“I hate when you’re not happy too. I wish you were here.”
“Me too, Twink.”
“You look a bit pale. Is there anything else going on? Are you sleeping? Eating? Taking your medication? Bowel movements okay?”
“Xavier!” she cried. “You can’t ask me that.”
“What? If you’re sleeping?” He gave her an innocent look.
“No, about . . . urgh, stop teasing me,” she told him as he grinned. “You’re so mean.”
“What? Being regular is important.”
“Xavier!”
He chuckled. “You going to put salt in my coffee, Twink?”
“Maybe,” she threatened.
“Seriously, are you sure you’re all right? I can come home if you need me.”
He really was an amazing friend. She was lucky to have him, even if he could never feel the same way about her that she did about him.
“I’m fine, Xavy. Don’t worry about me.”
“I’ll always worry about you. You’re my best girl. Now, have you eaten dinner?”
“Not yet. I’m hungry.”
“You need to eat. Be a good girl and I’ll bring you back a present.”
Ooh. “A present? What is it? I love presents!”
“You best behave yourself then, huh?” he replied.
“Eh, you’ll bring me one anyway.”
“Brat,” he said affectionately. “I want you to eat dinner, maybe watch some TV but no zombies! Then get a good night’s sleep. Okay? Doctor’s orders.”
Hm. What happened if she didn’t obey? But she wasn’t brave enough to ask that.
“All right, I’ll do that. Miss you, Xavy.”
“Miss you more.”
“What do you mean there’s some bitch at her work being mean to her?”
Brick glared at Elias as they stood outside the pool house. He was supposed to keep her safe.
Elias sent him an impatient look. “Just what I said. Bitter. Mean. I think she bullies Juliet.”
He’d kill the bitch.
“Maybe she needs to stop working.” It wasn’t like she needed to. Her brother was rich.
Elias ran his hand over his face. “Maybe she likes it. I need to go make lunch for tomorrow. For both of us. Juliet doesn’t eat enough to keep a mouse going.”
“She didn’t eat?” he asked sharply. “Why didn’t you make her?”
“Because she’s a client, not a child or your sub. You can’t force her to do things.”
Be much easier if he could.
“If you’re so pissed off with my decisions, then maybe tomorrow you should take her to work.” Elias turned and stormed off.
Fuck. He was messing this up with everyone.