“Here, eat some eggs. You need protein.”

Deirdre stopped moving her spoon slightly.

Brendan caught the change instantly. “What is it?”

“Nothing.” She cast her eyes down on her food, looking a little hesitant, before drawing the egg close to her lips.

Sam snatched the spoon away from her, alarmed. “Miss McKinnon, no! Don’t you remember what the doctor said? No eggs two hours after taking your meds!”

“What the…?” Brendan’s eyebrows were furrowed dangerously. Incredulity swirled behind his eyes as he scanned her face. “Why didn’t you say anything?!”

Deirdre shrugged. “It was just not important.”

“N-Not important?! You mean severe nausea is fine? Gastric pain is fine? Cold sweat and pain are fine?!” Even Sam was growing exasperated. “Or did you forget what happened the last time you ate a teensy bit of egg? Is that why you were gonna stuff yourself that much just now?!”

His snippy retort made Deirdre choke on her reply. Brendan’s face, erstwhile pale in shock, turned redder and r