“What do you mean, what else?”
“That’s not all that’s bugging you, MoMo.”
She folded her arms. How did he always know? “What makes you think that?”
“I’ve known you for a long time, Mol. Just give it up, it’ll be easier for both of us that way.”
She watched his face for a long moment. He arched his brow and leaned back in his seat, his muscles relaxing. He’d taken his own drama, tucked it away, and was ready to help her deal with whatever she was facing. That was just who he was. Reliable, dependable, and Will’s freakin’ best friend.
She sighed. “It’s probably nothing.”
He pointed at her. “But it might be something?”
She nodded, gripping her lip between her teeth, blinking back the dumb tears burning at her eyelids. He scooted forward, dragging his chair across the kitchen tiles with a screech and picked up her hand.
Her heart stopped. All the air in the room disappeared and the only thing keeping her alive was the warmth radiating through her skin from his. He was touching her. Finn O’Brien was holding her hand between his.
His Adam’s apple bobbed. Did he feel it too? Surely holding her hand wasn’t affecting him the same way.
“Molly? What’s going on?”
She heaved another sigh, urging the dirty thoughts tugging at the edges of her mind to shut up. She needed to just come out and say it, to let it hang in the air between them, to voice it out loud to someone who cared about her. He’d give her the sad, sympathetic eyes, he’d smother her with compassion, but at least it would be out there. It would no longer be a heavy secret vibrating in her chest. A problem shared, and all that.
“I found a lump in my breast.”
He didn’t answer right away, but he dragged his thumbs along the back of her hand. “Have they taken a look yet?”
She didn’t want to look at him. Once the words left her mouth, she wasn’t sure she could handle the sadness she’d find in his eyes. “Not yet. I have scans in a few days. They took blood. He said I’ll probably need a biopsy…” That was all the information she had. It wasn’t enough.
“Does anyone else know?”
She shook her head. Finn sat quietly, but his hands never left hers. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from where their bodies connected. Sparks licked up her arm. She’d felt pleasure before. She’d had a lot of sex, a lot of orgasms, but she’d never felt such inner warmth from human contact. It somehow seemed even more intimate than sex.
When she finally met his gaze, she didn’t find a trace of sympathy in his eyes, only resolve. “I’m coming with you.”
“Where?”
“To your appointments.”
An almost hysterical laugh bubbled up inside her. “You don’t have to do that.”
“And you don’t have to sit with me when I talk to my birth mom. You didn’t have to sit with me any number of times when Dad…” His voice cracked. “You said it yourself, MoMo, we’re family, it’s what we do. I’m not letting you face this alone.”
Chapter 8
Finnegan
She’d found a lump. While Finn had hoped she’d seen strength and determination when she’d finally lifted her head, inside he was a fucking mess. They’d argued for twenty minutes about telling the family. In the end, she’d relented and said she would tell them after the biopsy results.
He’d eventually peeled his hands from hers and left. On his way out, on impulse he sent his mother, Meabh, a message asking if she wanted to meet for a coffee before he changed his mind, then hit the streets. He’d gotten her cell number from Mrs. Mo, and after he’d sent the text, he ran like he was being chased until his legs and lungs burned and sweat streamed down his face. Molly had found a lump. He was meeting his birth mom – Meabh – for the first time in years. His chest tightened, squeezing the air from his lungs, and he doubled over trying to catch his breath.
By the time he got back to the hockey house, his mind raced and he had three messages waiting for him. Meabh could meet him for coffee later that afternoon – he wanted to get it over and done with before he could talk himself out of it again. A quick shower and some stretching later, he messaged Molly.
Finn:Whatcha doin’?
Molly:I don’t need a babysitter you know. I found a lump, I’m not dying.
Finn:Down, girl. I was just asking. Meeting bio mom in 90 if you’re around.
