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26
Ally
Nervous anxiety has my legs bouncing up and down as I sit in one of the chairs in the family waiting room. I cross one knee over the other, only to recross them the other way. I grip the armrests, but seconds later, I run my palms down my thighs.
The waiting is killing me. The procedure is a pretty standard one. But knowing two of the people I love are back there in surgery—one saving the life of the other—isn’t something I’m handling easily.
Unable to sit still any longer, I stand and start pacing the small room. I glance at Andrew, who’s bent over in a chair with his elbows resting on his knees. His head is cast down and his hands are tightly clasped together. I know he’s in no better shape than I am.
Ashlyn wanted to be here with us, but I told her to stay home, and I’d call her with updates. There was no need for her to be here when all we were doing was waiting.
The door whooshes open, and Andrew and I both jerk our heads over to it. My shoulders slump when Trent comes in the room, carrying three cups of coffee. He heads over to Andrew and hands him one before setting the other two down on the table and taking a seat.
I resume my pacing. As I pass by Trent, he snags my hand and pulls me down to his lap. “You need to sit.”
“I can’t.” I look at him, my expression no doubt pathetic. “Not until we know they’re okay.”
“Ally.” He exhales as he says my name. “You know they’re fine. The doctor said the procedure isn’t invasive, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
My look turns doubtful. “You’re really not worried?”
Before he can hide it, a small glimmer of uncertainty crosses his features. It’s gone before I can fully grasp it. “No, I’m not.”
I ignore Andrew’s grunt at Trent’s lie. “You’re a liar.” I give him my first real smile since they wheeled Erica and Jase back. “You’re just better at hiding it.”
Tipping his head forward, he presses a kiss against my lips, which does exactly what Trent knew it would do. Some of my nerves settle.
I push my face into the crook of his neck and let out a tired sigh. His arm tightens around my waist. I always feel secure and protected when I’m in Trent’s arms.
A moment later, Trent jostles me, and I look up. He’s holding my cup of coffee. “Drink.”
I grab the cup and take a sip of the hot liquid. I glance over to Andrew.
“How are you doing?” I ask him.
A rush of air blows past his lips and he rakes his hand over the back of his head. “It was different when I was on the giving end.” He looks at me and quirks a brow. “I thought nothing of it when I gave you my bone marrow. I don’t like being on this end. I understand now why everyone was worried.”
My only saving grace is that I know what Erica is going through. The transfusion will be painless for her. Jase, however, will feel the effects for days, if not weeks, after.
“Jase will be fine. We both know how tough he is.”
“Yeah,” Andrew mutters. “I still don’t like the thought of him being in any type of pain.” His eyes move to me. “You know Erica’s going to make it through this, right? I don’t mean the transfusion… I mean all of it.”
I blink back the threat of tears. “I really hope so,” I choke out.
He leans across the table and rests his hand on my leg. “She will, Skittles. God wouldn’t have given her to you, only to take her away.”
I’ve prayed many times over the last several weeks, so I add another to the list and pray Andrew’s right.
An hour passes before a nurse comes in the room. The three of us jump up from our chairs and rush over to her.
“How are they?” I ask anxiously.
The nurse smiles. “Both are in recovery. Everything went well. Give us about thirty minutes, and someone will come get you so you can see them.”
I relax against Trent, some of the tension fading from my body.
The nurse leaves, and I turn in Trent’s arms, needing his comforting touch. I stay there for a moment before I release him and move to Andrew.
