Page 67 of You're So Vine
“Morning, Ava.”
He has such a reassuring voice. I wish it was working on me.
“I got the results of your blood tests—”
Cam’s expression is tense. No doubt so is mine. I put Doc on speaker, so we can both hear.
“—and nothing leaps out.”
I should feel ecstatic, except that Doc’s tone tells me there’s a “but” coming.
“I’d like to do an MRI, to rule out anything like multiple sclerosis—”
“Multiple sclerosis?”
Cam and I stare at each other, wide-eyed. I almost thought that by letting all my terrors out into the open last night, they might prove to be nothing but phantoms. But this is very real.
“Is that a possibility?” I’m amazed at how calm I sound, when I’ve actually broken out all over in a cold sweat that’s making me shiver.
“Highly unlikely,” says Doc, “but you know me. I like to be sure. The MRI will also check for any parasites that didn’t show up in the blood, and anything else that shouldn’t be there.”
“Such as?”
“Tumors, cysts, inflammation, bleeding. None of which I expect, but as I say—”
“You like to be sure.”
Shivering’s getting worse. Cam picks up his shirt and drapes the soft, warm flannel around me. I clutch it tight and breathe deep, in and out.
“Okay, when?” I ask Doc.
“Got you booked for three this afternoon at Martinburg General,” says Doc. “Made the assumption you’d be free.”
“You assumptioned correctly,” I tell him, then add, pitifully, “Will you be there?”
“You don’t need me to hold your hand,” he says. “An MRI is completely painless. What about the big fella? I realize he’d rather be a cat in a roomful of rocking chairs than in a medical environment, but he seems fond of you.”
I glance up at the big fella. His jaw has a rigid set to it, and his skin’s a little ashy.
“He’ll totally come with me,” I tell Doc. “He’s super pumped.”
I end the call, and collapse on the bed in a fetal position. Cam sits down beside me and strokes my back until I have the wherewithal to haul my ass into a sitting position.
“Fuck,” I say shakily. “What a fun afternoonI’mgoing to have.”
“I’ll be there,” says Cam.
His jaw is set like it’s been wired.
“Seriously, you don’t have to.”
“I’ll bethere.”
“Thank you.” I kiss him with my cold, shivery lips.
“There’s one upside,” I add.
“What’s that?” He doesn’t look convinced.
