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“When I get sick…” My gut fluttered, and the expression on his face went dark with misery. “Like when my T-cells drop, and I get AIDS—”
“Baby—”
I put a finger on his mouth. “Don’t interrupt me, please. I have to say it.”
His jaw clenched, but he nodded.
“When it gets really bad, I need to know, will you be there for me if I don’t kill myself?”
His eyes filled with tears, and he pressed his face to my neck, breathing me in. “I’ll take care of you. I’ll see you through it all.”
I nodded. “Yeah, okay, me too. I promise.”
And then, just like that, we were as good as married. I might not have a ring on my finger like Betsy, but I had a good man’s promise to be by my side as I died a terrible, ugly death. That was a real vow. One I knew he’d keep.
“When we go to bed,” I whispered, “I want you to try to make love to me.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“No. Tome. To Minty.”
Luke squeezed me tight. “Yes, Minty.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
‡
Luke
Our alone timebehind the tree couldn’t last, of course. Betsy was the first one to crash into the room with Rodney right behind her. “Present time! Present time!” she chanted.
The rest of the family trailed in from the kitchen too. There wasn’t a ton of room to sit, what with just one sofa and love seat in the room. Chairs were toted in from the kitchen and dining room, and Betsy and Rodney happily sat on the floor by the tree.
Someone had opened wine and someone else had opened champagne, and without having to even ask, one of Rodney’s sisters—Erica, I think her name was—had pressed a glass of each into our hands.
“I’ll take the champagne,” Minty said, relieving me of my glass of bubbly, and passing me his wine. “You take the red.” Then he tipped the first champagne flute back and downed the entire thing in a few gulps.
I blinked at him.
“Nervous,” he said. “What if they don’t like my presents?”
“Don’t worry. They will.”
Betsy was already under the tree, sorting the boxes out by name. She read aloud, “To Betsy, from Minty.” It was a long narrow box. She shook it. Something thudded back and forth.
My eyes flew wide, and my heart pounded. “You didn’t,” Iwhispered.
Minty grinned at me wickedly. “Yes! Of course I did.”
“No! But…it’s…she can’t…not here—” I sputtered.
Minty smirked. “I’m sure Rodney will be excited to use it with her.”
“Betsy, don’t—”
“Thank you, Minty!” Betsy cried out, holding up a beautiful Barbie doll complete with four extra outfits. “I love her.”
“We can play together,” Minty said. “I brought two of my own in my purse.”
