.
Devon picked up a paper plate and opened the box."One slice or two?"
I held up a single finger and he put a slice of pizza on the plate before handing it to me.
"Thanks."I said after swallowing the mouthful.
We chatted about anything but what had happened that morning while we finished eating.
When we'd finished Devon helped me take a shower, then he put me back to bed, laying down beside me.He turned on the screen that had been disguised as a painting hanging on the wall at the foot of the bed .He found an old movie to distract us while we let my body work on healing.
Chapter 27
