Page 66 of Once Upon A Player
Is that even possible? Sometimes she can go a couple of years without an attack, but her relapses have never been as frequent as they’ve been the last month. I just thought they’d put her on different meds. It never crossed my mind they’d go straight to surgery.
“Violet.” Mum holds out her hand, and I go kneel on the floor next to her. “I can’t go on like this. Once they get rid of that rubbishy diseased bit, I’ll be right as rain. You’ll see.”
But suppose you’re not? Suppose something happens while you’re on the operating table?
“I know,” I tell her, squeezing her fingers, while panic churns through my stomach.Keep it together, Vi.“When are they doing it?”
“Tuesday.”
At least Lucas will still be here. I’m desperate to tell him but can’t call him right before his leaving party. Talk about putting a damper on things. I’ll tell him tonight when we’re alone.
Oh, God, should I even go out tonight? Guilt eats through me. I should be here, with Mum, but I really want to see Lucas.
“Do you want me to stay in?”
Please say no.I’m a horrible person.Please don’t die…
“Don’t be silly.” Mum gives my hand a little shake. “You go and enjoy yourself, and then you can tell me all about it tomorrow. I bet there’ll be loads of celebrities. Anyway, I want to see you in that new dress you bought.”
This time when Lucas collects me, there’s no reception committee waiting to pounce on him. Sam’s staying the night with a school friend, Mum’s in bed, and Dad won’t leave her side. She’s so pumped full of painkillers I don’t think she even recognized me when I went in to say good night.
“Whoa. You look amazing.” Lucas’s admiration washes over me like a balm. Katie and I went shopping yesterday, and I spent way too much on this dress, but Mum’s right. There’re going to be lots of celebs at this party, and no way do I want to look as though I don’t belong.
“Thanks. You look good enough to eat.”
He leans in close, and his warm breath teases my ear. “I’m gonna remind you of that tonight.”
A delicious shiver skims over my bare arms at his promise. Threat? I’m not sure there’s a difference when it comes to Lucas and our sex life.
Should I really be thinking about sex when Mum’s so sick?
I bite my lip and turn away to pull the front door shut, so he can’t see the worry on my face and ask me what’s up.
He takes my overnight bag from me, and it’s only then I notice the stretch limo parked in the road. “We’re going inthat?”
“No point trying to hide from the press tonight. They’ll be out like fire ants. Anyway, my girl deserves only the best.”
A warm glow spreads through me.My girl. It sounds so special and intimate the way he says it. I can hardly believe it took me so long to agree to go out with him. He might’ve played the field in the past and had a different gorgeous girl on his arm every week, but since we’ve got together, there’s not been even a hint of anything like that in the gossip columns.
After all, I didn’texpecthim to be exclusive at the start. Not when all it was going to be was a brief summer fling.
I do now, though. Even though we haven’t discussed it. I mean, he’s taken me to visit hisdad,and it was obvious he’s never done that with any other girl.
As we walk to the limo, Lucas slides his arm around my waist. “There’s just one problem.”
“What’s that?”
“Somehow I ended up agreeing to take Mac and Will. But I promise I’ll make it up to you another time.”
Chad, the chauffeur who drove us to Overton’s, holds open the door for me, and I slide inside. Mackenzie and Will are sitting as far apart from each other as possible. It’s like they’ve just had a fight, but they smile a greeting at me.
And as for the limo. Wow. I could get used to this. All leather seats and trim, and it smells like it’s just rolled off the showroom floor. Lucas gets in beside me, and I snuggle against him.
“Who’s for some bubbly?” Will reaches into a bar fridge and pulls out a bottle of champagne.
“Oh yes,” Mac says in a sugary-sweet voice. “Why not? Let’s all get pissed out of our heads before we even arrive.”
“Have some water.” Will tosses her a bottle which she catches one-handed. “Do you want a glass, Violet?”
