TWENTY FOUR. Sushi Incident
Riley went out the back door to deliver Logan's food. She walked down the stone path that led to the patio in the middle of the garden. This was her first time there, and she was mesmerized by the beauty of Logan's well-kept garden. The bushes were filled with red, pink, and purple roses that grew beautifully. Yellow leaves were falling from the giant maple tree. Riley wanted so badly to run under the maple tree and play with the fallen leaves. It reminded her of her happy childhood memories.
"I didn't expect you to come to deliver my food. Where are Betty and Kaella?"
"Oh don't blame them. I volunteered to help. Where do you want me to put your sushi?”
The small table in front of Logan was full of documents and his laptop. There was barely room for a plate of sushi and two small bowls of sauce and chopsticks for Logan to eat his sushi.
"Can you use chopsticks?"
"I think I can. Sometimes I eat Chinese food with chopsticks.”
"Then feed me."
"What?" Riley gaped.
She couldn't imagine Logan eating from her hands. Well, but she didn't have to imagine it. She would do that in a moment.
"Feed me. Sit next to me, and start feeding me. I am hungry."
"Eh. Are you sure?"
"I couldn't be more serious than this. Hurry up, Riley. I don't have time to chat with you any longer."
Doubts surrounded Riley. Her legs were shaking a little as she walked over to Logan. He motioned for her to sit down and fed him sushi.
“Do you like plain sushi or with soy sauce?”
"I love both. Give me a piece of sushi without soy sauce.”
Riley was a little awkward moving her fingers between the chopsticks. Not because she was bad at using chopsticks, but because she was too nervous. The chopsticks shook in her hands and she almost dropped a piece of sushi on the floor.
“Your face shows that you are disgusted. Is it because it's raw fish?"
"I think so. I wonder why you eat raw fish?”
"I'm fine with this."
Logan chewed and swallowed his sushi quickly. Riley wished he had taken longer so he could calm down.
“Give me another piece with soy sauce and mayo.”
Riley dipped a piece of sushi in soy sauce and mayonnaise as Logan wanted. The pink raw fish meat was covered in white sauce and brown sauce which made Riley's stomach queasy. She couldn't look at the raw fish any longer. She nearly threw up on Logan's plate.
"What's wrong with you? Why did you take so long?"
"Sorry."
Riley covered her mouth with her palm and made a sorry expression to Logan because she had spoiled his appetite.
"I guess I can't hold this in any longer. You'd better eat your own food."
"You just haven't tasted it. It's delicious. You should try it.”
Logan snatched the chopsticks from Riley's hands, then took a piece of sushi and thrust it right in front of Riley's tightly closed lips.
"Open your mouth."
Riley shook her head hard. She stared at Logan in horror like she had just been forced to eat the most disgusting food in the world.
"Please, don't force me. I can't eat it."
Riley's stomach churned. She desperately tried to stop herself from throwing up in front of Logan. Her stomach rumbled in protest as Logan shoved a piece of sushi into her mouth.
“You should try it, even if only once. It's very tasty. It is full of good nutrition which is good for your body.”
"I can't, Logan. Please, leave the sushi on the plate. I'd better feed you."
“I want you to taste this sushi. How do you know what it tastes like if you’ve never tried it?”
“I choose not to try it. I’ll throw up on your plate.”
“Betty will clean it up if you throw it up.”
“Don’t be crazy. There are a lot of documents scattered on the table.”
“I'm going to ask Matt to reprint all those documents. Don't worry. Open your mouth wide and let this nutritious food make you healthy.”
"Logan please, I can't."
Riley whined loudly, while Logan kept pushing his chopsticks in front of Riley's mouth. He forced Riley's lips open by poking the tip of his chopsticks into her mouth harder. Then, when Riley made a small gap in her mouth, Logan stuffed a piece of sushi into her mouth and choked her.
"Now, swallow!"
Riley kept her lips pursed. She didn't dare move her teeth to chew. She even tried to block the taste of the raw fish in her mouth from reaching her brain, but it failed. The taste of raw fish spread to her brain with a fishy taste that got worse when mixed with mayonnaise and soy sauce. Riley's eyes filled with tears as she felt an unpleasant sensation stir her mouth. She couldn't hold the sushi in her mouth any longer.
Riley suddenly jumped out of her chair and ran quickly to the nearest bathroom. She didn't pay much attention to her footsteps and only focused on the urge from her stomach that was about to gush out.
She vomited violently in the bathroom. She was bent over the sink. Her whole body was shaking before she slumped under the sink.
"I said, swallow it. Why did you throw it up?”
Logan followed her to the bathroom. He had his arms crossed in the doorway with a grim face.
"Why are you crying?" he chuckled.
Logan pushed himself out of the doorway, and walked over to Riley.
"I just threw up your expensive chocolate," she whined.
"Excuse me?"
He traced Riley's pale face. There was no fakery at all. She was genuinely upset about the chocolate.
"You like chocolate?"
"I really do. I even ate the chocolate slowly because it was so good."
"You can eat all the chocolate in the fridge. Let's go to the dining room."
"What about your sushi?"
"Forget the sushi. I'm not going to force you to eat sushi anymore. Everyone has different tolerances for food. I don't like chocolate."
"Seriously? What kind of weirdo doesn't like chocolate?"
Riley quickly covered her lips as Logan shot her a glare.
“I don't like chocolate,” Logan said firmly.
“We'd better get to the table now. Betty must have prepared our dinner."
“Yes, we cooked chicken soup, chicken parmigiana, rice and salad.”
Logan rubbed Riley's pale cheek gently with the back of his hand. He stared intently at Riley's face, feeling guilty for forcing her to eat the sushi she didn't like. Riley was different from all the women he'd dated. There was something about Riley that made it impossible for him to hurt her more. But that fact also scared him because Riley brought many changes to his life. He did not like changes in his life.
“How are you feeling now?”
Riley stared at Logan intently, flinching when his cool skin touched her cheek.
“Much better. I-I’ll get some water from the kitchen.”
Riley walked to the kitchen nervously. She was thankful Logan didn’t try to chase her. She was scared by his sudden change. She had been thinking about his bipolar ever since Wren told her about it at the hospital.
“Hey, our food is ready. Do you want to eat now?” Kaella asked cheerfully.
“Yes. Can I have some lemon water?”
“What’s wrong, honey?” Betty appeared and looked at her worriedly. She tried to touch Riley’s face, but Riley quickly moved away.
“I’m fine. Just wanted some lemon water. And Logan will eat at the dining table.”
“Okay. You wait at the dining table. I’ll bring you some lemon water.”
“Thank you.”
Betty narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Riley’s strangeness. She then walked over to Kaella and poked her shoulder.
“Why does she look so nervous?”
“If Riley is acting strange, you should suspect Mr. Hatcher.”
"Why should I suspect him?" Betty asked skeptically.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Ms. Betty. Mr. Hatcher has unstable emotions. You'd better warn Riley to stay alert. I'm afraid one day Mr. Hatcher will hurt her."
“Tsk, don't provoke Riley with your theory about Mr. Hatcher. She'll be fine. Now, bring this soup to the dining table."
Kaella snorted. Betty was always a hard-core defender of Logan, no matter how destructive his actions were to the people around him.