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I snuggle in deeper, not wanting this to end. “No.” My voice is hoarse.
Warm lips press against my skin. “Baby...”
My eyes fly open when I realize the voice saying that word isn’t just a dream. “You’re here?” I tremble as Cooper holds me against his chest. “How are you here?”
“I told you I was coming home this week. I came right here.” He pushes my hair away from my face and peppers kisses along my forehead and down my cheek and jaw until he finally presses his beautiful lips on mine. “I missed you.”
We fit together like pieces of a puzzle.
All his hard angles press against my soft curves, and I luxuriate in the moment—until my headache from earlier pushes back against my moment. I sit up slowly and grab my water and pill bottle from the nightstand, then swallow two pills.
Cooper sits up behind me and holds my back against his chest. “Are you okay?”
Shit.
We haven’t talked much this week, and I haven’t told him what’s going on yet.
I know he’s gonna be pissed I didn’t tell him sooner.
This is not how I envisioned our reunion.
I pull my knees up to my chest and rest my head back against his arm and the headboard. “So... You know how I told you that Dr. Cruz referred me to another doctor?”
“Yeah. Did you make the appointment?” Shit. I guess I didn’t tell him that either. Our communication has sucked the past few weeks. It’s 100 percent my fault, but I didn’t want to talk about this. That would have made it real. And until I saw Dr. Gaither the other day, I refused to accept this as my reality.
“I did. Jessie went with me, and I saw Dr. Gaither earlier this week.” I think about all the things we discussed. All the possible complications. And I really don’t want to get into this with Cooper now. But he deserves to know.
“What did he say, Carys?”
“Coop.” I drag myself away and turn myself to face him, then grab his hands in mine. “They finally figured out what’s wrong with me. I have lupus.”
“What?” I feel his shock and fear reverberate through both of us. “Are you okay?”
“I’m going to be okay, but I have to take care of myself. There are a ton of possible complications. Most of them, I can’t even fathom yet. But for now, it’s fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, and the damn headaches.”
He drops my hand and cups my face. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
I grip his wrists. “It was just the other day, and I knew you were coming home. I wanted to tell you when you were here. I told Mom over the phone, and it was awful. I didn’t want to do that again.”
“What do you need from me?”
His breathtaking blue eyes are already pleading with me to let him fix this, and the truth is, he can’t.
“I don’t know yet, Coop. I have another appointment with Dr. Gaither in April, but Mom wants me to fly home for spring break next week to see a specialist in Philly.” His face drops, and I realize I kept that from him too. “I’m sorry. I know you just got here, but I already told her I’d go.”
He tugs me against him. “You’ve got to go. We’ll do whatever we have to, baby.”
We will. Even if it breaks us.
* * *
A week later, I’m sitting in my favorite coffee shop back in Kroydon Hills with my best friend, Daphne. “Is Momma Murphy still treating you like you need to be put in a bubble?”
“She sure is. I think she’d be 100 percent onboard if I told her I wanted to drop out of school, move home, and live with her and Coach again. She’s upset I’m leaving tonight. She’s asked me at least three times if I want her to reschedule my flight.” I sip my coffee and drag my finger through the frosting on the cupcake in front of me.
Daphne shrugs her shoulders. “You’ve been considering it. Maybe this is a sign. Didn’t you say Cooper wants to come back too?”
Damn it, that shouldn’t hurt so bad.
