Chapter 43
707 Words
Dean shook his head and blew out a hard breath. “I don’t know, really. I’m guessing she’s often weak and tired. I’m also guessing that all those supposed business trips were when she was having chemo and recovering. Am I right?"
“Yes,” Jenny said quietly.
“Well, if it took her a week to get back on her feet and she still showed up at my place looking the way she did, I’m going to say that the chemo is f*****g brutal.”
The women were silent.
“Am I right so far?”
“Yeah,” Kat said. “So far, you’re bang on the money.”
“Then I’m also guessing that you three have been with her through it all these past four months, so you’ve seen it all up close and personal. You’re probably wiped out and stressed yourselves. What we’re offering here is some back-up – for all of you.”
The guys nodded.
“How?” Liv said.
“Let us stay here overnight tonight so you can go home and get some rest,” Chris said softly. “And when she leaves the hospital, let Emma stay with Dean at his place once in a while. Dallas lives right next door and we’re always over there, so we can switch off and make sure she’s never alone. We can take her to and from her doctor’s visits and chemo and tests. We’ll sit here with you, if you want, listen to you. We’re damn good listeners – better listeners than talkers, really.”
Jenny stared at him, and was amazed when she felt herself warming to Chris. He was the first man in almost six years who didn’t paralyze her with terror. Despite his size and hardness, he struck her as a decent guy. She met those gray eyes and found herself smiling at him a bit. He smiled back.
“You’d really do that for her? For us?” she asked.
“We would,” Dallas said.
Liv considered this for a minute. “I’m sorry, guys, but what’s going on here is hard. Really, really hard, and I think you’re all going to duck out as soon as that fact hits you smack in the face.”
“I figured you’d need some convincing.” Dean sat down. “That’s why I’ll be here all day today, and tonight, and tomorrow, and the day after too. As long as it takes to show you I’m serious.”
“You – what?” Kat said again.
He picked up a coffee and sipped calmly. “Yeah. I’m not leaving this room.”
The other men sat down too and took their own coffees from the take-out tray. Chris opened one of the bags, peeked in, grabbed a chocolate doughnut. He turned to Jenny. “You want anything?”
She hesitated.
Liv and Kat were looking at each other, having some kind of silent communication. The guys watched as a decision seemed to be reached between them. Liv walked across the room slowly, took a coffee for herself and Jenny. Kat followed and accepted the last one from Jim’s outstretched hand. Jenny took the doughnut Chris was offering her and Dallas handed Liv a plain croissant. She frowned at it and glanced up.
He caught her eye. “Sorry, darlin’. Did you want a jam-filled doughnut? I just assumed that models eat plain croissants and drink black coffee.”
“Bah.” She huffed at him, charmed in spite of herself. “Gimme the damn jam-filled calorie bomb and some of that milk and sugar.”
Grinning, Dallas handed everything over.
They all sat now, eyeing each other. Kat took a sip of coffee and sighed.
“I’m Kat,” she said. “And this is Jenny.”
The men nodded.
The seven of them settled down together. Dean was finally able to breathe: all he wanted was the chance to get past the visitor’s lounge and into Emma’s room, and he’d sit there for as long as it took to convince Liv, Kat and Jenny to let him do exactly that.
However long it takes to get to you, baby, I’ll do it. I’m right here.
- Writer
