Page 17 of Enchanted

“Eth? Why are you sitting in the dark?”

I blinked at the bright light that assaulted my eyes when he flipped the switch. “Didn’t realise.”

The sofa cushion sank as Dave sat beside me. “What’s wrong? What’s happened?”

Suddenly, irritation decided to join the confusion and uncertainty party. Had Dave really forgotten I had my appointment today? One I’d been so terrified about, I hadn’t slept the night before?

Given he hadn’t even made it home from the club until 4 a.m., he probably didn’t realise.

“I had my appointment with Dr. Hall today,” I said. “About my test results.”

There was a long pause before Dave sighed. “Shit, that was today? Why didn’t you remind me?”

I gritted my teeth. I had reminded him. Several times, in fact. Along with asking him if he could take an hour off work to come with me.

He hadn’t been able to, of course.

Stop this, I told myself sternly. This is good news. He’s probably worried sick about what you’ve been told. You’re being selfish.

Proving my point, Dave took one of my hands between his own. I frowned. Maybe the bruise was still there under the skin, because this felt oddly uncomfortable. “What did he say?”

“It’s good news,” I said, an almost hysterical giggle slipping free. “Great, actually. Fuck.”

“What is it?”

That was the instant it hit me. Not fully, but the start of it. I was cancer-free. I wasn’t going to die. Not from that, at least. Not right now.

I faced Dave fully. I wanted to see his face as I told him. For his expression to erase the memory in my mind—the one of his horror and grief at my diagnosis. “The tests…they didn’t show any evidence of cancer.”

Dave paled. “What?”

I chuckled wryly, shaking my head. “I know. I can’t wrap my head around it either. Tried to insist they had the wrong person’s results or had read the scans wrong. But they hadn’t. All of the tests show I’m cancer-free.”

His complexion was now slightly green. I got it. This was a huge shock.

“I don’t understand. It’s not possible.”

“I don’t understand it either,” I confessed. “It makes zero fucking sense.”

Dave’s throat bobbed. “So…ah, you’re not dying?”

“No.” I laughed at the surge of relief that raced through me. Because I wasn’t. I wasn’t dying. “I’m not. If anything, I’m healthier than I’ve been in years.”

Dave was still staring at me, but it was almost as though he was looking through me.

I squeezed his limp fingers. “Dave? I know it’s a lot to take in, but this is good news. I’m going to be okay!”

He jumped as though startled before smiling. “It’s fantastic news, Ethan. Fuck. Sorry. I just can’t believe it. Come here.”

Dave pulled me into a tight hug.

“I’m going to be okay,” I repeated in a daze. “I can’t believe it.”

He cleared his throat as he rubbed my back. “Me neither.”

Chapter 5

Rami