Sinner's Creed (Sinner's Creed #1)(68)
“I’ll do it.”
18
“WE NEED A minute,” I tell the doctor when he starts to talk.
“No, we don’t,” Saylor says, refusing to look at me. I stand in front of her, placing my hands on either side of the exam table, and lower my head so she is forced to meet my eyes.
“I can show you the world, Saylor. I can make all of your dreams come true. Don’t do this. Don’t spend your last days sick and in a hospital. Enjoy life.” I’m grasping at straws, trying to convince her. I’m panicking, doing everything but begging her, which I’m not above doing.
“You have an advantage. You won’t take another day for granted because you know how limited they are. I’ll leave the club. I’ll stay with you. We can do anything you want, just please don’t do this.” Her eyes are filled with tears, and she is smiling. I think she enjoys me begging her, but I don’t care. Whatever it takes.
“What about all those other people? I agree I have an advantage, but what about a child? What kind of advantage do they have? Knowing they will never get old, or drive a car, or a motorcycle.” She throws the last part in with a smile and I know her mind is made up. “I have the chance to potentially save lives. Why wouldn’t I do that?”
Because I’m a selfish bastard that wants you all to myself. I want to tell her that. I want to scream it at her, but I don’t. I just look at her in defeat. She really is incredible.
“How long we got before she has to start, Doc?” I ask, pressing my forehead against Saylor’s.
“No longer than a month, if possible.” That was too soon.
“I want to wait until after Christmas. It’s my favorite holiday and I don’t want to spend it in and out of hospitals.” Saylor’s demands are easily accepted. After all, they were at her mercy.
“I’ll set it up.” The doctor leaves, neither of us bothering to acknowledge him. I keep my head against hers, staring at the backs of my eyelids. Just being in her presence makes the world okay. When I feel her fidgeting, I know she is going to say something, but I have no idea what it will be.
“So are you breaking up with me?” Saylor asks, the smile on her face telling me she already knows the answer.
“I’m here until the end. I promise.” And if death came calling for me before her, then I’d fight him and I’d win, because this time, I was keeping my promise.
—
“Now, I don’t have time for all that damn crying. Y’all gonna have to get your shit together or get the hell out. Think happy thoughts and all that shit.” Saylor’s words were falling on deaf ears. I’m watching the scene unfold from my position in the kitchen. I’m propped against the counter, eating an apple, trying not to find too much humor in Donnawayne and Jeffery falling on the floor and rolling around like fish outta water.
They took the news of Saylor’s decision for treatment about as well as I did. Minus the whole rolling-around-on-the-floor thing. Apparently, they knew about the tumor and had made a pact to not mention it when they were together. Now that the timeline was confirmed and Saylor was starting treatment in just under two months, their pact had gone to shit.
Saylor looked to me for help and I answered her with my signature don’t-f*cking-think-about-it look.
“Hey!” The crying ceased at her demand and she even had my attention. “Who is dying here, huh? Who is gonna be laying up praying for death in a couple months? Not either one of you. So don’t expect me to show you any pity. Stop acting like a couple of f*ckin’ drama queens.”
When she stomped out of the room, I heard her door slam and I was ready to kill them for upsetting her, but Saylor wouldn’t want that. I figured I should say something, but decided against it.
I let Saylor fume and watched as the guys hugged, then made their way to the kitchen. They were comfortable here, making themselves at home. I wondered how they would feel if I told them I wanted to take Saylor back to Nevada. Since they were important to her, I guess their opinion mattered.
“I want to take Saylor back to my place in Nevada. She likes it there.” They both turn to look at me, surprised to find me addressing them. Or I guess that’s why they were looking around the room to see if there was someone else here.
“Isn’t that romantic?” Jeffery asked, just before Donnawayne decided to speak.
“That’s the most selfish thing I’ve ever heard. Why you wanna take her away from two of the three people in her life that she cares about?” I saw his point, and I wanted to tell his boyfriend the frown wasn’t necessary, but it was too late. I would regret my next words, but for Saylor, I would say them.
“Y’all are welcome to come up anytime. We have plenty of room.” Jeffery beamed. Donnawayne rolled his eyes. I’m beginning to think he is holding a grudge because of the whole nose-breaking ordeal.
“Well, I think we all need to let Saylor decide what is best. And whatever she decides is fine with us,” Jeffery says, throwing daggers at Donnawayne, who surprisingly agrees. He sighs dramatically, of course, and nods his head.
“I guess I need to go apologize to my girl. No reason in her being pissed at her favorite.” He saunters out of the room and I want to correct him on my girl and favorite, but it will just start an argument that will lead to me breaking his neck instead of his nose.