Jackson at least managed to spit his food into a napkin. Nichs didn''t even try- he just spat straight onto the floor. "Water! Water! Someone get me water!"


    Jackson passed him an unopened bottle. Nichs grabbed it with a look of pure horror and chugged it down in one go.


    Once he''d recovered, Nichs slumped back in his chair, staring at ra like he honestly thought she''d tried to poison them.


    Then, as if a lightbulb went off, he pointed at her. "You''re trying to kill Dn, aren''t you? ra, I knew you were up to something, but this is next-level!"


    ra had been feeling pretty awful, but with these two making such a scene, she couldn''t help but feel a little better.


    She was about to fire back when she saw Charlesing in from the yard.


    Charles had actually arrived in Palm Bay an hour ago. He''d meant toe in right away, but after seeing ra was fine, he ended up hanging outside, ying fetch with MiloBuddy.


    Now, spotting the food on the table, he hurried over. "Sis, you cooked again? Didn''t you take breakfast to your husband? Didn''t he get any?"


    He reached for a spoon, ready to dig in, but ra quickly caught his wrist. "Don''t.


    I got distracted while cooking. Seriously, it''s awful today."


    She''d barely finished talking when Dn lowered his eyes, picked up his own spoon, and said quietly, "No. It''s really good."


    Jackson and Nichs stared at him like he''d lost his mind. People said love made you blind, but this was just ridiculous.


    ra watched as Dn kept eating, one spoonful after another, and her eyes started to sting. "Stop eating."


    Dn looked up at her, then finally set his spoon down.


    He reached out, gently brushing his fingers across her cheek.


    Hershes fluttered. She wanted to say something, but with everyone else right there, she just took a deep breath. "I''ll make something new."


    Dn stared at his own hand for a second, looking lost, then suddenly grabbed her wrist. "You..."


    bet


    He seemed to forget how to talk. He paused for a few seconds, then just leaned in, pressed his palm to her cheek, and kissed her softly.


    ra froze, instantly ncing at the other three.


    Jackson and Nichs had already seen worse-after thest time in the hotel suite, this was nothing. They just shrugged it off.


    But Charles went bright red, ncing from ra to Dn, scratching his cheek, and finally turning away with embarrassment.


    After a beat, ra just decided to ask Aiden to have the hotel send up some food.


    While they waited, Jackson took the chance to ask Dn, "Colin said


    were in bad shape this time, bou


    you


    look fine to me. What happened?"


    Dn looked up, eyes chilly. "Who are you?"


    Jackson''s smile froze. He pointed at himself, like-Seriously?


    Nichs thought Dn was joking, and was about to say something, but then


    Dn hit him with the same question.


    "And you are?"


    Nichs''s face turned red. He mmed his hand on the table. "Okay, fine, even if you pretend not to know us, what about ra? Are you telling me you somehow forgot everyone except her? There''s no way the old man would let that happen. You wish!"


    He actually had a point. If Dn''s condition was the old man''s doing, why would


    he only remember ra?


    ra was just as curious, watching Dn''s face.


    He slowly let go of her wrist,shes dropping. "I..."


    Words seemed to fail him. ra got anxious and clung to his arm, turning to Nichs.


    "Who says he can''t have that kind of condition? You can''t judge Dn with regr logic, can you?"


    Nichs stared at the silent Dn, took a deep breath, and looked to Jackson. "You say something!"