Within These Walls (Within These Walls #1)(74)

“Aw, poor Jude,” I said before sticking my lip out in a fake pout.

He shot forward and bit my lip before sucking it into his mouth for a dizzy kiss. “Mine,” he growled. “Let’s go eat.”

M’kay.

“You invited my mother over?” I repeated for the second time since he’d announced it.

We’d just finished our amazing dinner, and we’d hopped into the car when he dropped the mom bomb on me.

“Angel”—he turned to me after starting the ignition—“Grace can’t stay with you tonight, and you know I can’t leave you alone while I’m at work.”

I might have rolled my eyes as he backed out of the parking space.

“I called her this morning, and she really misses you.”

Guilt? Party of one!

“Well, she hasn’t bothered calling,” I said gruffly, crossing my arms over my chest.

“She said she wanted to give you the space you requested, but it’s been killing her. I think she’s been sneaking updates through Marcus.”

“That just figures,” I grumbled.

He gave me a warm smile as he made a right turn at a stoplight.

“Oh, fine!” I said, caving to his silent torture.

“I know you want to see her.”

“Yeah, I do,” I admitted.

“Good. It’s only a few hours. I managed to get a short shift tonight, so I’ll be home by midnight.”

I nodded as I watched while he killed the engine and opened the door. I looked around and noticed my mother’s car a few spots over. The driver’s side door opened, and she appeared.

“Hi, Lailah,” she greeted me.

We walked up the stairs to Jude’s apartment. We stopped at the door, and she awkwardly wrung her hands together, uncertain what to do next.

“Hi, Mom,” I answered, stepping forward to wrap my arms around her.

She melted, her hands moving around my back, snug and sure. “I missed you,” she said, pulling back to take a look at me. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you. Why don’t you come in?” I offered.

She nodded as Jude unlocked the door, and we stepped forward. I watched as she appraised the apartment. Over the last week, I’d managed to make it look a little less dismal. A few pillows and blankets on the couch, and the lack of boxes definitely helped.

I offered her a spot on the couch and turned to Jude.

“I’ve got to get to work, but I wanted to give your mom this,” he said, handing off a plastic bag and a piece of notepaper. He turned to my mother. “Her meds are in there, and I wrote down what she needs to take and when just in case it’s changed since the last time she was home.”

I thought my mother’s respect for Jude tripled in that moment as she looked down at the clear bag and silently nodded.

“Thank you,” she replied.

“You got it.”

I turned to him, and he gave me a quick peck on the cheek.

“I have a change of clothes at work, so I’m going to go. You two have a good night,” he said with a smile before heading out the door.

I joined my mom in the living room and watched in curiosity as she quietly gazed down at Jude’s handwritten note regarding my meds.

“He’s really anal.” She let out a short laugh as a single tear ran down her cheek.

“Just like you,” I answered before watching her face crumble. “Mom?” I said, moving closer to her. “What is it?”

“It’s nothing, nothing I can’t fix.”

She was lying. Her features were giving away that much. She’d obviously been doing everything in her power to keep it all together. She was like a jar of sand. It looked so strong on the outside, but just a tap in the right spot, and everything fell apart.

“Mom, please. You’ve spent your life hiding things from me because you thought you were protecting me. Look where it’s gotten us. Tell me,” I pleaded.

Her eyes met mine, and I saw complete devastation.

“Your transplant was denied.”

I couldn’t breathe. The air around me felt too heavy, too gritty, to possibly grasp and swallow down my shallow windpipe. My eyes frantically went to the door where Jude had just left through, and I suddenly wanted to rip it wide open and scream his name to come back.

I need him.

I need him to…what?

Tell me it’s going to be okay? Because it’s not.

None of this is okay.

I looked back at my mom, wide-eyed, with tears running down my face as she waited for me to say something.

“Denied?” I repeated just to make sure I heard the word from my own lips.

She nodded. “But we’re going to appeal it. They can’t do this. They can’t. We will fight. They don’t understand what we’ve been through, what you’ve been through. I’ll explain. I’ll explain everything. I’ll make them see. Marcus will explain, and we will get them to change their minds.”

All her words sounded like white noise. A buzzing in my ears just kept getting louder, stronger, and sharper.

I needed it to stop.

I needed it all to stop.

I wrapped my arms around her and let her sob as she repeated over and over that she would find a way to save me.