“If you’re a good girl and eat your whole breakfast, you can have some of my eggs and fruit. I don’t think really solid food or anything you’ll have to chew much would be a good idea with your lip and your jaw.”
She wanted to argue—mostly because she wanted the bacon—but first of all, he was right, and second, his expression was stern, dark blond brows heavy over steely blue eyes. It wasn’t like she’d get him to change his mind. All she would do would be to earn a punishment for when she was better. She knew she’d do it sooner or later, and really, sooner was more likely, so she may as well not fuck up the things that were easy to not fuck up.
Like obediently opening her mouth when he put the nipple of the first bottle to her lips and sucking. It was more like a smoothie than a liquid; sweet and nutty and creamy all at once, with maybe some banana in it? It tasted so fresh and good, and the cold felt good on her sore lip and she only had to swallow, not chew.
“It’s an almond smoothie, you need some protein to get through this morning. I know it’s scary having to talk to Principal York, but I’ll be right here and I promise I won’t let anything bad happen to you, okay? You’re my little girl and I’ll protect you. Take care of you.”
If she weren’t already snuggled in his arms, Twyla could’ve swooned. Instead she gave a little nod and continued to down her breakfast. It was really good and to be honest, it was comforting to be held by Mr. Fox and needing only to suckle. She’d never thought of using a knife and fork or a spoon as exhausting but she did now. It seemed like a lot of work, a lot to keep track of, and she was so tired already. She didn’t have any energy to spare for something as complicated as orchestrating utensils.
She closed her eyes and nursed on the bottle until it was empty and Mr. Fox used the bib to dab at her lip where a drop of the smoothie had escaped. Then he took a few bites of his own food, and unlike what he’d said at first, he offered her a bite of egg from his fork and she practically snapped it off.
“This is so good. Do you do this everyday?”
He shook his head and the corner of his mouth curled up. “No, not on school days. Sometimes I’m having a smoothie just like you”—he tapped the tip of her nose with his index finger to emphasize his point and she giggled—“Or maybe an english muffin with some cottage cheese and pineapple, something simple like that.”
She didn’t want to tell him that still sounded fancy to her so she just nodded.
“Do you have a favorite breakfast food?”
“Um, pancakes?”
“I can make you pancakes sometime. Anything else?”
“I’ve never had French toast but it sounds really good.”
“Oh, it is. When you’re better, I’ll make you a big plate of french toast with butter and syrup, you’ll love it. Do you like bacon or sausage better?”
“Bacon? But both are good.”
He nodded as he crunched a slice of his own bacon, and then gave her another bite of egg from his fork. She could get used to this. Having someone ask her opinion, someone giving her good, healthy food. And even if she wanted to say she didn’t like being treated like a baby who couldn’t feed herself, the truth was that she did. It made her feel cared for and vulnerable and safe all at once. It was a lot, but she thought she liked it.
When Mr. Fox was mostly done his breakfast, he gave her the other bottle which tasted like strawberries and bananas. The only thing that kept her form falling asleep like this was that it was so cold. Cold and sweet and soothing and she drank the whole thing down.