Page 92 of Things I Wish I Said
“Keep it open,” Mom warns. “John and Katie are coming over for dinner.”
I nod like it’s no big deal, and once she’s out of sight, I turn to him and toss a pillow at his head. “You’re right. Youaretrouble.”
“Me?” He points at himself, then closes the gap between us, his gaze traveling from my mouth, which I have no doubt is swollen, to my chest before he groans. “If I recall, you’re the one who told menot to stop.”
“Yeah, well. I couldn’t think. My hormones were clouding my judgment. I can’t be held accountable in that state.”
“Mm-hmm.” He grins, then draws closer and pecks me on the mouth. I’m about to offer a return favor when he adds, “I should go.”
My stomach twists, but I try not to let my disappointment show. “Yeah. You probably don’t want to be here when John and Katie get here anyway.” I roll my eyes, and he laughs.
“They didn’t seem too bad at dinner.”
They’re not, but for some reason, it’s easier to pretend they are.
“Are you sure you have to leave?” I stand, suddenly self-conscious about what we just did.
“I have a game tonight.”
“Oh.” I forgot, and since John hasn’t been around all week, I have no doubt my mother will want me to have dinner with them instead of going to Grayson’s game. “Well, I could . . .” I glance at him, biting my lip. “You know, return the favor before you go?”
Grayson reaches out, drawing me in and pressing a kiss against my forehead before lowering his mouth and whispering in my ear. “It wasn’t a favor. It was my pleasure.”
When I wake the next morning to a hacking cough that won’t quit and a tight chest, I’m disappointed. I desperately wantedto go to Grayson’s game today, but he has a doubleheader, and the heat index is supposed to be well over one hundred degrees. Based on the way I’m feeling now, I’d be miserable.
I send him a quick text, hoping he gets it before his game so he’s not worried when I don’t show.
ME:
Hey, I don’t think I’m going to make it today. Rain check? Call me after your games.
I hit send and smile when my phone rings a minute later. I answer and press it to my ear.
“Is everything okay?” Grayson asks immediately.
I half laugh, half cough. “We really need to work on this texting thing.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
I sigh, skirting the truth. “I’m just kind of tired. Didn’t sleep great, and since it’s going to be so hot, I think it’s best if I just stay put.”
“You’re sure that’s all that’s wrong?”
“Positive.”
“It’s not because of . . . yesterday?”
My cheeks flush at the memory. I should probably be embarrassed at how quickly I responded to Grayson’s touch. It makes me wonder what we could do with more time and privacy. ButI have no idea if that was a one-time thing, and I’m not about to ask, so I clear my throat and answer, “Uh, no.”
“Okay, good.” He sighs in relief. “You have your appointment tomorrow, right?”
“Yep. The big one.” My nerves tighten at the thought.
Tomorrow, everything might change. Either the doctor will look at my scans and tell me I’m cancer free. Or not.
I try not to think about what it means if I’m not.
“You’ll call me? Let me know how it goes,” he asks.
