Page 33 of Under Their Watch

“What are you doing?” Jace asks.

“Putting my laptop up,” I say. “Probably going to take a shower. Is that okay?”

“Yeah,” Quinn says with a soft smile.

“Are you going to try and scare me into eating, too?” I ask.

“No,” Quinn says, tucking my hair behind my ears. “Theo will feed you once you wake up from your coma.”

“All of you are dramatic,” I say, rolling my eyes.

“You can’t say we didn’t warn you,” Jace says. “The fact that you keep getting an attitude with him and everyone else isn’t helping your case any.”

“She has autonomy, Jace. Remember?” Theo says from behind me. “She’s free to try and starve herself if she wants.”

Try? What the fuck does that mean?

I turn and roll my eyes at Theo before hugging Jace. He kisses me and cups my cheek. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I say. “I’m going to go take a shower.”

I step past him and walk downstairs. I set my laptop down before going to the bathroom and undressing. When I step into the hot water, I sigh and lay my forehead on the wall. I took a shower this morning, but I wanted to just stand in the hot water for a while. It’s scalding, so my skin is blazing hot.

The water suddenly goes ice cold, and I gasp. “Jesus Christ, Theo,” I scold. “What the fuck was that for?”

“Get out,” he says, opening the shower door. I scowl at him and step out so he can wrap me in a towel. He says nothing as he steps me over to the counter and starts brushing my hair. When he’s done, he sets the brush down and dries my hair. I have no idea what he’s doing, considering he looks like he’s mad at me. I keep my mouth shut because I have already made the situation bad enough.

“Theo,” I say quietly.

“Yes, Rhea?” he asks as he turns me to face him.

“Are you angry at me?” I ask sheepishly.

“No, Rhea. If I was angry, I wouldn’t be down here,” he says. “I am upset, but I also recognize that something is going on insidethat pretty little head of yours and you don’t know how to open up about it.”

“I’m fine,” I say.

“I thought you’d say that,” he says. “Go to the bedroom and stand at the end of the bed.”

“Am I being punished?” I ask.

“Yes,” he says. "Go, please.”

“Yes, Sir,” I say quietly.

When I get to the bedroom, everyone else is in here. Panic washes over me when I am naked, but no one else is. I’ve been made fun of and tormented by my dad and Marvin so many times that this feels like a trap. I still do as I’m told, but I don’t look at anyone.

“Alright, Rhea,” Theo says, as he gently rests his hands on my waist. “Do you know why you are being punished?”

“For not eating dinner,” I say.

“Wrong,” he says. “You are being punished for blatantly disregarding your health, knowing there would be consequences. You continuously degraded yourself and then got an attitude with me when I tried to get a better understanding of what was going on. Also, for lying.”

“Lying?” I ask.

“Yes,” he says. “You lied when you said nothing was bothering you.”

“You’ve known me a week,” I snap. “How in the fuck are you supposed to know what is going on in my head?”