Page 27 of Motivating Mira
“How about I have him call you instead, that way you can still go home.”
“Yeah, that works. I’ll have my cell hooked up to my car’s Bluetooth.”
“Thanks, Mira. I don’t think we say it enough. You take such good care of your mom.”
I swallowed a snort. Giving Jillian a small smile instead, I headed for the elevators. Yeah, such great care that I didn’t notice my mom hadn’t been eating, I thought, worrying my hands
In frustration, I hit the elevator call button for the main floor a little harder than I should. The doors opened immediately and thankfully it was empty when I stepped in. This might be the beginning of the end for my mom, but as I watched the numbers of the elevator count down, I hoped I was wrong. She wasn’t ready. And the reason she wasn’t ready and was willing to suffer? Me.
“I can’t die yet, you need me.”She’d said it a thousand times.
Panic twisted in my belly and stinging started behind my eyes, so as soon as the elevator doors opened, I rushed out. Blinded by my rapidly filling eyes, I slammed into a hard body.
“Easy now.” Two arms reached out, grabbing me and pulling me into a hug. “Where’s the fire?”
“I’m sorry.” I shoved back a little from the strong arms that held me. “No fire. Just not paying attention.”
Wes looked down at me, his eyes warm and soft, and it was like a switch had been flipped. I no longer felt the overwhelming, uncontrollable panic rising in my chest. I felt…safe.
“Dr. Wes,” I whispered, my belly fluttering. “I?—”
“Are you okay?” He frowned, worry filling his eyes. “What’s wrong? Is your mom okay?”
“Yeah, yes… I’m okay.”Now that I’m with you.“My mom’s okay, too. I guess. I mean they haven’t told me otherwise, it’s just... a feeling.”
I stepped back from his arms, wrapping my own around my middle. “But never mind, you’re working, and I just need to…” I let my words trail off.
I glanced at the stethoscope wrapped around his neck, and that led me to notice the way his scrub top fit over his muscledchest. The V of it showing me the dusting of chest hair that I’d once threaded my fingers through as I laid my head on his chest.
“Hey,” he said, his voice velvety and soft. He touched the apple of my cheek with his thumb, and I had to fight to keep my tears back. “Tell me about it.”
“Nah, I just gotta get out of here.” I shuffled my feet, so I’d be out of reach and his hand fell to his side.
“Let’s go somewhere private and talk. You can tell me what’s going on.” He shoved his hand in his pocket, and I had the feeling he was doing it to combat the urge to touch me. He was a toucher and at one time, I’d loved that about him.
“I don’t want to bother you?—”
He cut me off. “We’re friends, remember? It’s no bother.”
I swallowed hard. “Friends. Right.” I bit my lip as his mouth slid into that crooked smile —the one that used to make me forget my own name.
I shook my head as if the motion could dislodge my filthy musings. “Uh, yeah sure okay then, but I really don’t want to be here.” I looked around the hall. “The walls are sort of closing in on me.”
“No problem, my shift’s over.” He motioned toward the exits. “Wait for me outside? I just need to grab my stuff.”
I looked at the doors and then back at him. I didn’t want to be alone anymore. “Don’t you usually shower and change before you leave?” It was something I’d noticed.
“I do, but I’m actually heading to… I’ll shower later.”
I nodded and pointed at the doors. “Okay. I’ll be out there.” It was obvious he was heading somewhere so I don’t know why I agreed. Yes, I do. He was the one person that brought me comfort these days.
Six
Mira
My phone rang once I was outside and a woman sitting on a bench smiled at me. She had a little one asleep in her arms, so I answered it quickly, moving away from her so I didn’t disturb her.
It was the doctor. “I’m afraid I don’t have much to tell you, Mira. We’ve got her scheduled for a PET scan and an MRI and we’re waiting on more blood work. I’ll call you tomorrow when we get the results though.”
