Page 53 of Joker
“Abnormal cells can mean a number of things, a change in hormone levels, infection, but they can also be an indicator of cancer,” she explains.
Joker looks at me and squeezes my hand tighter.
“However, the second smear test came back negative. We would like to monitor you more closely, so I’d like to see you again in six months for another smear test. If all is okay, you can go back to your regular timescale. All your other blood work and tests came back negative also,” she declares.
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, and tears start to run down my face. Joker gets up and pulls me into a hug.
“I’ll give you two a moment. You can get dressed now, and I’ll see you in 6 months,” she adds.
“Thank you, Helen,” I manage to get out between sobs.
Joker holds me tighter while Helen leaves us alone.
“Carrie, Babydoll, why didn’t you tell me?” asks Joker.
“I was too scared,” I admit.
He holds me tighter for a little longer until I manage to stop crying. Once I manage to get myself together, I get dressed. On the way out we make another appointment for six months’ time. Outside, Joker pushes me up against the truck and kisses me like it’s our last.
“Fuck when she said cancer, my heart dropped. Don’t ever do that to me again, Carrie. I just got you back. I can’t lose you,” he blurts out.
Before I can answer, he’s kissing me again. God, this man turns me to mush. Joker finally releases me from his hold, and I move to open the door to my truck.
“I’ll meet you back at the house. Beau is staying with Kate tonight,” Joker tells me.
Nodding, I get in the truck and drive to my house in a daze. Pulling into the drive, Joker is already waiting there and has my door open before I’ve managed to grab my bag. Lifting me from the truck, he carries me into the house and upstairs, placing me on the bed. He goes into the bathroom, and I hear the water running. Then he’s back in the bedroom.
“Go relax in the bath, Babydoll. I’ll cook dinner,” he orders.
Kissing my head, he’s gone.
Walking into the bathroom, I notice he had lit some candles and put bubbles in the bath.
Removing my clothes, I place them in the hamper, and I step into the bath. The heat and bubbles relax me. I’m not sure how long I have been lying there, but delicious smells reach me from the kitchen, making me realize how hungry I am. Getting out of the bath, I dry off and put my robe on. Deciding not to bother with underwear, I pad bare footed downstairs, following the smell. The sight that greets me is amazing. The table is all set with candles, my favorite pasta dish with garlic bread, and two beers are waiting.
“How was your bath?” Joker asks.
Turning to the voice, I see Joker in the kitchen, shirtless and with jeans hanging off his hips. My mouth is suddenly dry. Chuckling, he comes over to me and guides me to a chair at the table.
“Why didn’t you tell me about the tap? I’m soaked. I’ll sort it tomorrow for you,” he states.
Rolling my eyes, I giggle. The tap in the kitchen had been playing up and keeps squirting water everywhere.
“I meant to tell you,” I admit.
Now it’s his turn to roll his eyes.
“You’ve been meaning to tell me a lot of things, Babydoll. No more meaning to tell me, please. Honesty from now on?” he asks.
I know he’s not talking about the tap anymore. Nodding, I tuck into my pasta. I can’t help but make a moaning sound. The clanking of metal makes me jump. I didn’t realize my eyes had closed.
Joker is staring at me with heat and lust in his eyes. Dropping my head down to look at my plate, I murmur an apology with a slight giggle.
We chat through our meal, mainly about Beau. Joker clears the table. As he gets up, I can see his erection pressing into the front of his jeans. I really have been torturing him without meaning to. Dr. Wood had told me I need to be braver and grab what I want in life. Deciding she’s right, I’m going to grab what I want. While his back is to me, I untie my robe and grip the edges.
“Joker,” I call.
“Yeah,” he replies.
