“True.” Eric’s soft chuckle accompanied his approving nod. Hadley’s heart was as innocent and pure as a child’s. “You’re completely right. Are you feeling hungry now?”
“Extremely hungry.” Hadley pressed her palm against her empty stomach, offering a slightly embarrassed smile.
“Oh, that reminds me,” she suddenly recalled. “What happened to Colleen and Brady?”
“They’ve already departed,” Eric explained clearly. “Brady offered valuable assistance with hosting the mourners earlier, but Dr. Hayes received an urgent call from the hospital about a surgical procedure, so I encouraged them to leave ahead of us.”
“What about Joy?”
“Both she and Locke were escorted home much earlier in the day.”
“That’s good.”
The couple continued their conversation as they walked together. Instead of heading toward the lounge, Eric guided Hadley to the recreational vehicle parked just outside the building.
Since he remained under medical treatment with specific dietary restrictions, the dedicated staff from Olisvale Bay had thoughtfully prepared and delivered specialized meals along with nourishing soup. Naturally, they had also included a generous portion prepared especially for Hadley.
The moment they stepped inside the recreational vehicle, Hadley collapsed gratefully onto the plush sofa.
When she noticed the table laden with an array of meal containers, her eyes lit up and curved into a delighted smile. “Everything looks delicious.”
She had already experienced the culinary artistry of the Scott family’s chef—the quality rivaled that of the finest five-star establishments.
“Take it slow.” Eric adopted a mock-serious expression, pretending to scold her playfully. “Does your mind truly revolve around nothing but food now?”
“What’s wrong?” Hadley blinked in confusion. “Weren’t you the one who told me to come eat? But now you’re not letting me?”
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Eric chuckled. “Of course you can eat! How could I say no to you?”
With a shrug, Hadley began uncovering the lids of the containers one by one. Eric sat across from her, but then reached forward and wrapped his hand around her ankle. With a quick motion, he lifted her leg slightly, causing her skirt to ride up.
“Hey!” Hadley yelped, eyes wide. “What are you doing?”
Eric pursed his lips. “What could I possibly be doing? I’m just your almost-boyfriend, not official yet. Do you think I’d dare to mess that up?”
Before she could guess his intentions, he pressed his palm against her ankle. A moment later, he frowned and clicked his tongue, his gaze fixed on her leg. “You’ve been standing for too long. The muscles here are tense.”
“Are they?” Hadley glanced down, unconcerned. “It’s okay. They’ll be fine in a while,” she said, trying to pull her leg back.
“Don’t move.” Eric kept his grip firm.
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