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“I will.” She smiles. “It was really nice to meet you, Abel.”
“It was nice to meet you as well, Claire.” I step back, watching the door close in front of me moments later.
While a part of me can’t help but feel disappointed, I also feel relieved. As long as Claire gives her my number then I’ve done what I can. The ball is now in her court. At least now I know that she has a way to reach me if she wants to.
I know our connection wasn’t something I imagined. I know she felt it. But I also know there was a lot she purposely avoided telling me. It was like she knew that she was going to sneak out and she didn’t want me to come looking for her after she did.
But I’m not so easily swayed. I’ve never been one to take things lying down. I fight for what I want. I always have. And right now I want Finley Roberts. I want her in a way I’ve never wanted a woman before. It’s both terrifying and exhilarating.
As I exit the apartment building and cross the lot toward my car, I can’t help but wonder where she is. Claire said she’d be gone a few weeks but she never mentioned she was going anywhere. Then again, there’s a lot she didn’t mention. I’m starting to realize that even though I feel like I’ve known Finley my whole life, I really don’t know that much about her.
And now learning that she quit her job and has apparently left town for a few weeks leaves me even more baffled. I’m not sure if this ties into why she ghosted me after our night together, but I’m guessing it does. I highly doubt it’s just some random coincidence.
My phone buzzes to life seconds after I drop it in the passenger seat of my car. Glancing over, I let out a loud sigh when I see my mother’s number flash across the screen.
I love my mom, don’t get me wrong, but over the last couple of years our relationship has been more about how I’ve disappointed her and my father than anything else. Truthfully, it’s pretty fucking exhausting.
Deciding to let it go to voicemail, I start the car and slowly pull out of the parking lot, glancing in my rearview mirror several times as Finley’s building fades from view.
I’ve only made it a few blocks when my phone starts ringing again. This time it’s my brother, Aaron. Tapping the phone button on my steering wheel, it’s only seconds before the call connects through the speakers.
“Hey, Aaron.” I flip on my turn signal as I come to a stop at a red light.
“You need to head over to mom and dad’s.” There’s something off in his voice and I can tell something’s wrong.
“Why, what’s going on?”
“I’m not sure but Mom called me. Said she needed to see all of us and that it’s important.”
“She didn’t say anything else?” I question, a nervous knot forming in the pit of my stomach.
“No, just that her and dad need to talk to us. I could tell something was wrong but she didn’t want to discuss it over the phone. Andrew is already there and Alex and I are heading over now.”
“Okay, yeah, I’ll head that way. Give me about twenty minutes,” I say, turning when the light turns green.
“Okay, see you then.” He disconnects the call without waiting for a response.
——
“Somebody needs to starttalking.” Adam’s voice rings out from my mother’s tablet that’s propped in the middle of the table where she has him on Facetime. Considering he’s all the way in California it’s not like he could pop over.
The rest of us are all circled around the table facing our parents. Mom is sitting in the chair at the head of the table and my father is standing behind her, one hand resting on her shoulder. “We haven’t had a family meeting since Roger died nearly ten years ago,” Adam continues, referring to the old golden retriever that we had as kids.
“Seriously, Mom, you’re starting to freak us out,” Aaron chimes in next to me.
“A few weeks ago I found a lump in my right breast.” As soon as she starts speaking I know exactly where this conversation is going. “I went in for some blood work and scans a few days ago and had a follow up appointment with my doctor this morning.” She pauses, looking up at my father who gives her an encouraging smile.
Fuck, this is bad...
“He confirmed that I have breast cancer.” She nearly chokes on the words. “It’s stage two and the doctors seem confident that we caught it early enough. I have surgery scheduled for next week to remove the mass and then we will discuss chemotherapy.”
“Mom,” Adam’s voice rings out from the tablet.
“Now, before anyone says anything I want you to know that I have no intentions of going anywhere. It’s not a matter ofifI beat this, it’s when.” She forces a smile but I can tell it’s more for our benefit than anything else.
Mom has always been the strong one of the family. I can count how many times I’ve seen her cry on one hand over the course of my entire life. She’s the only one that seems to have it all together, even when the rest of the world is falling to shambles around her.
“What can we do?” Adam is the first to ask.
