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“Because my ankle was temporary and it’s totally healed up.”
“And if I decided I didn’t believe you?”
Jodie opened her mouth. Mac kept going before she could answer.
“What if I decided I knew better? You tell me you’re fine, but I read your medical record, so I start changing things anyway. Then I make up some reason so you don’t know I’m doing it. How would it make you feel once you found out I didn’t trust you to know your own body?”
Her expression changed from anger to hurt.
Mac’s anger lessened a little, which made everything feel worse. He’d hurt her feelings, when all he wanted was to…
To what?
“Look, you read my file, decided what I could handle, and managed me without telling me.”
Because you thought I was weak. You still think I’m weak.
“Mac, I was trying to protect you.”
“I…know.”
“Then why are you making it sound like I did something terrible?”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m not. I don’t think that.”
“It feels like you do.”
Mac rubbed both hands over his face, then looked at her.
Because I don’t know how to explain this without sounding like an ungrateful bastard.
He dropped his hands and took a deep breath to settle his emotions before he said something really stupid.
And put this whole relationship in the rhubarb.
“I’m not angry you cared,” he said quietly.
Jodie waited, her gaze never leaving his.
“I’m angry you didn’t let me have a say.”
The tension in her face eased, but only a little.
Mac looked down at his hands.
“I spent all afternoon wondering what else you’ve been changing. And that’s not fair to you, because I know half the things you do are just you being you. Bringing people water. Making sure there’s plenty of shade to cool down in. Making sure everybody eats.”
Jodie’s mouth twitched faintly. “Somebody has to. They’d all keel over otherwise.”
“I know.”
“They really would.”
He almost smiled. Almost.
“Kyle knew all about my condition when he hired me. Those assignments were mine because he knew I could handle them. But you apparently doubted that.” He blew out a breath. “And for all I know, you seeded doubt in his head every time you told him to change one.”
Silence filled the tent.
