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With all thefluids they were pushing into me through the IV, I had to use the bathroom fairly often. Not long after the guys left for lunch, Mom and the nurse had to help me to the bathroom again.
When I came out this time, Dr. Contreras was waiting. “It’s good to see you already up and moving around. If you can eat and drink something later this afternoon, and keep it down, I’ll release you this evening.”
“Okay, sounds good,” I muttered, easing down onto the bed. I didn’t relish the thought of having to sleep in the hospital overnight, but I’d been advised it was a possibility. Still, I would rather sleep in my own bed—or Jenner’s.
I was already exhausted just from the short walk to and from the bathroom with help. I’d been told that the fatigue was the worst of the side effects I would be feeling from the donation, and I could already tell that was one hundred percent the truth. But my bone marrow would replace itself in four to six weeks, so it wouldn’t last for too long.
The doctor did a quick post-surgery exam then took hold of my hand. My eyes grew huge when he bowed over it. “Thank you,” he rasped out, and I quickly glanced over at my parents. Dad watched him with narrowed eyes, but Mom only smiled.
“Um, you’re welcome?”
Laughing, he straightened. “Sorry, I know this isn’t typical bedside manner for a doctor, but I needed to show my appreciation. Pixie is…” He pressed his lips together and shook his head. “She’s special.”
Realization hit me. Had the doctor fallen for his patient? It would explain the new vibes Jenner had talked about sensing between the man and Pixie. But I didn’t call him out on it. Instead, I relaxed back against the pillows and smiled up at him. “I am happy to help. Pixie is very special. I may not have known her very long, but I do know that much.”
He cleared his throat. “She wants to meet you.”
“I know. I was just waiting until after the procedure.”
The doctor gave me a surprisingly sheepish look. “If you’re up to it, I have a wheelchair waiting outside and would like to take you to her room now.”
Outside Pixie’s room, Dr. Contreras paused long enough for the three of us to get geared up. Once our masks were secure, Mom knocked and then opened the door so the doctor could push me into the room.
Pixie was sitting in a reclining chair by the window, one of the crossword puzzle books open in her lap. As we were shown in, she lifted her head. “What’s this?” she asked with a frown as she slowly got to her feet.
I was still in the hospital gown, but I’d put on a pair of pajama pants underneath it. My hair was still braided and had fallen over my shoulder. I might have been wearing a mask, but Pixie immediately knew who I was.
“Doe, are you okay?” she cried in distress. “Did you hurt yourself?”
“Not exactly,” I told her as I carefully stood. It was painful to put my weight on my hips, but I gritted my teeth and took a step toward her. “Pixie, there’s something I didn’t tell you. I…” Lowering my head, I whispered, “I’m your marrow donor.”
Dr. Contreras moved with lightning-quick reflexes, making my head snap up just in time to see him catch Pixie as she began to sway. “Easy, love,” he murmured, keeping his arms locked around her, his lips pressed to the side of her turban-covered head. “I’ve got you.”
“D-did she really just say…?” Pixie’s wide gaze went from him to Mom and finally back to me. Tears filled her eyes, and she sobbed. “Doe, you…you…”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I just didn’t want you to feel like you had to like me. I mean…” I blinked back my own tears in vain. “I love Jenner so much, Pixie. I want you to like me, but you don’t have to if—”
“Shut up!” she cried, throwing her arms around me. “Just shut up. Of course I like you. I love you, you beautiful idiot.”
I hugged her as hard as I dared, worried I might hurt her even in my weakened state. “I love you too.”
She leaned back and gave me a mock glare. “You’re not allowed to do things like this again without telling me beforehand. You were acting weird yesterday, and I was so worried about you last night. Then Jenner said you had a doctor’s appointment this morning, and I was scared to death that something was wrong with you. My brother just found you. Don’t you dare get sick and leave him.”
“I’ll do my best,” I promised, hugging her again. “But you were the one acting off. I thought something was wrong with you.”
“No, I was just concerned for you. If anything took you away from Jenner, he would be destroyed.” She put her arm through mine, and we helped each other to the bed where we both sat. “I might not have long left, and I need to make sure that he’s taken care of, that he has someone who will love him as he deserves. I won’t be able to be at peace if he’s alone.”
A pained sound came from across the room, and I glanced over at the doctor, but he turned to look out the window before I could see his face. The set of his shoulders and the way he bowed his head spoke volumes, however. My mom, never one to let anyone suffer alone, crossed to him and put her hand comfortingly on his back. She didn’t say anything and neither did he, but sometimes Marissa Niall’s touch was all a person needed.
Pixie tugged on my hand, pulling my gaze back to her. Her smile was sad but full of a kind of acceptance I didn’t fully understand. She’d been through so much, but she still had a lot of life to live. I could tell she was ready to continue the fight, but she was all too aware of what the outcome could be if this didn’t work.
“There are no words for how thankful I am that you so selflessly gave me a part of yourself. I will always cherish it and you.” Her chilled fingers clutched at mine. “But what I truly need from you is your promise to always be there for my brother. If you can do that for me, then I will be eternally grateful.”
A lump filled my throat. “Pixie,” I choked out as the tears slid down my cheeks. “Of course. You don’t even have to ask. I love Jenner.”
“You better not ever break his heart,” she threatened, a trembling grin on her face. “Because if you do, I swear to God, I’ll come back and haunt you.”
