“Hmm?”
“Sage, look at me.”
“What?” I keep my eyes on my iPad and busy myself as I move some things around my calendar. I feel the bed dip before Liam turns my iPad off. My mouth feels dry, but I force the knot down.
“Sage, this meal plan is for someone who weighs at least one twenty.”
“She weighs one ten on a bad day…” I keep my eyes on my iPad screen, and I can see Liam watching me carefully through the reflection, but I don’t turn to him.
“And you weigh…?”
I feel my eyes burning again, and the bed dips as Liam lies beside me on his elbow. He tries to catch my eyes with his, but I look over to the side.
“Never mind that. It doesn’t matter how much you–”
“Yes, it does.”
“No,it doesn’t. It doesn’t matter this much, Sage. You’re eating like someone who weighswayless than you. If you can’t recognize how unhealthy that simplysounds,then this is an even bigger problem.”
I keep my head turned, and when my eyes start to water, I let out a frustrated breath.
“This saysHelenaon it. Isn’t that the hating ass bitch who fucked up your outfit tonight?”
I almost tell him not to call her a bitch but realize I shouldn’t defend her.
“And I bet it was her idea for you to follow this shit? Sage, this is ridiculous. That girl clearly has it out for you. How long have you been following her meal plan?”
I almost shrug but remember howpassionatehe feels about lying and decide not to answer at all. I feel his fingers softly push my hair behind my ear, and I squeeze my eyes shut.
“I’m going to assume this hasn’t been happening since last summer since you would’ve–”
“Been skinnier?” I turn to him now.
He watches me for a beat before shaking his head softly. “Hospitalized, Sage. You would’ve been in a hospital and you will be if you continue this.”
I shake my head at how dramatic that sounds. I knew he’d be like this, everyone acts like this is the end of the world and they don’t get it.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not, though, beloved. You’re sick.”
“What?” I sit up on the bed, but he stays in his position as he looks up at me. “I’m notsick.”
“You think this is okay?” He nods towards my phone and rests his head on his hand as he studies me.
“Well, I’m aware it’s not the best thing, but–”
“But you think it’s okay, obviously, since you’re doing it and have done it in the past.”
“Well, yeah, it’s fine. I’vebeenfine all this time–”
“You’re sick.”
“Stop saying that!”
“Sage, if you are convinced that it’s okay to eat like this and you’re doing it because you’re not happy with how you look, then you’re mental health is–”
“Mymentalhealth? You think I’m crazy because I want to go on a diet?!”
