Page 66 of I Knew You
Me: Surgery is scheduled for Friday. Do you think we can get married before then? Legally? Insurance?
The read receipt appeared on the text string with Bram. I wiped away stray tears as the phone rang and his name popped up.
“Hey, sweets.”
“Hey,” I said, hiding a sniffle. “So, things are moving quickly. I’m sorry if that’s inconvenient for the whole married thing, but insurance…”
“I’m calling the courthouse when we hang up. I’ll get all the paperwork, license, all of it,” he assured me. “Don’t worry about all that, I’ve got it. How are you feeling?”
The concern in his voice made me break down in earnest, and I knew he could hear my despair through the phone.
“I-I can’t believe this is happening. I…I wasn’t prepared. I don’t know how I couldn’t be prepared. I knew something was wrong. I knew there was no stopping the surgery, but I thought?—”
“I’m not sure you could have prepared for this,” he cut in, his voice smooth and low. “It’s scary, plain and simple. But you’re so strong. God, if I could do this for you, I would. I’m sure you wish I could, too.”
I sniffled and wiped away more tears that had fallen down my cheeks. “Yes, but no. I wouldn’t wish this on you.”
“But I would take it, if it would spare you,” he replied, resolutely. “What did the doctor say, word for word?”
I explained it in more detail, and he exhaled a large breath.
“You shouldn’t be alone right now. I’m coming home,” he declared.
“No,” I insisted. “I’m fine. I will be fine. I will call Kallie in a bit and text Whit to let him know what’s happening. You work. Tonight, we’ll do something to distract me.” Visions of us tangled up on the couch together, not sitting apart as we had been, ran through my mind.
“It’ll be okay, sweets.” He sounded so sure. “Deep breaths, okay?”
I took one in and out, letting him hear me. “It’s going to be okay.”
“Distract yourself today, but take it easy. Promise?”
“Promise.”
“I’ll check on you in a bit.”
We hung up, and I looked at Lakey, who stared up at me. She moved her head to where it sat on my foot, and tears sprang to my eyes anew.
“How will I leave you?” I whispered. I would have the surgery, then I would recover at Grams’ old house and go back to Charlotte. Lakey, the farmhouse, and Bram would all become a memory.
My phone buzzed in my hand.
Bram: I’m right here. It’s going to be okay.
Chapter Fourteen
Bram |October 9, 2024
It was our wedding day. I’d set my alarm to wake early to make Julianna breakfast. My feet hit the cold hardwood floor, and I threw on the black sweatpants I’d worn the night before. When I emerged from my room, the lights in the house were still off, and the main bedroom door was only cracked, which had become our new routine. Neither of us fully closed our bedroom doors. It felt like an unspoken dare. I’d almost gone to her more than once in the night, but held back, thinking about how infinitely more complicated things could get if she rejected me. I wouldn’t survive it. Watching her go on a casual outing with that physician’s assistant had been fucking torture enough.
Being casually around each other the last few days had been so easy. We were old friends who reminisced and laughed at the silliest memories. Flirting was minimal, but a continuousundercurrent of electricity flowed between us. I knew she felt it too.
She was as much of a part of me as anyone could ever be.
You don’t deserve her.
I shook the thought away. It popped up more than I cared to admit. But I couldn’t dwell on it. I needed to focus on the task at hand.
I was cracking eggs into a hot iron skillet when Julianna shuffled into the kitchen, wearing only a worn t-shirt that was two sizes too big for her. Her bare legs thoroughly stirred my blood, and I tried not to let my gaze linger on her for too long, but I was failing. Her dark hair flowed around her seductively, and even though her face wore the vestiges of a night’s sleep, she had a slight smile.
