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When he’d run out of things to look at, his gaze slid cautiously to Tom. Even now, he found himself unprepared. Tom had lost even more weight than when last he’d seen him, the man virtually skin and bones. What remained of his hair was thin and wispy, his skin a palish gray. An IV connected him to a drip bag hanging on a stand beside him, as if the rest of the view wasn’t already sending out signals of impending doom.
“Wow, Alex, you look like hell.”
Alex looked to Tom’s trademark ornery grin, and the two busted out laughing. His friend might not look the same as he used to, but the fire was still lit somewhere inside.
“You, on the other hand,” Alex said, “look like a million bucks.”
“Do I? Good, because this spa treatment is gonna cost somewhere around that.” Tom winked, then drew a slow breath in and out. “Thanks for stopping by.”
“You know I had to.”
“Eh, not everyone does so well with this stuff. But I’m glad you did.”
Alex sat on the edge of the recliner beside him and asked, “How you feeling?”
Tom’s thin shoulder raised and fell. “Like I’m ready to be done with the damn cancer.”
“You scared?”
“Maybe a little. But I’m ready. Got all my affairs in order, told everyone I needed to that I love ’em. Love you, too, buddy.”
Alex grinned. Yep, he was on some good meds. “Ditto.”
“Yeah, it sucks, checking out early, but I lived a full life and I’m leaving with no regrets.” His gaze settled on Alex. “So, what happened?”
“With Mia?” At Tom’s nod, Alex sighed. He hadn’t come here to dump his worries on his dying friend. “I screwed up. Let her sister talk me into lying about my car, then I wasn’t forthcoming about Mom’s Alzheimer’s. By the time I tried to make things right, the lies had snowballed. She asked me to leave Sunday, and I haven’t heard from her since.”
Tom shook his head. “I warned you—the ladies don’t like lies.”
“Yeah, I know that now. I just…” He ran a hand through his hair. “I didn’t want to miss my chance with her, and it blew up in my face.”
“Sounds like it.” Tom’s eyelids grew heavy. “So, what’s your next move?”
Alex shrugged. “No idea. She told me to go, but…”
“Like I said, Alex. No regrets.”
His eyelids slid shut, and Tom’s breathing smoothed into a slow, steady rhythm. He seemed to be a man truly at peace, something Alex envied.
No regrets.
After straying from that mantra these past few days, he realized it was time to dust it off and try again. Hopefully, Mia would give him a second chance. But he’d never know if he didn’t get off his pouty ass and give it his all.
This time, his words would align with his actions, and he’d find a way prove to her just how much she meant to him. Yes, how much he loved her.
No. More. Regrets.
He stayed with Tom a while longer, chatting when he was awake and letting him sleep as he needed. When Connie reappeared to find Tom dozing yet again, she suggested they let him sleep. Reluctantly, Alex rose and gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
“Godspeed, my friend.”
Chapter Nineteen
Her family wasright. She did deserve a second chance at love, but to really achieve a successful relationship, Mia needed to have those tough conversations; just avoiding a shouting match wasn’t enough. Plus, she missed Alex something fierce. Her bed felt too empty, her kitchen too dreary. And her heart, it hurt all the time.
If this is what it would always feel like, letting fear guide her decisions, it was high time to take back the wheel.
She confessed to Brooklyn what had happened on Wednesday, and was surprised at the subsequent tongue-lashing her teen doled out. It seemed even Brooklyn had grown attached to Alex and his charming ways. And, she made sure to add, his amazing cooking skills, too.
