Page 184 of Missed Notes (Rixon High 5)

I folded my arms and leaned against the doorjamb, smiling.

My girl was getting stem cells.

She was getting the transplant.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE

Sofia

After findingout Aaron was a match, things became a whirlwind. We both had to have a series of tests. Me to make sure my body could withstand the transplant, Aaron to make sure he was as fit and healthy as we all presumed him to be.

Dr. Jeffries had explained that the procedure of collecting Aaron’s stem cells was quite straightforward. But he would be required to inject himself daily for a few days before the transplant to encourage stem cell growth.

Aaron took it all in stride. He’d already talked to Coach Ford. He wanted to stay on with the team and practice and play as much as he could, but if the timings clashed, I took priority.

I hated that it was impacting his life, everything he’d worked so hard for. But I was done arguing. Everyone was right—I needed this—I needed the transplant. Besides, Aaron and Poppy had their college lives at West Chester to look forward to. In the grand scheme of things, this was a small speck in his life, but it was a huge blip in mine.

“How’s my girl?” Dad breezed into my room. They were all like part of the furniture now. He and Cole were on a first name basis with most of the nurses on my ward. I caught a few of their dreamy-eyed stares whenever Dad and Cole were on the floor. But what did I really expect?

They were both charming and exceptionally good-looking.

In fact, it was scary how much they were alike personality-wise. I hadn’t really noticed it before, but the more I watched them together, the more I realized Cole and Dad shared a lot of similar traits.

Trust me to fall in love with someone just like my dad. But part of me wasn’t surprised. I’d always watched my dad and the way he loved Mom and wanted that. I’d wanted someone to worship the ground I walked on. To love and protect and care for me. A best friend. An equal. A partner.

Cole was all those things and more, and despite the fact we’d only been officially together for almost a month, I already saw a life with him.

A future.

One I so desperately wanted.

But it was going to be a long arduous path, paved with highs and lows and a few road bumps along the way.

“Hey, Dad. Where’s Co—”

“Hey.” He burst into the room.

I was halfway into my conditioning phase which meant visitation was restricted to four people to reduce the risk of infection. They didn’t quite have to wear a hazmat suit to enter the room, but they did have to follow strict sanitization rules to keep my room as sterile as possible.

It sucked that Poppy, Ashleigh, and Ezra couldn’t visit, but Cole and Aaron kept me updated on their lives and having my cell phone on hand meant they were never far away.

“What do you have in there?” I eyed the bag in Cole’s hand.

“Figured Milo needed a friend.” He pulled out another stuffed bear. “Don’t worry, he’s been sanitized, and Nurse Jennifer approved.”

“Good to know,” I chuckled, accepting the bear.

Cole was always finding ways to make me smile. A motivational text. Something as simple as a touch or kiss when I was feeling scared or overwhelmed. The little notes he’d taken to giving me. Sometimes they were little doodles or song lyrics and sometimes they were secrets we only shared with each other. Plans for our future. Promises we made to one another. Things we were too scared to say out loud, but things we desperately wanted to come true one day.

He was the perfect boyfriend. The perfect friend. The perfect partner. And I couldn’t imagine doing any of this without him.

“Everything still on track?” Dad asked as Cole got comfy on the chair beside my bed.

“So far so good,” I replied. “We are Day minus five.”

Which meant if everything went well, in five days, I’d get the transplant.

“You look tired.” He came closer.

---