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Paige
“Sofia, please don’t worry. I know what getting sick feels like and this isn’t it.” I squeeze her hand. “I promise.”
My cousin lets out a short sigh and smiles. “I can’t help but worry, Paige.”
“I know.” I offer her a worried smile. “Seth was worried too.” I chew on my bottom lip. “I don’t like him being distracted because of me.”
Sofia waits until we’re seated in the arena. “Seth is so in love with you that he’ll worry about your health whether or not you want him to. You can’t change who he is. He was there throughout your treatment and he has been with you through most of your doctor’s appointments. He’s bound to worry.”
I rest my head on Sofia’s shoulder. “I love him, and deep down I’m afraid that I’ll leave him long before I’m ready.”
“You really can’t think that way.” Sofia forces me to look at her. “You’re a fighter and you’ve come so far. I also know that Seth will be with you no matter what happens in the future, just like I know you’ll be there for him.”
Tears hover on my lashes. “I haven’t really thought about my sickness coming back, until today. I saw the worry in Seth’s eyes, and you, Jax, and Dylan. The fear isn’t going to go away.”
Sofia wraps her arm around my shoulders while we watch the Zamboni finishing up on the ice. It gives me enough time to pull myself together and enjoy the warmth of Seth’s sweatshirt. His scent is all around me as the sweatshirt drowns my body, but I don’t care. Just inhaling him calms the beat of my heart and I start to realize that the chill from the cold wind is all this is tonight.
I never used to be so sensitive to the weather, but I guess now it’s one of the draw backs of being sick with cancer. I’ve lost weight and my immune system has had a lot to deal with and eventually I hope to be back to where I was before I’d gotten sick. I’m aware that it will take time, and I’ll just have to deal with the worry for a while.
“You’re feeling like yourself again.” Sofia squeezes my shoulder, pushing me away. “I’m going to get us those hot chocolates, and I’m feeling in the mood for popcorn.”
I giggle. “My stomach will eternally thank you, if you bring back toffee popcorn.”
“Don’t go chatting anyone up while I’m gone.” Sofia jogs up the stairs, disappearing from view.
The smile she put on my face is still in place when Jaxon slips into Sofia’s vacated seat. I raise a brow, amused. “Are you joining us?”
Jaxon frowns. “I’m not playing tonight, so figured I’d watch the game with you and Sofia.” He glances around. “Where is she?”
“She’s gone getting supplies.” I sigh. “Actually, I think she needed a moment to gather herself after talking to me.” I meet his gaze. “I’m glad she came to visit you.”
Jaxon wraps himself around me, and mumbles into my hair, “She didn’t come to see me.” He kisses the top of my head before sitting back in the seat.
My cousin doesn’t always say too much but you always know he cares. He’s more sensitive than the others and I like that about him, which is why I’m sure he isn’t a manwhore like Dylan. He won’t just be with someone for the sake of dating. He’ll wait until he meets someone special. I drop my head to his shoulder and smile when his arm slips around me. I love teasing Jaxon but tonight I’m enjoying sitting here with him, feeling his love for me. My cousins really are so much more than that. It’s like having lots of brothers and sisters.
Suddenly feeling a buzzing at my hip, I realize it’s Jaxon’s phone as he wiggles to pull it from the pocket of his sweats. He smiles reading the message and then shows me the screen of his phone.
Sofia: Instead of sitting relaxing come and help me carry the food.
Jaxon rolls his eyes and untangles himself from me, and when he does a lazy stretch, his shirt raises, showing his stomach. I snick
er, drawing his gaze. “The girls are enjoying the show,” I tell him, and notice a blush creeping on his face.
He’s totally oblivious to the attention. “Yeah, right! Don’t go anywhere.”
I chuckle as I watch him leave, and I certainly don’t miss the glares of jealousy rolling off of the other girls around us.
I don’t have the same attitude as I once did when it comes to teasing my cousins about this. At one time I’d really tease Jaxon and I’d probably make the most of the attention from others. Let them think he really was my boyfriend. I think the fact that I have no inclination to do that now is all down to Seth.
“Does Seth know how close you are to other men?”
The voice draws my surprised gaze. “Amanda?” I straighten in the seat. “Seth didn’t say you’d be here watching his game.”
“He doesn’t know.” She shrugs. “Can we talk?”
I pause and then indicate the seat next to me. “Take a seat.”
“Somewhere we won’t be overheard.” She glances around and points. “Over there. You can still see the ice, but there’s no chance of your friend finding you while we’re talking.”
