Chapter 29 Cake
1172words
I had to talk to Mom about being way too trusting. If I didn't feel like I was about to fall over, I would have ditched Kayn at the hospital.
Believe it or not, he behaved himself so far, keeping his remarks to himself and helping my weak, pitiful self back home.
"Yes, why?" Kayn kicked the door and wiggled the keys inside the lock. This time around, it worked, and the door swung open. "Got a problem with it?"
"No," I lied.
"You're not a very good liar, Carly."
I rolled my eyes, straightening up from the porch railing, and wobbled toward the door. Kayn tried to reach for me, but I swatted his hand away.
"I can walk now."
"That's what you said when you nearly misstepped the raft and could have drowned."
"But I didn't," I retorted.
"Because I carried you."
"Get over yourself, would you? I—" My snappy retort died when we entered the kitchen. "Oh. It's the 5th of June."
"You forgot your birthday?" Kayn looked surprised. "That's unfortunate."
I stared at the blue birthday banner stretching across the wall. "I've been busy."
There was a cake covered with a net on the kitchen table and two wrapped presents beside it. A card sat upright on top of the smaller gift, with a tiny, pink kitten on the cover.
"Your parents left you on your own on your—"
"I know," I retorted. "I've had an awesome week."
"That's not what I meant. I can't believe they left you here. Especially right after you got released from the hospital, and it's your birthday."
I glared at him. "Is this one of those moments where you are trying to manipulate me into feeling worse than I already do? Part of your plan to get me to leave, isn't it?"
"No," he shrugged. "I just think that was a shitty thing to do."
"They have work."
"Let me guess, for a lot of money?"
"Yes." I walked over to pick up the card. "They're not bad people regardless of what you think. I get them. I know their work is important, and they've worked hard for years to get here. Even if I don't always agree with what they're doing for a profession."
"You're more important."
The way he said it left a fluttering sensation inside my belly.
Forget it, Carly. He doesn't get deep meanings or even have feelings.
"So you're going to sit here all day on your own and eat cake?" Kayn asked, poking the side of the net. "When was the last time you ate?"
"Yesterday at the movies."
"Please don't tell me. Popcorn and soda?"
"Popcorn and a slushie," I corrected.
"That won't do." Kayn headed toward the fridge and tugged it open, sticking his head inside.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"Making you something to eat," he said. "You can't start your recovery with a cake. You need a decent meal."
My brows shot up. "And you can cook?"
"Unlike Ember, I got my mom's talents, and I enjoy cooking." He sounded proud of himself.
It was strange to see this side of Kayn. He actually liked something.
"You don't have to do this." I sunk onto a chair by the kitchen table, placing the card back. "I'm not your problem."
Kayn ignored me and loaded his arms with tomatoes, onions, spinach, and a block of cheese. "Do you have lasagna sheets?"
"I think so." I tried to get up, but Kayn signaled me to sit down.
"Where?"
I pointed at the cabinet Mom stuffed in all kinds of pasta and sauces.
Kayn rummaged through the cabinet until he found the box of lasagna sheets and placed it on top of the counter next to the other food. "You eat lasagna, right?"
"Who doesn't?"
"A lot of people. My grandpa hates it." Kayn turned to grab a knife and the cutting board. "What's your favorite food?"
The simple question caught me off guard, and I stared at his back.
"You don't have a favorite food?" He began chopping the spinach.
I shook my head. "Uh, I like fries. Or baked potatoes with lots of cheese. Pizza, and pasta too. Actually, I like eating in general."
Kayn nodded. "I can live off hot dogs and ice-cream."
"Those are good too, but ice-cream isn't food."
"I can still survive off ice-cream for weeks."
"Considering the amount of it you can eat in one sitting, it wouldn't surprise me," I snorted a laugh.
When he grabbed a spoon from the cutlery drawer, I noticed he was smiling.
We didn't speak much after that. Kayn hummed to himself the whole time while I busied myself by opening the presents my parents had left me.
Mom had gotten me an iPhone, and Dad gifted me a starter painting kit with two mini canvases.
Though I loved the gifts my parents got me, there was a sadness swelling inside my chest.
I hated the fact that Kayn had a point. I couldn't think that surveying the sea for imaginary creatures or hunting ghosts could be more important than your daughter recovering from an attack—on her birthday.
I told Kayn I wanted to sit in the living room since the kitchen chair wasn't helping my sore body.
To be honest, I didn't know what to say to him unless he asked me questions, and I didn't want to cry in front of him.
An hour later, as I rested on the couch and attempted to read one of the books Mom preloaded on the Kindle, the delicious scent of spices and cheese wafted throughout the place.
If Kayn's food tasted as good as it smelled, I might lock him up in here and sign him up as my own personal chef.
That is if he didn't manage to kick me off the island first.
I gave up on the book and switched to another one. I was halfway through the first page when Kayn walked into the living room.
"The food is almost ready." He nodded toward the old box TV. "Does that thing work?"
I lowered my Kindle.
He had his sleeves rolled up, and his shirt clung to his chest in such a way that it revealed how magnificent his body was.
It gnawed at my nerves how I had to constantly force myself to look away from him when I wanted to do nothing more than to stare. Sighing, I tore my eyes away. "Yeah, but it's rarely on so I doubt it's set up to catch all the good channels."
"Does it have a port for a DVD player?"
"Uh," I hesitated. "I don't know, to be honest."
Kayn walked toward it and moved it sideways to peer in at the back. "Great, it does. I'll be right back."
I eyed him. "What are you going to do?"
"You'll see."
