Page 70 of The Broken Keys

“No.” The word comes out fast, almost panicked. “Don’t leave me alone. I just need…you.”

“I’m not going anywhere, but you need to eat something. When’s the last time you had food?”

She seems to think about it. “Yesterday. Sometime in the afternoon.”

“Lily, you can’t go that long without eating. It’s not good for you.”

“I know.” She glances away. “I haven’t been hungry.”

I stand and head for her refrigerator. “Doesn’t matter. You need to eat.”

“Callum—”

“No arguing. You want me to stay and take care of you? This is me doing that.” I pull open the fridge and scan the contents. Not much. Some yogurt, fruit, and what looks like leftover takeout. “When’s the last time you went grocery shopping?”

“I don’t know. A week? Two?”

No wonder she looks like she’s lost ten pounds. I grab the yogurt and an apple, then rummage through her cabinets for crackers. “You need proper food. I’m ordering groceries.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Yeah, I do.” I set the snacks in front of her. “Eat while I order.”

She glares at the food as if it personally offended her. “I’m not hungry.”

“Oh, well. Your blood sugar has probably tanked. That’s not helping anything.”

“I said I’m not?—”

“Livianna.” I crouch down again so we’re eye level. “Please, just eat a few bites for me.”

“Fine.” Her fingers tremble as she picks up the yogurt and peels back the lid.

“Thank you.” I pull out my phone and start adding items to an Instacart order. Bread, eggs, fresh vegetables, fruit, chicken, and pasta. All the basics.

She takes a small bite. Then another. I watch her from the corner of my eye while I finish the grocery order.

“Callum?”

“Yeah?”

“Why are you doing this?”

I glance up from my phone. She’s studying me with this expression I can’t quite read. Vulnerable and guarded at the same time.

“Because I love you,” I say it like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. Because it is. “And when you love someone, you take care of them when they’re falling apart.”

Her eyes well up. “I’m not falling apart.”

“Okay. Then I’m just taking care of you because I wanna. Is that allowed?”

She takes a bite of the apple instead of answering.

I finish the grocery order and hit submit. “Food will be here in an hour. Until then, you’re gonna sit here and finish eating. Then we’re gonna move you to the couch, and you’re gonna rest while I make sure you’re actually okay.”

“I told you I’m fine.”

“Humor me.” I pull out the chair next to her and sit. “Because five minutes ago you were unconscious on your floor and I’m still trying to get my heart rate back to normal.”