CHAPTER 9

Ash POV

I feel myself getting pulled in the opposite direction and my face lands on something solid. I immediately realize Caspian pulled me to his chest. I can't comprehend how he got to my side so quickly. Did he jump over the table?

"Are you okay?" He asks, still holding me to his chest. I can hear his heartbeat, it spiked but now it was falling back to a regular beat.

I nod, I am a little dazed and all that sudden movement just made my headache worse. I need a moment for my head to settle. I lean into him and he holds me.

"How's your headache?" He asks, his hand softly treads my hair.

"Significantly worse," I mumble into his chest.

"Eish… I am so sorry, I didn't have enough time to think."

"It is fine," I say and take a step back and he lets me go. "Thank you, I probably would have ended up with a bruise and more headache if I had fallen on my face."

I hold on to the table for support. I can instantly tell I shouldn't be moving around. I want to pick up the chair but I know my head will hurt more if I bend to pick up the chair.

"Still, I shouldn't have pulled you so hard." He bends and picks up the chair. "Have a seat. I will make it for you."

"I can make it myself," I protest but my voice doesn't sound so confident.

"It will literally take me seconds to make it. Stop fighting this besides, if you try to make it in your current state, a fallen chair wouldn't be the only worry. You could actually injure yourself."

"Fine," I mutter and plop onto the chair. I can't argue with the freaking headache. Just talking makes my head hurt more.

I don't like the fact that he scolded me, I just want to lie down at this point and if he is willing to make the hot chocolate, I might as well indulge in his kind offers for as long as he is willing to give them. I didn't ask so I am not obligated to return any favor.

"Alright, is there any special way you like it?" He asks.

"No," I say stiffly and put my head on the table, using my hands as a pillow.

"Okay," he says and I hear him walk away. 

I close my eyes and just lay on the table in silence. I can hear him moving around.

"It might take a few minutes for the water to boil," he calls out.

I give him a thumbs-up while keeping my head down. I'm not hungry, I just need some relief from the pain. He can take forever if it will help my headache.

"Here you go," I hear his voice.

I slowly raise my head, I may have zoned out at some point because I don't realize he is close until he says my name. I didn't hear him approach.

"How do you feel?" He asks when my eyes meet his.

"Not better," I adjust in my seat so I am sitting upright. 

The mug in front of me is steaming. I see that he used a saucer and I smile. "Thank you," I say and draw it closer.

"It might be a little too hot but I didn't want to cool it off too much and I didn't know how hot you wanted it. I can always put ice cubes in it if you like."

"Caspian," I chuckled. "It is fine. Thank you." 

"I will finish up breakfast then."

"You don't have to, I can always take cereal."

He glares at me, "Too bad. I already started."

I watch him walk away and I pick up the mug. I just had to ruin it. I blow some air into it and I take a sip. It burns my tongue but not enough for me to scream. I do appreciate the new sensation, it takes my mind off the headache.

I finally finished the hot chocolate milk. I took my time, else a burnt tongue would be the least of my worry. I was in danger of incinerating the insides of my throat.

As soon as I finish drinking, Caspian appears in front of me with two plates of food. He carefully places them on the table and sits down.

"Eat up!" He orders.

I squint at him, "I am not hungry."

"You don't have to finish it, just eat a little."

I sigh loudly but I pick up the cutlery. "Thank you," I mumble as I dig in.

He doesn't respond, doesn't even look at me. He just eats. I am slightly ticked off but I can't be because I am the reason the atmosphere is like this.

However, even though I say I will, it is pretty hard to just accept his kind gestures. I can help but think there has to be some kind of ulterior motive.

The food is delicious and I finished my share even though I was adamant about not being hungry. I stand to my feet and stretch out my hand to pick up my dirty dishes.

"Leave it!" He says sternly and I jerk in shock. "Go lie down."

I glare at him and walk out of the kitchen. I am not going to argue about the dishes. He can wash them for all I care. Besides, I don't want to make the situation worse than it currently is.

My head is still hurting and even though I have a full stomach, I don't feel remotely better. I sit in bed and pick up my phone but I drop it immediately.

I hold my head and I slide into a lying position. Maybe if I sleep I will feel better. My head does feel better when I lie down. I close my eyes and pray for sleep.

I start to drift off to sleep when I hear a soft knock. My eyes fly open and the thought of walking all the way to the door to open it makes me wince.

"Come in," I say hoping that I did not close the door on my way in.

The knob turns and Caspian walks in but doesn't leave the entrance as he holds the door open. Turns out I didn't lock the door.

"Were you asleep?" He asks stiffly, still staying by the entrance.

"Almost," I say and adjust the covers. "Is something wrong?" I ask and sit up.

I see that he is holding a glass of water in his hand.

"No," he says and walks inside.

He places the glass on the bedside table and drops a pack of drugs beside it. 

"I found some aspirin," he says. "Make sure to drink some."

"Where…" 

The words were barely out of my lips when I got greeted with a loud bang as he left my room.

"Thank you," I say but I know he can't hear me.

I pick up the drug, pick two tablets and put some water in my mouth, I toss the drug in and swallow, drinking more water immediately.

I sat upright for a few minutes before I lay back down. I didn't want to throw up before the drug got any chance to digest. I feel go in and out of consciousness and soon enough, I fall asleep.

My eyes fly open and I sit upright. The first thing I notice is that the headache is gone. I blink and slightly shake my head just to be sure. I feel as good as new.

I jump out of bed and I go to take a shower. I put on a pair of clean clothes, tie my hair up and walk out of the room.

The living room is empty and I instantly smell cooking. Doesn't he do anything besides cooking? I grudgingly make my way to the kitchen. I can't complain, I am quite hungry.

I walk into the kitchen to see him setting up the table, only one side is set up. He looks up at me, I try to keep a straight face at the sight. He is shirtless except for the apron tied around his chest.

"You're awake," he says casually. He isn't angry anymore. “Headache's gone?”

"Yeah, thanks," I reply to him, my eyes running across the table.

"I wasn't sure if you would want to have lunch here or in your room. I was just going to bring it to you." He explains.

"Here is fine," I walk towards the table. "Need any help?"

"No, I got it." He says and walks away from the table.

He returns with a tray and transfers the contents of the tray onto the table.

It feels weird just sitting down and accepting this when I had no helping hand in this but I sit down anyway. 

He takes off his apron and sits by the table, shirtless. I squint at the pectoral muscles display but to comment on it would mean I am affected by it and I’d rather die than give that impression.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” I hear myself say before I can stop the train of thought.