Lacey

I felt exhausted, but I held onto how much I had gained. Adonis revealing how he felt about me had been unexpected, but it made me so happy. But seeing the specialist had taken away any of the hope that my condition wouldn’t be that serious.

Adonis held me while I cried. He patiently rubbed my back while I wept against his chest. After a few minutes, my tears eased, and I pulled away to brush the moisture from my face.

“You feeling better?” he murmured, his eyes soft and caring. I nodded.

The tears didn’t alter the verdict, but crying had eased some of my bottled up emotions.

My attention moved to the house.

“I don’t want to go in there,” I admitted softly. I could just imagine how my dad was taking it, and I did not know how Alex would handle it.

“It won’t be that bad,” he said, trying to ease my reluctance to face the rest of my family.

He gave me an encouraging smile. I let out a sigh. It had been such a long day already, and I felt tired, but there was no hiding now.

I opened the car door and got out. Adonis joined me by the front door. He didn’t touch me, but I felt his presence right beside me every step of the way. He opened the door for me and I stepped inside. There was a soft murmur of conversation coming from the kitchen, and I hesitated for a moment. Adonis stopped beside me, allowing me to catch my breath. I took a deep inhale, trying to muster to face my family. When I entered, the conversation hushed.

My family turned to me. My mother had been crying. Her eyes were red and puffy. I breathed in, trying to unclog the emotion in my throat. My father walked to me and embraced me.

“Don’t worry. You’ll be fine,” he assured me, and I nodded my head. I didn’t want to cry again and if I attempted to talk, I would bawl my eyes out again. “We are all here for you, and we’ll help you through this.”

Tears stung but refused to cry again; I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I love you,” I murmured hoarsely to my dad.

He hugged me tighter. “I love you too, Lacey.”

It had gone better than I’d expected. My brother had an unreadable expression on his face. When my father released me, Alex pulled me into a hug and held me so tight it took me by surprise. He didn’t say a word, but I felt his desperation as he held me. It scared him. I swallowed hard to keep myself from crying. I’d taken as much as I could and needed to escape. He released me.

“I’m a little tired,” I said. It wasn’t a lie, but what I needed more was time to let the news sink in.

“Sure baby,” my mom said, giving me the understanding that I needed space.

Adonis walked out of the kitchen with me.

“You okay?” he asked as he stood in front of me at the bottom of the stairs. His eyes searched mine. I stood on one step higher so our eyes were level.

“I just need time to process everything,” I said. I needed time to think about all my options and what the outcome for each one would be. Facing my fears of what could happen was important for me to take the next step. Time was running out, and I had to make my decision.

“You need company?” he asked, reluctant to let me go.

I nodded. I needed space from my family, but having him around made me feel more peaceful. Thinking that I wanted all the time I could have with him and I didn’t want to waste one second we could have together.

I led the way up to my room, and he followed a step behind. I didn’t know if my parent’s would have a problem with the two of us alone in my room, but at that moment I didn’t care.

There was a soft click of the door as Adonis closed it behind us. I kicked off my shoes and lay down on the bed. He did the same. We lay facing each other.

“You want to talk?” he asked as we stared at each other. I shook my head. I just wanted to lie beside him and let my thoughts run through my mind. Anything I had to think about, I didn’t want to say out aloud.

His eyes drifted over my face and I closed my eyes, enjoying being able to be together with him without needing words to fill the silence.

I must have fallen asleep because the next moment I woke up the bed was empty beside me and my room was dark. I noticed a blanket that had covered me fell to my waist as I sat up in the bed. The clock beside my bed told me it was late.

My stomach grumbled, and I got.

The house was dark except for the light coming from the kitchen. I could hear the murmur of voice as I approached the doorway.

“I feel helpless,” I heard my mom say, and I stopped. The sadness in her voice tore through me.

“I know.” It was my father.

“Did she say anything to you?” my mom asked.

“No,” Adonis answered, sounding tired.

“Do you think she’ll do the surgery?” Alex asked, sounding agitated.

That had never even crossed my mind. I had to have the surgery. It wasn’t an option it was the only treatment.

If I didn’t go through with it, the tumor would grow and I would have more symptoms. Who knew how bad it could get? If I refused the surgery, I was as good as dead.

“She’ll do the surgery,” Adonis assured him. He knew me well.

He sounded worried, but I heard something else in his voice. Sadness. He’d kept it so together when he was around me I forgot how this affected him and how he was coping with my diagnosis.

“How long before she has to do the surgery?” The question came from my father.

I did not know because I’d stormed out of the appointment.

“The doctor said the sooner the better,” my mom answered. She’d obviously asked the doctor some questions after I’d left.

For all I knew, I could rush to do the surgery, and I’d have no more time left. I shook my head. No, I wasn’t ready to do the surgery just yet but I couldn’t delay it indefinitely. I could have a little more time.

Even though I was hungry, I stepped back, needing to get away before anyone heard me.

This was something I had to decide on my own, I didn’t stop walking when I got to my room instead I went to my window and climbed out onto the roof. The night was beautiful; the stars sparkled above and the full moon glowed. I lay down and looked up into the night, trying to figure out what I was going to do.

There were so many things that I still wanted to experience before I died. I knew there would never be enough time to fit in everything, but there were some things I could do before then.

I needed time, and I didn’t care what the specialist said. I wanted some time to do the things I wanted before I placed my life in the balance.

Adonis. We hadn’t even really been together. It seemed so unfair to discover how he felt at a time now when I did not know what lay ahead, but I wanted at least one month to not worry about surgery and dying. For a chance to concentrate on doing some things that I wanted to.

There were other things that I had decided, and I needed to speak to the specialist to make sure everything was in order before I had the surgery. I wasn’t sure how Adonis or family would feel about it, but it was something I felt I had to do.

I heard the soft rustle and the sound of soft steps on the roof, then I was looking into the concerned face of Adonis above me.

“You okay?” he asked, and I nodded my head. I was okay as I was ever going to be. I’d made my decision, but I wasn’t sure how my family or the specialist was going to feel about it.

“I think you need to get some sleep.” He offered me a hand, and I sat up and put my hand in his. He lifted me to my feet.

He was right; I was tired, and I needed to rest. Inside my room again, I got into the bed and he got in too. This time he opened the comforter and go in. When I climbed in, he pulled me closer and he lay on his back. My head rested against his chest and I closed my eyes for a few moments, enjoying the closeness. For those few moments, I ignored everything that was wrong and tried to concentrate on what was right. And Adonis felt so right.

Tomorrow I would make the appointment to see the specialist again, and I would face the reaction that my decision was going to because. Adonis squeezed me tighter, and I reveled in the feel of him holding me so close. I fell asleep feeling safe.

**********

The next morning I woke up before Adonis. He was lying beside me on his side with his arm around my waist.

So many mornings when I’d seen him sleeping on the sofa, I’d wondered what it felt like to wake up beside him. It filled me with such happiness. I lost track of time as I lay watching him sleep, tracing every feature, wanting to touch him, but I didn’t want to wake him. So many things I’d take for granted before my diagnosis, but now every moment, both big and small, I had to cherish.

He stirred, and I smiled as I watched him. His eyes fluttered opened, and I smiled.

“How long have you been awake?” He pulled me closer.

“A while.”

He pressed a kiss to my forehead. Every touch amplified because I was running out of time. As much as I wanted to ignore everything but the two of us, I needed to see the specialist again. I had questions, and I needed some answers. “I need to go see the specialist again.”

Adonis stilled beneath me. It was like I’d broken our moment.

“I knew you would want to see him again when you’d had time to process everything. I called to get another appointment with him and he said he could squeeze you in at five on Friday,” he said. He knew me too well.

“Thanks.”

Silence descended between the two of us as my mind cycled through the questions I wanted to ask the specialist.

“So what do you want to do today?” he asked, his fingers trailed on the surface of my skin.

I wanted to spend it with him, but there was something I had to do.

“I need to see Reece,” I said, not wanting to get out of bed. It wasn’t something I was looking forward to, but she was my best friend and I had to tell her what was going on. I had a couple of missed calls from her I hadn’t returned. This wasn’t news I could break over the phone.

“I’ll take you,” he said, and I nodded.

Then I thought about Aiden. I would need to tell him as well. It was going to be another draining day, but there was no avoiding it. Suddenly, I remembered I had to work today. Through all the emotions and stress, I’d completely forgotten.

“I forgot I have to work today.” Quickly, I sat up. I didn’t want to call in sick, but I wasn’t in the right frame of mine to concentrate on working.

“Do you think it’s a good idea to continue to work?” Adonis sat up.

I rubbed my head. The answer was no.

“I’ll call Jax to ask him to cover my shift, but then I will need to go by the restaurant to quit.”

I could feel my stress level rise when I thought about how Reece would take my news and how David would react to me quitting. My head throbbed, and I rubbed it.

“Relax.” Adonis put an arm around me and hugged me to him. “You can’t let all these things worry you.”

He was right, but it was easier said than done.

“I know,” I said.

“Come on, let’s get up. The sooner we get everything done, the sooner you can stop worrying about it.” He got out the bed and helped me out.

Having him with him and helping me meant so much to be that for a moment I swallowed my emotion down as I stood in front of him.

“How did I get so lucky to have you in my life?” I whispered. It was true.

He tipped my face up to his. His eyes searched mine. “Trust me, I’m the lucky one.” His words pulled at my heart. His words made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. He pressed kiss to my forehead and my heart that was owned by him melted.

After he left me in my room, I had a shower and got dressed. He’d gone home to do the same. He’d told me he would be back at the house in half an hour to take me to see Reece.

I called Jax, and he said he would cover my shift. He didn’t seem to mind, which eased my guilt.

Today Reece started her classes late so I could see her before she left for college. I didn’t want to wait the entire day before I could tell her. I called her and she answered.

“Hi.” I gripped my phone tightly.

“Hello stranger.” Her tone a little stiff. I felt bad that I hadn’t been in contact with her the last couple of days.

“Yeah, I’m sorry, but things have been a little hectic.” I paced.

“Too busy to call me?” she asked, her tone softer.

“I need to see you this morning.” I didn’t want to tell her over the phone.

“Sure,” she said, and I could hear the nervousness in her voice.

She was my best friend and knew me better than anyone else. It was how she knew something was wrong, but she did not know what.

“Okay, I’ll see you in about half an hour,” I said.

“Sure, see you then.”

I let out a sigh when I disconnected the phone. My father and my brother had left for the day, and my mom was the only one I had to face.

“Hi mom,” I said when I went downstairs to the kitchen.

“Hi baby.” Her eyes lit up. I gave her a hug, and she hugged me a little tighter than usual, I understood why.

“What are you doing today?” she asked.

I told her, and she nodded her head grimly. “She needs to know.”

I heard the front door open and close, then Adonis walked into the kitchen. His hair was still damp and my heart skipped a beat at the sight of him and I had to catch my breath.

“You ready?” He pressed a kiss to my cheek, and I trembled. I wasn’t used to him being affectionate like but it was something I could definitely get used to, and I nodded.

“I’ll see you later.” I gave my mom a quick kiss on the cheek.

The car ride to Reece was quiet. I was too busy trying to figure out how I was going to tell Reece what I had to. Adonis pulled up in her driveway and switched off the car. “I’ll wait here.”

“Thanks,” I said as I got out of the car and closed the door.

In my mind, I was already trying to find the easiest way to tell her. The front door opened before I could knock, Reece beamed at me and her eyes went to the car parked outside her house.

“Is that Gray?” She gave me a knowing smile.

Then I remembered she did not know we were together. She had always told me he had a thing for me; I was the one who hadn’t believed her. She was right; she was so going to gloat.

“It’s a long story,” I shrugged.

“Doesn’t he want to come in?” she asked, and I shook my head.

“I need to talk to you alone.”

Her eyes narrowed, and she frowned. Whatever I was going to tell her wasn’t good. We went into her house.

In the living room, she sat down and I took the empty seat beside her. I hesitated for a moment, not sure what to start off with.

“You’re freaking me out. Just spit it out.” She was watching me as she clasped her hands together.

I told her about my symptoms and the doctor’s visits. She sat quietly listening to me as everything that had happened spilled from my lips.

“I have a brain tumor,” I said, and I saw her eyes widen in shock.

“I don’t understand.” She shook her head, struggling to process what I was telling her.

I told her about the only treatment being surgery and for a moment she looked stunned, and then she pulled me into a hug. Hearing her soft tears as she hugged me made me cry. We hugged for a while before I pulled back and she wiped her cheeks.

“You still haven’t explained why Gray is here?” she asked.

The mention of him made me smile and her eyes lit up.

She smiled at me and winked. “I told you so.”