Page 58 of Fractured Constellations
“Just like our hearts are yours, Star,” Chase adds, and I look down to find him on his knees next to me. His hand reaches out and lays atop his brothers, adding to the heat that is threatening to burn me.
“So swear to me you will keep it ticking, because if your heart stops, so do ours,” Blade states, drawing my gaze back to him. “I won’t live in a world without you, Luna. I refuse to.”
I can’t think about his words being literal, because that means if I die, he will take his own life, and I can’t face that reality. I know Blade, know that is exactly what he’s telling me by the seriousness of his gaze, the conviction of his tone.
“Okay, Blade. I’ll keep it beating,” I finally answer, my voice quiet, eyes not leaving his.
“Good,” he whispers, leaning down and hovering his lips over mine. “Because if the only way I can be with you is in the afterlife, I will follow you there.”
All too soon, it’s the end of the week, and the triplets are all packed and ready to go. I have to push my emotions deep down as I wait by the front steps, Richard and my mom there too as we prepare to wave them off.
“I’ll FaceTime every day,” Thorn says to me, casting a quick glance at our parents before he pulls me into a hug. My trembling arms wrap around him, and I breathe him in like it’s the last gasp of air I’ll have. “Every fucking day, Luna. I promise.”
“I love you,” I whisper, and he hugs me tighter.
“I love you too, Goldie. So fucking much.”
I swallow past the lump in my throat as we pull apart, Chase there to wrap me in his arms as Thorn goes over to our parents.
“I expect daily symptom updates, and I’ve set reminders in your phone for your medications,” he tells me, his voice tight as he brushes his lips against my temple. “Every day, morning and evening, make sure you check in, Star.”
“I will,” I assure him, fighting the pricking at the back of my eyes that tells me I’m close to tears, again. Last night they stayed with me, and I cried into their arms even as I made them promise me again they would go.
“I love you, Star,” he whispers, kissing my temple again as Blade takes his place, not giving me a breath as he pulls me tightly against his body.
A part of me worries that our parents will see our relationship isn’t platonic like it should be, but then part of medoesn’t give a fuck, especially when I’m wrapped in Blade’s arms and he’s holding me like I’m the start and end of his world.
“Don’t forget your promise, Goldilocks,” he rumbles in my ear, and I blink back the tears that are now hovering on my eyelashes.
“I won’t,” I choke out, holding him tighter as if that will keep him with me longer. It’s silly really, they’re only four hours away, but it feels like the other side of the world if they aren’t here every day, keeping me company and helping me through this.
“Love you,” he whispers, his lips brushing my forehead as he pulls back.
“Love you, Papa Bear,” I say back, my voice quiet because I don’t want our parents to hear.
“Ready, son?” Richard asks, interrupting our moment, and I let out a shaking breath as Blade steps away.
“Yep,” Blade answers, giving his father a brief handshake before he strides towards the truck. Chase and Thorn do the same, and then before I can even catch my breath, they’re gone.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
“FALLING TOO” BY VEDA GAIL
LUNA
The next two weeks pass by in what I can only describe as a grey blur. All my symptoms seem to feel worse, and I’m not sure if they are or if it’s because the triplets aren’t here to make sure that I’m taking care of myself. Although Richard assured them he and my mom would be taking care of me, they’ve not been around much more than usual. Sure, they’ve not left to go off on business trips, but I’ve hardly seen them, and thus, when I’m too tired to eat or make sure I’m drinking the protein shakes or taking the vitamins the triplets used to force on me, they are forgotten about.
I feel like I’m in survival mode, not getting enough sleep now that I’m alone every night, the insomnia riding me hard. I just can’t relax, and the lack of sleep is just making everything worse.
The day of my PET scan arrives, and I step out of the car after a crack- of- dawn start and a four-hour drive to get to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. It’s a world-renowned cancertreatment centre apparently, and the guys wanted me to have my scan here.
Percy helps me with a hand in mine because I feel beyond weak today. The world is a little fuzzy, probably on account of the fasting on top of not eating well to begin with, everything feeling too bright and hyper-real. I take a step, then stumble when my knees wobble.
“Luna!” a masculine voice shouts, and moments later I’m wrapped in smokey vanilla, strong arms holding me up.
“Blade?” I ask, swallowing past the painful mouth ulcers I’ve now got.
“Why the fuck didn’t you tell us you were this bad?” he hisses while I’m still trying to make sense of why they’re here. I thought I’d be alone, Mom and Richard busy with something and the guys at Harvard.
