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“My sweet, beautiful Sadie,” I start, but stop when her cheeks bloom pink. It still amazes me how such simple words affect her. “I love you. I think I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you in the hallway here, and I promise you that I’ll never stop.”

“Really?” she squeaks out, her eyes bright.

I can’t help but throw my head back and laugh. Only Sadie could make me laugh at a time like this.

A slow smiles spreads across her face and up to her sparkling eyes as she watches me try to gain control of myself.

Pulling her into my lap, I pepper kisses down her nose and along her sultry lips. I pull back enough to lock eyes with her. “Don’t act like you didn’t know. I’m pretty sure I’ve done the worst job on the planet trying to hide my feelings for you.” I shrug. “Only so you wouldn’t run away before you felt the same.”

Hands on each side of my face, she smiles brightly at me with shining eyes. “How did I get so lucky? It still baffles me that you’re even remotely interested in me and now… you love me,” she says the last on a breathy sigh. “At least I got it right before I turned forty.”

My heart is doing flips in my chest. She got it right. With me.

“Damn right you got it right,” I growl against her full pink lips. Her tongue sneaks out to lick her lips, but I suck it into my mouth unable to stop myself. I need her more than I’ve ever needed anything in my life.

My hands travel up the back of her shirt just as my phone starts ringing, and they instantly stop.

This is it.

Wrapping one arm around her to keep her in place, I need her right here with me, I lean forward to pick up my phone from the table and answer. “Hello?”

“Is this Mr. Jacobs?”

“Yes,” I answer, trying to swallow the rock that’s lodged in my throat.

“Sorry it took me so long to call you, Mr. Jacobs. I had a patient run long, delaying me. I didn’t want you to wait until tomorrow. I know you’re anxious to know your results and wanted to put your mind at ease instead of keeping you worried for another day.”

Did he say, ‘at ease’? That’s a good thing, right?

“Thank you, Dr. Walters. What do you got for me?”

“Well, the good news is you don’t have cancer.”

Relief washes through me. I can feel my body sag against Sadie’s and like the beautiful person she is, without question, she wraps her arms around me and holds me tight. Supporting me.

My forehead rests against her shoulder as I speak into my phone. “Are you sure? Why have I been so tired then?”

“There is something that’s causing your symptoms. Luckily, we took enough blood to run quite a few tests. Although it’s rare in men and especially at your age, you have hypothyroidism. I’ve already called in a prescription for you at your pharmacy, and I’ll need to see you in my office in one week for some more blood work. Feel free to look it up on the internet, and I’ll answer any questions you have for me when I see you. I want you to know that it’s very manageable, but until we get the proper dosage and the right medication you’ll be coming in every week or two for blood work. You might want to check with your health insurance to see if they require a lab to draw your blood when it’s not included in your well visit. Other than that, do you have any questions?”

Questions?

My mind is blown with the news that I don’t have cancer. I thought for sure that it had come back, and I was dying.

“Not right now,” I stammer out. “I’m sure I’ll have some when I come in.”

“Good, I advise you make a trip to the pharmacy before it closes and take your first dose tonight. I don’t think you’ll have any side effects, but if you have any problems don’t hesitate to call me.”

“Thank you, Dr. Walters. I’ll do that.”

“Have a good rest of your day and the rest of your week. I’ll see you soon.”

“You too,” I reply before he hangs up.

I don’t have cancer! I don’t have fucking cancer!

I’m not dying!

Patting my face, Sadie frowns down at me worry etched across her face.

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