“Okay,” I whispered, feeling the exhaustion overwhelm me.
“Okay,” he echoed.
Asher
On my way to Lennon’s apartment, I had been looking forward to telling her everything this past week has brought. For once, it felt like some things were just falling into place instead of collapsing around me.
My brother had been released from the hospital. My mother advocated relentlessly on his behalf regarding the surgery and even managed to secure his job back. Although modified, it was something. He’d have benefits again. Stability. A fresh starting point.
The only thing twisting me in knots was the pilot project.
When I’d told Lennon everything last week, I hadn’t known some of the details—what the treatment would entail or the type of side effects I would have from it. That was a huge determining factor for me. If the side effects were so brutal that the quality of my livelihood plummeted, why would I waste my time? Surviving wasn’t the same as really living.
Running up the stairs of her apartment, I felt excited to share the news. I waltzed up to her door, knocking three times before the most perfect woman answered the door.
She looked like a breath of fresh air, the kind you inhaled so deeply it was never quite enough. In front of me were jean shorts that were ripped, whitewashed, and probably a size too big with an oversized shirt falling off one of her shoulders. I was a puddle.
“Hey there, rich boy.” She smirked, stepping aside to let me in.
“Did you want to take Nova for a walk? I got some news this week that I wanted to share with you, you know, between family and treatment and whatnot,” I said, rambling on.
She adjusted her messy bun, somehow making it even more chaotic. “Yeah, why not? I’ll just grab a sweater and some socks.”
Lennon turned to vanish toward her bedroom, but suddenly spun back around and launched herself into my arms, surprising me. Her lips crashed against mine with longing and passion. She kissed me like she had been waiting to do that for years.
When she pulled away, I searched deep into her eyes, and saw nothing but happiness.
She looked happy. And fuck, I loved that look on her.
“Hi, little siren,” I whispered against her lips while she clung onto my neck.
A huge devious grin spread across her face. “Should I carry you to the bedroom now?” I teased.
She giggled. “No. Let’s go for a walk now. That way I can enjoy you later without feeling like we wasted away in bed.”
I pulled her closer. “I’d happily waste away in bed with you any day.”
She giggled and slipped out of my hold, ultimately vanishing down the hall.
I could hear her ripping out her drawers, trying to figure out which sweater she wanted to wear. For someone who didn’t give a shit, she sometimes really did give a shit in some areas.
I leaned against the wall while I waited for my girl. Nova wagged her tail, excited for the pending adventure. I bent down to scratch behind her ears just as my shoulder brushed against a paper that drifted to the floor.
I continued to scratch behind her ear, reaching for the paper absentmindedly to return it back on the counter.
A line caught my eye.
Death Date: October 16, 2025
The words squeezed all of the air out of the room and away from my lungs.
This couldn’t be real. This had to be some kind of mistake. That was so fucking close. Way too close.
Why the fuck did she have this date?
No. No. No. I wasn’t ready to lose her.
How could she keep this from me? I had confessed my entire world to her. I told her everything I knew, everything I had in me to give her. And she just kept something like this from me?
