How Things Changed Forever.. PART - II

CH 43: Because I Care?

Hillary knew she wasn't at her best today. The volunteers didn't seem to notice—thankfully, she was good at keeping up appearances—but Tyson was Tyson. Annoyingly perceptive when it came to her. And, unfortunately, always willing to do something about it.

At least he'd chalked it up to her cold urticaria acting up again. She was grateful for the his assumption. She didn't think she had it in her to out right lie to him, not that he wouldn't see through her lie immediately.

The cold utricaria reason wasn't wrong, exactly. She'd already taken another epipen shot on her way to school. Hiler lips twitched with a suppressed laugh every time she remembered how close Kai had been from asking the cab driver to turn back home, fundraiser be damned.

The cold did slow her down, but that wasn't all. The exhaustion ran way deeper. Her body still ached from last night—her stiff joints, the near suffocation, the intense pain in her stomach every time she stretched a bit... She took a step forward, forcing her limbs to move faster than they wanted.

The ache in her muscles lingered, dull but persistent. Her vision blurred for half a second before sharpening again, and she swallowed past the dryness in her throat. Gods above, she really wasn't in the best of shape. But no time for that. She had work to do.

And she wasn't about to let Tyson slow her down.

She glanced back as Kai led Cassie away, her brows furrowed. She would have felt offended if she hadn't been this tired. For all his brooding concern and insistence on keeping an eye on her all day, Kai sure ditched her fast. She had half a mind to catch his attention, but with both Cassie and Tyson with them, she didn't think it would be possible.

It was sometime later that she realized why. Tyson wasn't obvious. Not when other volunteers were around.

But the second they were alone?

Oh, he was insufferable.

"You sure you're good?"

Hillary didn't even look up this time. "Yes, mom."

Tyson huffed. "You say that, but—"

"I'm fine."

For a second, she thought he'd dropped it. He'd already asked her the same question four times as it is.

She should've known better.

The second she reached for something—he got there first. A chair? He snatched it up. A stack of flyers? Gone before her fingers even brushed them.

The first time, she bit back a sigh. The second time, she tried to keep her hands steady, willing herself to move faster. But even she couldn't ignore the way her fingers trembled slightly when she reached for the next thing—nor the way Tyson's gaze flickered to them before he smoothly grabbed it himself.

Hillary hated feeling this weak. She took a slow, deep breath, crossing her arms and turning towards him. "Tyson."

"Hillary."

"Go away."

He gasped, clutching his chest. "You wound me."

She bit back a smile. Barely. "I mean it."

"I know." He grinned. "And I'm still not going anywhere."

She threw her hands in the air. "Why are you like this?"

Tyson's grin widened, sticking out his tongue. "Because I care?"

That—

She wasn't prepared for that.

For the way he said it so easily. So genuinely.

It threw her off for half a second.

She was worried she'd tear up then and there. Then she scowled. "That's not an excuse to be overbearing."