Page 41 of Fractured Constellations
“You already have it, Thorn Banks,” she whispers, and I swear to fuck my heart stops beating. “And you don’t need to pretend with me. If you’re sad or worried, let it show. Don’t hide it because you think that’s what I need. I need you, that’s it.”
My smile wobbles, my jaw tight as I give her a nod, and bring my lips to hover over hers.
“You have mine too, Moonbeam. Now and always, and I’m terrified of losing you when I’ve only just found you,” I confess, and she exhales a breath against my lips.
“Let’s just focus on the now, and let the future worry about itself, okay, love?”
The endearment has my heart seizing once again, and I don’t give a fuck if this is too fast or she’s my stepsister. I’m in love with her, was from the first moment she walked into our lives, even if I couldn’t see it, and given everything, we have no time to lose.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“BEAUTIFUL MESS - INSPIRED BY CHINA” BY KRISTIAN KOSTOV
BLADE
Iwatch as Luna kisses my brother after telling him she loves him, and I don’t feel jealous like I thought I might. We’ll get our time, because I know that I feel the same about her, and I’m pretty damn sure she returns the feeling.
She goes to stand, and I help her up, earning Chase’s glare because he’s desperate for some time with her. I just give him an asshole smirk, and he flips me the bird like we’re not in a hospital with the woman we’re all falling for and her life hanging in the balance.
The door opens as I get Luna back into the bed, Patty strolling in.
“Bloods are all good, your white count is a little low, but that’s to be expected,” she says, and Thorn comes to stand at the end of the bed. “We can proceed with the treatment today. Here are your fluids to start.” She hooks up more fluids, and I seeLuna wince. I know it’s down to the fact that, in her words, she’s pissing like a racehorse because they’re pumping her so full of fluids.
Once Patty leaves, Thorn places his hands on the rail at the end of the bed and looks at Goldilocks.
“So here’s the thing—and don't give me that look—your white cell count is doing the limbo, and not in the fun way, but! I have a surprise that might actually make you smile.”
I watch as her lips already start to twitch upwards, even if she’s trying to hold in the smile. My brother just has that effect on people.
“Oh? And what’s the surprise?” she asks, and he pulls out his phone, giving her his signature cheeky grin.
“I made you a playlist, especially for such an occasion like this, which I think you will appreciate,” he says, the intro of “The Bad Touch” by Bloodhound Gang coming over the portable speaker Thorn insisted on bringing.
He then proceeds to lip sync the words while doing a mixture of a stripper dancing—keeping his clothes on, thank fuck—and supposed animal mating dances that I’m pretty certain he makes up. Either way, Luna is laughing so hard tears run down her cheeks, and even my cheeks ache with just how much of a fucking goof he is, but if it brings a smile to our girl’s face, he can goof out all he wants.
Patty returns with the first of the chemo today as Thorn is showing Luna a compilation of funny animal videos he found on YouTube, Luna’s laughter ringing out across the room as Thorn shuffles up by her head so Patty can hook up the drip.
“That’s what I like to see,” Patty comments, and I hold Luna tighter when her breathing speeds up. I know it’s uncomfortable. Fuck, some parts of yesterday she was definitely in pain from the chemo, and I can see how nervous that makes her, the expectation of the pain adding to the shitty experience ofactually feeling it. “It’s nice to see smiles.” She leans down and whispers in Luna’s ear, “He’s a keeper.”
“He is,” Luna agrees, and Thorn’s cheeks flush a little, which shows me just how gone he is over this girl. He doesn’t blush; he’s the ultimate playboy. Though I guess not anymore, not with the way he’s looking at Luna like she’s the moon her name suggests.
“Okay, you’re all set. I’ll be back this afternoon for the Etoposide,” Patty tells us, leaving as quietly as she entered. She really is fucking fantastic at her job, and I’m glad we secured her for Luna.
The morning passes by with Luna resting and napping, and then Chase gets lunch delivered even though the food here is more than adequate. Patty returns like she said she would, replacing the first round of treatment for the second and exchanging the empty fluid bag for a full one.
Chase finally has his time next to Luna when we swap places. She’s resting back against the pillows, and he’s stroking down her arm, his gaze fixed on her face, her eyes closed as she naps.
I watch from the armchair, Thorn crashed out on the single bed and gently snoring. I study her obsessively, and so spot when her cheeks flush and her heart rate picks up. I press the call button even before the monitors go off, waking both Luna and Thorn as Patty rushes into the room.
She takes a look at Luna, who is wide-eyed and clutching Chase’s hand, even if her eyes are a little glazed. “Looks like a little reaction to the treatment. Nothing to worry about, I’ll just adjust the dispensing rate and add in some anti-allergy medication to be on the safe side.” Patty is calm and professional, doing as she said and then popping out briefly before returning with what I assume is the anti-allergy stuff. “All sorted.”
Patty stays for the next ten minutes or so, monitoring Luna as the flush leaves her cheeks, her heart rate settling before Patty leaves, telling us to hit the button if it happens again.
I reach for Luna’s chart, taking a look at the numbers on it.
“How did you know?” Chase asks me, and I look up.
“Luna’s heart rate increased by 12 beats per minute before the visible symptom of flushing appeared. I noticed it on the monitor,” I reply, and although I can see Luna is shaken, her muscles still tight, her shoulders loosen a little. “The medication is causing a histamine response,” I tell her, and she looks at me like I have all the answers. I fucking wish I did, but for now, I can assure her about this at least. “They needed to slow the infusion rate and add in some antihistamine, and it seems to be working. I’ve been tracking your reactions to each drug. Etoposide seems to hit you hardest.”
