Sweet Subterfuge

Chapter 97

“I have no appetite,” Kevan replied.

“What about a little water?” She eyed his parched lips.

“Okay.”

There was an unopened bottle of mineral water in the room. Larissa twisted the cap off and handed the bottle to him, but Kevan did not take it.

“I don’t have the strength to take it.” He stared at her unblinkingly.

Defeated, Larissa sat at the head of his bed, “I’ll help you sit up then?”

Kevan’s eyes lit up. “Sure.”

Her arms slung around the back of his neck, holding onto it carefully as she supported his upper body.

Kevan sipped the water she’d brought him, finding an unexpected hint of sweetness lingering on the tip of his tongue.

When she helped him lie down after he was done, Larissa asked, “Do you still want to sleep?”

Kevan was exhausted, and his eyelids were so heavy that he knew he wouldn’t be able to open them again. once he closed them.

And yet, he didn’t want to waste the precious time he got to spend with her alone, especially when he could play the patient card and have her do all sorts of things for him. It was nice to have her usual defenses down for once–the way she treated him now was a lot gentler than before.

It was almost like they were in the past again.

It had been such a long time ago.

“I don’t want to sleep anymore,” he told her. “Talk to me.”

His request caught Larissa off guard.

She was rather nervous. “What should I talk about?”

“Anything.” Anything she said, he would listen to willingly.

Larissa had never chatted casually with Kevan before.

She felt around her pockets for her phone, wondering if she should contact Dylan for help.

Kevan sensed her hesitation and fought to keep the wave of disappointment in his heart at bay. “What time is it now?” he asked.

Larissa glanced at the time. “8.43 pm.”

It was already so late.

Kevan felt like he’d completely lost track of time since he last closed his eyes.

‘Have you eaten?” Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

“Yeah,” she lied instinctively.

“What did you eat?”

“Fried rice.”

“Was it good?”

“It wasn’t bad.”

For a while, it was all mindless chit–chat, though surprisingly, the two of them managed to keep the conversation going without feeling awkward.

After that, Larissa covered her mouth as she yawned. “Tired?” Kevan asked.

“No.” She flapped her arms for emphasis.

Kevan was unusually considerate. “If you’re tired, you should go to sleep. There’s still more than one hour left

anyway.”

“It’s fine.” Larissa forced her eyes open. “I’m afraid that if I go to sleep, I won’t be able to wake up in time.”

“Doesn’t matter.” Kevan patted the empty space beside him with his left hand. “This bed is spacious enough.

You can sleep here. I’ll wake you up later.”

Larissa’s sleepiness evaporated at once.

It wasn’t like she’d never slept with him in the same bed before. Still, the last two times had been under special circumstances, and she had been completely unaware.

Unlike what they were doing now–she was still wide awake enough to differentiate between what was appropriate and what wasn’t, and this very evidently wasn’t.

“I really am not tired.” She straightened her back.

“Sure.” Kevan didn’t press her any further. “I’m a little tired though. I’ll sleep first then.”

He shut his eyes. Instantly, the room fell into silence.

Not long after, he felt the bed sink right next to him.

When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was a head, resting by his arm.