“You do?”
“Yes, I’ve often had to try and act a certain way not to make people uncomfortable. I know I’m different. That I don’t react the right way or feel the right things. I’ve had to teach myself to pretend.”
She reached out and lightly touched his shoulder. He stiffened slightly but didn’t pull away. “You don’t have to pretend with me. And who cares what other people think is right? If it’s the way you feel then it’s right for you.”
He stared at her, studying her. Then he gave a sharp nod. “And if you feel a certain way then you should tell us. Not hide it. Or try to do what you think we want.”
She had to smile. “So does that mean I no longer have to eat what’s on that list or take those horrible vitamins?”
He frowned. “No, that’s health and safety. You have to do those things. But you don’t have to pretend to like them.”
She had to laugh. His eyes warmed. “I like hearing you laugh.”
“Good. I’m glad you’re not angry with me anymore.” She didn’t like him being upset with her.
He studied her then let out a breath. “I told myself that I hated you. I think I actually did.”
She drew in a sharp breath. Damn. That hurt.
“The way I felt about you, it was intense. It was all-consuming. It was too much for me to process. So I told myself to hate you. That was simpler.”
“Wolfe. . .oh God.” She felt ill.
“At a young age, I learned to harden myself to feelings. To shut them down. If I didn’t feel anything, I couldn’t be hurt. If I couldn’t be hurt then nothing mattered. Not until you. You mattered. That’s why I couldn’t shut down when it came to you. So I hated you instead.”
“I don’t want you to hate me.”
“I don’t. Not anymore. I tried to be indifferent to you, to feel nothing. That didn’t work. I finally figured that out in the hospital. That I still felt something for you. Something strong.”
Like love? Had his hate flipped to love? It sounded crazy. But she got what he was saying. If he didn’t care, he’d have been indifferent.
“I’ve always cared about you too. I missed you so much.” She wiped a tear off her face.
“You know I have issues.” He grimaced. “I find it difficult to trust people. I have less than a handful of people who I consider family. Arianna, Caleb’s friend. Caleb. Aleki. And now you.”
“Wolfe,” she whispered.
“You’re my family, Vivi. You’re the most important one of all. There has only ever been you for me. Just you.”
“You’re my family too.”
The family you were born with could suck. But the family you made for yourself? They could be all you needed and more.
He grabbed the bag and set it on the bedside table. Then he drew the blanket off the bed and put the weighted blanket down in its place.
“Did you enjoy your time with Caleb today? In the playroom?” he suddenly asked.
“Yes. I liked spending time with him. I like spending time with all of you.”
She didn’t want one of them feeling slighted.
“I know,” he said arrogantly.
She had to resist rolling her eyes.
“I watched you, in the playroom.”
“I know.”