Chapter 222

After hanging up with Henry and the rest, Zinnia checked Lydia and Maisie’s messages. Since she was too weak to make calls, she just used the voice message button to reply.

Lydia’s worried texts bombarded the screen. Zinnia kept reassuring her she was okay, and Lydia finally dropped the idea of a video call.

If I answered, they’d see right through me. I can feel how weak I am; my face must look as bad as I feel, she thought.

Just then, Yannis walked in with a food tray. Watching Zinnia struggle to tap her phone with one finger while reassuring the worried Maisie and Lydia, he teased, “Still worrying about your friends when you’re like this?”

Having finished answering most messages, Zinnia rested her head on the nightstand. Her face was tired, but her eyes were bright as she stared at the tray in Yannis’ hands. “If you don’t hurry, I’m gonna starve to death,” she pouted.

“Fine, starve then–one less thing for me to worry about,” Yannis joked, bringing the food over under Zinnia’s puppy-dog eyes.

On the tray was a bowl of minestrone soup, a small serving of grilled steak, and a bowl of mushroom soup. At the sight of the steak, Zinnia’s face lit up with satisfaction.

Yannis placed the tray on the nightstand, pulled a stool up to the bed, and began feeding Zinnia the minestrone soup.

“I can do it myself,” Zinnia said, suddenly feeling embarrassed.

When she first woke up, her mind was too fuzzy to care, and she’d been too busy chatting with him. But now that she was more alert, having him feed her with a spoon was a bit awkward.

“Sure you got the strength in your hands?” Yannis eyed Zinnia’s bandaged left hand, then her limp right one–both looked too weak to hold anything.

“Not really,” Zinnia mumbled, trying to move her hands and realizing they had no strength. “Maybe get me a thick straw instead?”

“Nope, eat up,” Yannis smiled, ignoring her request and bringing the spoon to her mouth. “I’m taking care of you now. If I ever need help, you won’t forget me, right? I remember you promised to look after me when I’m old.”

Yannis couldn’t help but shake his head–here he was, offering to help, and yet she wanted a straw instead.

“You’re still young.” Zinnia flashed a playful grin. “But don’t worry. When you’re all gray and wrinkly, I’ll take great care of you.”

Then she recalled Yannis’s joke about how taking care of him would cost a fortune. Looking at how healthy he was now, she figured he’d probably outlive her and wouldn’t need her help when he got older.

“Okay,” Yannis replied. Watching Zinnia’s eyes darting around, he knew she was cooking up some wild thoughts. He didn’t call her out–he had her promise, after all. What happened next was future Yannis’ problem.

The rich smell from the spoon hit Zinnia, and she couldn’t resist. “Thanks,” she said, taking a bite.

“Yannis, I want some steak,” Zinnia pleaded, her eyes fixed on the perfectly grilled steak. She could tell it was free-range–the meat looked firm and juicy, and that perfectly golden skin was just irresistible. Her mouth was already watering just looking at it.

Yannis speared a piece of steak with his fork and held it to Zinnia’s lips.

Chewing on the delicious steak, Zinnia looked at Yannis and asked, “Have you eaten?”

“Not yet,” Yannis replied. He’d been watching over you all day, and food was the last thing on his mind.

“You haven’t eaten yet?” Zinnia exclaimed. She couldn’t believe it was so late and he still hadn’t eaten.

Yannis nodded. His mind had been on her all day; he hadn’t even noticed hunger. He scooped up another spoonful of minestrone soup and held it to her.

“You eat too,” Zinnia said, motioning to the food.

Yannis’s hand, holding the spoon, stilled for a second, his eyes locking onto her worried ones.

Zinnia blinked under his intense stare. What’s with that look? Did I say something wrong?

“What’s wrong?” she asked, confused. She’d only gotten worried when she heard he hadn’t eaten and wanted him to have something too.

“Nothing.” Yannis replied casually. He took a spoonful of soup for himself, then smoothly guided another spoonful toward Zinnia’s mouth.

“I want meat!” Zinnia whined. She was so hungry she felt like she could eat an entire cow.

“Finish the minestrone soup first, then you can have some meat,” Yannis coaxed, his voice soft.

Zinnia nodded and slurped down the last of the minestrone soup.

Yannis’s eyes lingered on her lips for a heartbeat, then he looked away and speared a piece of steak with his fork to feed her.

They polished off the small bowl of minestrone soup together. Each time, Yannis made her take a sip of soup before letting her have a bite of steak.

Only after they finished did Zinnia realize they’d been sharing the same spoon. She remembered there was another one in the mushroom soup bowl.

Knowing how much of a clean freak Yannis was, she’d just assumed he’d use a separate spoon. But now, there was only one in his hand–where did the other spoon go?

“Yannis…” Zinnia called. The realization that they’d been sharing a spoon made her cheeks heat up.

“What’s up?” Yannis asked, stacking the dishes.

“We’ve been using the same spoon,” Zinnia mumbled, nervously licking her lips, which had finally gained some color after eating.

“Hmm.” Yannis paused mid-motion then looked up at her. “Do I gross you out?”

His charming eyes locked onto hers, intense and dangerously alluring–like a whirlpool pulling her under. The longer she looked, the deeper she sank.

Zinnia pushed away the flustered thoughts, stammering, “N–no, I don’t mind. But you’re a germaphobe, right?” She was just worried he might find sharing a spoon with her disgusting.

Yannis caught on. His eyes softened, and the corners of his mouth curved up slightly. “I don’t mind sharing with you,” he said, voice low and velvety with amusement.

His words and gaze settled into Zinnia’s heart like two pebbles in still water. For a second, tiny ripples stirred her calm–then vanished, leaving her mind peaceful again.

But those pebbles had already sunk. Who knew how many more would collect at the bottom? And when the lakebed filled, what storm might rise?

Zinnia felt a strange flutter in her chest. She didn’t get this feeling yet, but it didn’t scare her. “I don’t mind you either,” she smiled brightly, her voice clear.

Yannis looked into her guileless eyes. His fingers twitched slightly, and a shadow crossed his eyes before he masked it completely.