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She’s standing at the counter, her fingers gripping the countertop, head bent down. Seeing her is like a punch to my gut. She really looks better. Not healthy, but like she might get there, and a part of me hates myself for not being there for her when she needed me.
“Jade?”
Her head snaps up. Those blue eyes widen when she sees me standing so close.
She lifts her hand as if she wants to brush away a strand of her hair, only to remember that she doesn’t have any.
“I just wanted to get some water,” she says, fidgeting. As if she needs to explain herself to me in her own home. I should count myself lucky that she even allowed me in. I do consider myself lucky because I got to spend this time with her, no matter how short.
Slowly, I move closer. Half of me expects her to bolt. I don’t know why since Jade’s never been a coward. Not even close.
“I seriously didn’t know that he was coming here. If I did…”
She shakes her head. “I told you, it’s not a problem. We have the same friends. I’m not going to…”
I place my hand on the counter, our fingers so close they’re almost brushing. Almost but not quite. My fingers twitch, the need to cross that tiny distance so I can touch her so strong I can barely hold back.
Take a step back, Wentworth. You don’t want to scare her.
“I know. I just didn’t want you to think that this was some master plan or something.”
She looks up, letting out a small chuckle, “A master plan?”
The corner of my mouth jumps upward. “Hey, you never know.”
“I guess you never do,” she whispers, biting the inside of her cheek.
Color spreads over her pale skin, and my heart starts to beat faster. My gaze falls to her lips, lingering there longer than necessary. The need to press my mouth against hers, taste her so I can remind myself what she feels like, how she tastes, is almost overwhelming.
Seriously, Wentworth? The girl ran away from you when you held her hand! If that’s not a sign to stay the fuck away, I don’t know what is.
Clearing my throat, I force myself to move my eyes from her kissable lips. “How are you doing?”
“Good.”
Those blue eyes gaze into mine, tracing every line of my face as if she wants to commit it to memory. As if she can’t believe we’re here. That this is real, I can feel it. I swear it feels like she’s touching me.
“You look better,” I say, my voice coming out rough.
“My chemo is tomorrow.”
I nod my head in understanding. She doesn’t have to explain it to me. I know all about chemo. How a person can almost seem normal, like nothing is wrong with them—the calm before the storm.
My pinky brushes against hers, and I swear I can feel it down to my toes. The smallest of touches, and she brings me to my knees.
“Two more rounds,” I whisper.
Something that looks a lot like surprise flashes in her eyes. Her teeth scrape over her lower lip. “Two more rounds.”
No, Jade. I haven’t stopped counting. I haven’t stopped hoping. I never will.
Two more rounds, and then it’ll be over, at least until she gets back her scans.
I want to say those words out loud, but I bite my tongue since I know they won’t do us any good. Not that there is an us. But she knows. I can see it in her eyes.She knows.
She has to be okay. Destiny wouldn’t be so cruel to take her away from me, too, not after robbing me of Gabriel. Even though she isn’t technically mine, she probably never will be again. But just knowing she’s out there, healthy and happy, will be enough.
Will it really?
