Page 196 of Red Marked

He smiles at me. “Food delivery.”

I smile back. I can’t stop myself.

My stomach growls so loudly he must hear it from where he’s standing.

“I guess I’m hungrier than I thought.” I touch my tummy.

“You’re always hungry, Star.” He laughs. “Can I come in?”

“Of course.” I step back to let him through.

He puts everything down on the counter next to the kettle and starts unpacking. Cartons come out, then foil containers, then a cardboard bucket, then more cartons. It keeps coming.

“How much did you buy?” I laugh, because holy moly.

“I wasn’t sure what you’d feel like, so I got a few options.” He shrugs. “I figured at least one of them had to cheer you up.”

I try to smile at him again. It comes out small and wobbly. “I appreciate it. I just keep thinking about what went wrong and⁠—”

“Stop.” He points a plastic fork at me. “We’re going to eat. That’s all we’re doing. We’ll talk about all the other stuff in the morning.”

I nod, looking down.

There’s thick macaroni and cheese with cheese that stretches off the spoon in long strings. There are two cartons of Chinese food and a paper bag of egg rolls. I grab one of those first. There are tacos wrapped in foil, and a bucket of the crispiest-looking fried chicken I have ever seen.

He hands me a paper plate. I load it up using a plastic spoon and a flimsy fork that bends when I stab a drumstick. I grab a napkin and sit on the edge of the bed with the plate on my knees.

He fills a plate for himself and sits next to me, the bed dipping.

I take a spoonful of the mac and cheese, and a groan comes out of me because holy crap, it’s good.

His whole face lights up. “That’s what I was hoping to hear. I’ve actually missed your food-gasms.”

“Thank you.” I lick cheese off my thumb. “I feel a little better already.”

“There’s peach cobbler for dessert, so save some space.”

“Oh yum! I forgot peach cobbler even existed.” I bite into the chicken, and the crust shatters, and I groan again. “I didn’t know I needed this.”

“I knew.” He glances my way. “So we’re all good.”

We eat. Neither of us says anything for a while. The air conditioner hums, and somewhere down the hall a door bangs. I work my way through half the plate before I come up for air.

I wipe my fingers on the napkin. “I was thinking about tomorrow. Maybe⁠—”

“No. Not tonight. We need a break.” He takes a bite of taco and chews. “It’ll keep until morning. Don’t make me spank you again.”

“Don’t make me get excited about being spanked.” I smile, but it’s still a little wobbly.

Shit!

I need to pull myself together already.

I pick at the edge of an egg roll. “I didn’t take the scenic route earlier.”

“I figured.”

“Did you now?”