The door opens and something is placed beside my head, scraping the floor.
“You two are looking a little cozy. Don't get too comfortable. The boss doesn't like people touching his things.”
Everett's hand goes still and his teeth grind together. The door closes and Everett gently shakes my shoulder. “Come on, Iggy. Food’s here. You should try to eat something.”
“Nu-uh,” I respond.
“I don't know how long it's been since you last had something in your system. I need to at least see you take a few bites.”
I shake my head, my curls flopping.
“Please. For me.”
I sigh in defeat. “K.”
He helps me sit up against the wall, steadying my shoulders, and he wipes my face with the blanket I didn't even realize was wrapped around my waist. He was always so damn proper. Too bad I'm not.
My head aches and my eyes only open halfway, the room spinning. He holds me up with his arm straightening out in front of my chest, keeping me from falling forward, as he brings a spoon to my face. “Open up for me. I know you can.”
“I…sleep.”
“Eat a little and I'll let you.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
“What?”
“I said I'll try, Daddy.”
“Daddy,” he repeats.
“Yeah.” I nod slowly, my closed lips pressing to the spoon.
He swallows hard, sitting up straighter. “If that's what you need right now then I guess I can go with it. Whatever it takes for you to take a sip of your soup.”
“I'll do it but only for you,” I say, slurring my words, not even sure what I'm saying anymore. I need to stop talking before I say too much—maybe even words I can't come back from.
“Okay. Your Daddy needs you to open your mouth. Can you do that?”
I nod, my lips parting as my tongue sticks out.
“Good boy.” The spoon slides inside my mouth and I swallow down the first gulp of soup.
“That's it. Good, huh?”
“Mhm.”
“I'm so proud of you. You think you can do it again for Daddy?”
“For Daddy,” I answer.
The spoon enters again and the warm liquid runs down my throat, the chicken and noodles a little hard to swallow with the muscles in my throat forgetting how to work properly.
“Yes, just like that, Iggy. Three more.”
I swallow three more spoonfuls, and he eats the remaining food in the bowl.
“Can you believe those assholes only gave us one bowl? There was more broth than anything else, too. I guess we're sharing food now. They'll probably expect us to learn to appreciate it soon.”