Page 25 of The Love Lie
Okay, I forgive you. I found your stash of my jewelry. This outfit can be salvaged. Jake and I are headed to Dr. Laghari’s office now!
Blood draw complete. Should have results by tomorrow.
You haven’t answered, so I’m guessing you haven’t had a chance to get your phone from the front desk, but in case you’re still having a panic attack, I haven’t heard back yet.
NORMAL!!!!!!!
All my levels are totally normal!!! WOOHOOOO!!!
I’ll stop bombarding you with texts now. Call me when you get a chance and I’ll fill you in! I’m on a flight back to Georgia in two days. LOVE YOU SIS!!!
Sam releases the breath she’s been holding for the past five weeks, ever since she got the call from her sister’s doctor.
Emily is okay.
She’s healthy.
She’sokay.
The realization rocks through her, sweeping all the strength from her limbs until all she can do is drop back against the door and slide to the floor. There’s relief—so much fucking relief. And happiness. And gratitude. And every wonderful emotion under the sun. But there’s also pain. A sudden, strong knot pulls on her gut. A wobbly inhale works its way down her throat. The corners of her eyes begin to sting. Suddenly, she’s eighteen years old again, hearing that word for the first time.
Cancer.
She was so scared that it was back. She spent the past five weeks bracing herself for the worst. More surgeries. More chemo. More putting on a brave face. More keeping it together so her sister could fall apart. More plastering on a smile while inside she was breaking.
But it’s not.
Emily is fine,she repeats.She’s fine. She’s fine. She’s fine.
The words are a familiar mantra. They keep her afloat as the air seems to suction from her lungs leaving her chest tight. She heaves. The loud, ugly sound has her pushing a hand to her burning heart.
Bad news is so easy to believe.
But good news? Good news always feels impossible. Temporary. As though at any moment, it might be swept away.
She’s fine. She’s fine. She’s fine.
Against her will, tears start to fall. Sam stumbles into the bathroom and turns on the shower so Cooper won’t hear her cry.
CHAPTER EIGHT
cooper
When Cooper emergesfrom the water the next morning, he’s greeted by two long bare legs and one perky ass barely covered by the smallest spandex shorts he’s ever seen.
He nearly crashes back into the ocean.
Honestly, he sort of wishes he had. It would have been better than what he actually does, which is hover suspended on the edge of the deck for he has no idea how long with his jaw hanging open like a deranged fish. The shaking of his strained biceps finally snaps him from the daze and he swings his feet onto the wooden planks before standing.
“Good swim?” Sam calls politely as she smoothly glides her body from downward-facing dog into upward-facing dog and looks over her shoulder with a knowing smile. Victory flashes in her warm eyes. It lights a spark in Cooper.
Well played, Samantha Peters.
Well fucking played.
After last night, he’d thought their little game was done. The moment they returned to the bungalow, Sam disappeared inside the bedroom, only emerging once to grab her plate of dinner, and even then she wouldn’t meet his eyes. He’d thought maybeestablishing some rules and some deadlines had ruined the entertaining rapport they’d built.
He’d be lying if he said he hadn’t been disappointed by the thought.
