21. Kyra
21
Kyra
TWO MONTHS LATER…
S un peaks through the blinds, and I roll away from it. My stomach is churning, and the crackers I had before bed last night threaten to make a reappearance. As bile creeps up the back of my throat, I kick free of the blankets and rush to the bathroom. I make it just in time.
I puke until there’s nothing left. Hell, it feels like my body tried to dig deep and find food I’d eaten years ago. Leaning against the side of the tub, completely exhausted, I listen for the telltale sounds that Heidi and Hunter are awake.
And I wish, not for the first time, that Reaper was here.
We haven’t been together since the night we had sex, not in the biblical sense anyway. I expected it to become a regular thing, but he’s surprised me by taking a step back and working to build a solid foundation for…
For what?
That’s the million-dollar question. Reaper has done exactly what he said he’d do. He and his brothers have helped me get back on my feet at the diner and filled in as far as helping out with Heidi and Hunter, but I don’t need that anymore. I’ve been able to hire several new staff members and a college freshman, Sasha, who the twins seem to love as their new babysitter. Although, I don’t need her as often as I did now that I have trustworthy employees and Reaper.
“Aw, shit,” I mumble as another wave of nausea has me hugging the toilet. “There’s nothing left,” I cry in between heaves.
I don’t know how long I sit here, but the moment I’m confident my stomach is done protesting, I use the vanity for leverage to stand. Staring in the mirror, I’m horrified to find dark circles under my eyes, pale skin, and horribly messy hair. But it can’t be helped.
After brushing my teeth, I’m exhausted and barely able to stand without support. There’s no way I’m going to be able to get the kids up and to school. I make my way to my nightstand where my cell is plugged into the charger and call the first person that comes to mind.
“Morning, beautiful,” Reaper says by way of greeting. “I was just about to text you.”
“Trust me, there’s nothing beautiful about the way I feel right now,” I croak, my throat sore.
“Damn, you sound awful.”
“Thanks. I feel even worse. I think I’m dying.”
“Say no more,” he says. “I’ll be over to take care of you.”
“No, really. I’m okay. I just need you to help with?—”
“See you soon.”
He disconnects before I can respond. Feeling a little better knowing that I don’t have to go anywhere, and with the house still quiet, I crawl back into bed. I try to fight off sleep so I can at least tell Heidi and Hunter to have a good day at school, but I must doze off because the next thing I know, the mattress dips with added weight.
“Hi,” Reaper says, smiling down at me.
“You came.”
“I told you I would.” He helps me sit up and hands me a glass of water. “Here, you need to stay hydrated. Kids are with my brothers so you can rest for the day.”
“With your brothers? Reaper, they have to be in school.”
“Babe, it’s Saturday,” he says. “No school, just fun.”
I must be sicker than I realize if I don’t even know what day it is. Reaper flattens his hand on my forehead, and his brow furrows.
“You’re burning up, Kyra.”
“That explains the sweat.”
“Sweat is good. It’ll help with the fever. I think we should get you in a cool bath though, just to give it a little boost.”
“Over my dead body am I getting into cold water,” I snap.
A shadow passes over his eyes, but it’s gone so fast I convince myself I made it up. Then he smirks.
“Ya know, when you first said you were sick, I thought you might be pregnant.”
Holy shit. That thought never even occurred to me. What if I am? I shake that thought out of my head. I had my period a few weeks ago, and Reaper hasn’t touched me beyond a kiss in two months.
“Nope. Not pregnant.”
“I figured. Now, up with you,” he insists, standing and tugging me to my feet. “Gotta get that fever down.”
“Can’t you just leave me alone?” I whine.
“No can do.”
My feet refuse to work so Reaper lifts me in his arms and carries me to the bathroom. He closes the toilet lid before setting me down so he can fill the tub. Another wave of nausea slams into me.
“Oh, no,” I mumble, sliding off the toilet to the floor.
I manage to get turned around as Reaper lifts the lid, and the water I took a drink of reappears. He sits down behind me and holds my hair out of my face while I continue to dry heave for what feels like hours.
Losing the battle about a cold bath, he helps me undress and into the tub. My teeth chatter, and Reaper apologizes profusely for making me uncomfortable, but it doesn’t stop him from keeping me in there for at least ten minutes.
“You’re evil,” I accuse when he helps me dry off and get into comfy clothes.
“It was for your own good,” he reminds me. “You’ll thank me when that fever disappears, and the body aches stop.”
“We’ll see about that.”
He chuckles. “You’re starting to sound like Grump.”
“I’m sick. What’d you expect?”
“Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Just know that it doesn’t matter as long as you get better.”
Well, damn. Now he’s being all sweet.
“Sit here,” he instructs, pointing to the closed toilet lid. “I’m gonna get some fresh sheets on your bed.”
Really fucking sweet.
I groan, wanting nothing more than to climb under the covers but appreciating his help. He gets me tucked in in no time, telling me he’s going to run to the store for a few things and will check on me when he gets back.
I doze off again, waking sometime later to the smell of something delicious. Fully expecting my stomach to protest, I’m surprised when it growls instead. I throw off the covers and slowly stand, testing my ability to do so without assistance.
“That smells good,” I say sleepily when I step into the kitchen.
“Homemade chicken noodle soup,” Reaper says, his tone much harsher than it was earlier. “You want a bowl?”
“Yes, please.” I sit at the table, resting my head on my palm. “How long was I out?”
“Few hours.”
“Reaper?”
“What?”
“You can go if you have better things to do.”
He whirls around, almost spilling the soup he’s ladling into a bowl. “Why would I leave?”
I shrug half-heartedly. “You seem angry about something.”
Reaper sighs but remains quiet until he sets a steaming bowl of soup in front of me. “I am angry. Fuck, I saw red when I got back from the store.”
“Okay. Why?”
He points to a box that’s sitting on the counter that I somehow missed when I walked in the room.
“You had a package delivered.”
“And you opened it?” I ask, annoyed that he assumed that was okay.
“It wasn’t sealed.”
“Oh.”
“Eat, then we’ll talk.”
Sensing there’s no room for compromise, I take small bites of chicken and noodles and sips of broth.
“This is really good.”
“Thanks. It was my mom’s recipe. It’s the one thing I know how to cook well.”
“Do you see her often? Your mom, I mean.”
He shakes his head. “She died years ago.”
“I’m sorry.”
“What about yours?”
“My mom died right after high school graduation, and my dad remarried pretty quickly. We don’t really talk anymore.”
“Oh.”
Silence ensues, but it isn’t awkward. It’s comfortable and… right.
When my bowl is empty, I slide it across the table. “Okay, now talk,” I order, although still feeling a little under the weather, the command doesn’t sound much like a command.
Reaper goes and retrieves the box from the counter and puts it on the table in front of me. I peak inside and gasp.
“Who would send that to you?”
The sightless eyes of a dead crow stare up at me. The bird is resting on a piece of butcher block with a large knife holding it in place.
“I… I don’t know.”
“Has anything happened since that day at the diner that you were attacked?”
“No, nothing.”
“No texts or calls, no threats of any kind?”
I lift my eyes to him and frown. “Reaper, nothing has happened. Anyway, you’ve been around since then. I’d have told you, I promise.”
“Okay,” he says as I fail at stifling a yawn. “Shit, I’m sorry, Kyra. You don’t need this right now. Go back to bed and get some more rest, and we’ll figure this out later.”
“No, no, I’m okay.” I yawn again, suddenly unable to stop. “We can talk now.”
Reaper bends to pick me up and carry me to bed. After tucking me in, he leans over, kissing me on the forehead.
“Sleep, babe. I’ll be here when you wake up.”